Philodendron 'Birkin'
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Origin
Philodendron 'Birkin' is known for its attractive and unusual white-striped leaves. It is a relatively new cultivar in the Philodendron genus, which is a large group of tropical plants native to South America. It is sometimes incorrectly sold under the synonymous names 'White Measure' and 'White Wave'.
This plant originated as a spontaneous mutation, or sport, that was discovered among Philodendron 'Rojo Congo' plants. It was selected and propagated due to its beautiful, striated variegation.
Just a couple of year ago, it was difficult to get your hands on the rare Philodendron 'Birkin' but, it's now widely available at garden centers and shops around the world, and it has quickly become a very popular house plant due to its striking appearance and easy care.
Care
The Philodendron 'Birkin' is relatively easy to care for and can tolerate a range of growing conditions, including low light and some drought. However, to maintain a healthy, thriving plant, it's best to keep it in a bright location with plenty of indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can damage the leaves. If grown in low light conditions, the 'Birkin' may produce fewer variegated leaves and may exhibit etiolated growth.
This plant prefers slightly moist soil and should be watered regularly to prevent excessive drought. However, it is also important not to keep the plant in overly wet soil, as this can lead to root rot. Follow the tasks in Planta and always check the soil before you water it.
They'll prefer high humidity, but will tolerate regular indoor humidity levels too. If you notice that new leaves are struggling to unfurl, it may be due to low humidity ( it can also be a symptom of drought, or insufficient light). To prevent this issue, you can try misting or showering the foliage of your 'Birkin' regularly to increase the humidity around the plant.
The Philodendron 'Birkin' is a climbing plant that can be grown using a support, such as moss poles. If you allow your 'Birkin' to grow onto a moss pole, it can promote larger and more stunning leaves. Without any support, it may become unstable, leggy or start to spill over the pot and grow in a more horizontal direction. However, it is a quite slow-growing Philodendron, so don't feel stressed about adding a support to your plant.
Other
Philodendron 'Birkin' is a variegated plant that can vary significantly in its appearance due to its unstable nature. It is not uncommon for this plant to produce fully white or green leaves or even to revert back to its origin and produce half or fully red leaves. This makes it a very interesting plant to grow. When reverting it is sometimes called a Reverkin, for fun, in the house plant community.
It is worth noting that Philodendron 'Birkin' plants can be susceptible to fungal rust infections. If you notice small yellow spots on the leaves of your 'Birkin' and you have ruled out other possible causes such as dry air, spider mites, overwatering, or extrafloral nectaries, it may be necessary to treat the plant with a fungicide repeatedly to prevent further damage. Be sure to follow the instructions on the fungicide label and take appropriate safety precautions if using any chemical treatment.
