Philodendron tenue
Ribbed Tenue Philodendron
Typical UK price
£13
Limited data
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 1
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- 10 Aug 2026
- On record
- 2
Cutting/cormEstimate
7cm1 sold
12cmEstimate
MatureEstimate
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
for a 7cm pot
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Recent UK sales
For sale in the UK
By month
| Month | Median | Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | £13 | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | £30 | 1 |
US eBay sold listings (not UK prices)
3 sold on ebay.com, 17 Apr 2026 to 22 Jun 2026, median US$25. These are not UK sales and are not in the UK price.
Philodendron tenue Plant grown in 4" pot 14" Tall 17" Wide
US$25 · 22 Jun 2026Philodendron Tenue Long Ribbed Leaf Houseplant RARE Node NO ROOTS
US$16 · 21 Jun 2026Philodendron tenue Plant grown in 6" pot 18" Tall 11" Wide
US$34 · 17 Apr 2026
Before you buy
- Check that roots are firm and white to tan; avoid plants with black, slimy, or absent roots
- Look for pronounced ribbing across the leaf surface rather than a flatter, less textured blade
- Inspect leaf undersides for thrips (tiny dark specks or silvery streaking) and mealybugs (white cottony deposits at leaf axils)
- Verify the plant has at least 2-3 healthy leaves and shows signs of active growth
About Philodendron tenue
Philodendron tenue is a climbing hemiepiphytic aroid native to the tropical wet forests of Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Ecuador. It climbs tree trunks using aerial roots, thriving in high humidity. The leaves are highly ornamental, featuring a elongated heart-shaped blade with a deeply ribbed or pleated surface due to closely spaced primary lateral veins. The foliage is glossy, dark green, and has a leathery, durable feel.
Native range
Costa Rica to Ecuador
Classification
- Genus
- Philodendron
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Wild
- Growth habit
- Root-climbing hemiepiphytic climber
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- Elongated heart-shaped (cordateHeart-shaped foliage, featuring a rounded notch (sinus) where the leaf stem attaches.)
- Leaf length
- 25-45cm
- Leaf width
- 15-25cm
- Petiole colour
- Green
- Venation
- Deeply ribbed, closely spaced lateral veins
- Texture
- Glossy, leathery, pleated
- Variegation
- None
- Growth habit
- Root-climbing climber
Philodendron tenue care
- Substrate
- High-porosity mix: 50% perlite, 30% orchid bark, 20% coco coir, against a bark slab or coir totem the aerial roots can grip directly rather than just a bare pole.
- Watering
- Water thoroughly when the top 3-4 cm of substrate is dry. Slow to moderate growth means it's more forgiving of a slightly delayed watering than a fast climber.
- Humidity
- High, 70-85%. The pleated, closely veined leaf surface holds its glossy finish best at the upper end of that range.
- Feeding
- Quarter-strength balanced fertiliser every two to three weeks in the growing season, monthly in winter.
- Repotting
- Every 12-18 months or when roots circle the base of the pot. Move up one pot size only; oversized pots increase rot risk.
Common problems
Leaves losing their ribbed texture and glossy sheen
Cause: Humidity too low for the pleated leaf surface to develop and hold properly
Fix: Raise ambient humidity; new leaves should show the deep ribbing more clearly at higher humidity
Root rot
Cause: Substrate that stays wet, often from a mix that's too dense or a pot with poor drainage
Fix: Repot into a chunkier mix immediately and trim away any mushy roots
Leggy growth with small leaves
Cause: Insufficient light
Fix: Move to a brighter position with more indirect light
Gear for this plant
- Coir Moss Pole, 120cm (4-Pack)Coco coir totem for climbing aroids to root into as they grow upward.
- Natural Rooting Powder, 3 x 75gRooting hormone powder for stem and leaf cuttings.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Humidity Dome, Heavy-Duty Germination KitVented propagation dome for holding humidity around fresh cuttings.
How to propagate Philodendron tenue
- Methods
- Stem cutting, Node cutting. Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Rewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
- Time to establish
- 4-8 months
- Notes
- Single-node cuttings root readily in moist sphagnum or water. Maintain 70%+ humidity and bottom warmth for best results.