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Philodendron imbe
Imbe Philodendron
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Philodendron imbe Morphology
About Philodendron imbe
Philodendron imbe is a Brazilian climbing species named for the coastal region of Imbé in Rio Grande do Sul. Its variety ilsemannii is the source of two well-known variegated selections in cultivation: the widely-traded 'Ilsemannii Variegated' and 'Jose Buono' (the latter's full botanical name is Philodendron imbe var. ilsemannii 'Jose Buono', though it circulates commercially under just the cultivar name). Both are unstable, often heavily white-sectored chimeric variegations, considerably more delicate and slower-growing than the plain green species.
Native Range
Brazil
Market Analysis
Philodendron imbe Price Guide & Auction Value
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Before You Buy
Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing
- For 'Ilsemannii' or 'Jose Buono', check the balance of green-to-white tissue in photos; near-pure-white cuttings are fragile and slow to establish
- Confirm which cultivar name the seller means, as both circulate under overlapping trade names
- All Philodendron are toxic if ingested; keep away from pets and children
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Philodendron imbe
8-12 weeks
Cultivar character is preserved through vegetative cuttings
Roots from stem or node cuttings. The heavily variegated 'Ilsemannii'/'Jose Buono' forms need a cutting taken at a node with enough chlorophyll-bearing tissue to survive; pure-white cuttings frequently fail to establish.
Care Guide
Philodendron imbe Care Guide & Growing Conditions
Chunky, well-draining aroid mix: 40% orchid bark, 30% potting compost, 20% perlite, 10% sphagnum moss.
Allow the top few centimetres of substrate to dry between waterings.
60-80%. Heavily variegated forms benefit from the higher end of this range.
Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 3-4 weeks during the growing season.
Every 12-18 months, or when roots fill the pot.
Common Problems
Reversion to solid green
Insufficient light
Increase light levels and prune reverted growth to favour variegated tissue
Cutting fails to establish
Cutting taken from a section with too little chlorophyll-bearing tissue
Select cuttings with a healthy balance of green and white leaf tissue
One Species, Two Trade Names
It took some digging to confirm that 'Jose Buono' isn't its own species: its full name is Philodendron imbe var. ilsemannii 'Jose Buono', named for a grower in Puerto Rico, but for commercial reasons it's almost always sold under just the cultivar name with no mention of imbe at all. 'Ilsemannii Variegated' comes from the exact same variety. If you already own both, there's a decent chance you own two names for a very similar plant.
