How Do You Care For Rhaphidophora Hayi?

Is Rhaphidophora Hayi Rare?

Yes. Rhaphidophora hayi is a rare houseplant that few people have. However, since it was added to Costa Farm’s Trending Tropicals Collection, it has become more widely available, and many people are purchasing it.

The Rhaphidophora Hayi (ra-fi-do-fora ha-yee), sometimes known as the “shingle plant,” is a rare climbing plant that appears unlike most other vines.

Unlike most other aroids, the ovular dark green leaves of Rhaphidophora Hayi only develop to reach around 5 inches long. (Aroids are plants of the Araceae family that include many common houseplants such as Monsteras and Philodendrons.)

How Do You Care For Rhaphidophora Hayi?

Rhaphidophora hayi, often known as Shingle plant, is a Rhaphidophora species. Peter Charles Boyce and Josef Bogner described this species in 2000.

Light: Rhaphidophora hayi grows best in indirect light that is medium to bright, with a light level of 10000-20000 lux. While it tolerates low light levels, you may witness lanky growth as a result.

It can endure 3 hours of direct sunshine, however too much direct sunlight will cause the leaves to burn. The best lighting is dappled sunlight.

Temperature: USDA zones 9-12 are suitable for growing the shingle plant. It enjoys temperatures ranging from 12 to 27 degrees Celsius. Even if just for a few minutes, do not expose the plant to temperatures below 12 °C since cold air will damage the leaf.

Avoid chilly gusts and temperature swings. If it’s below 12 °C in zone 9-10, bring it inside and make sure it has lots of bright indirect light wherever it’s situated.

Humidity: Rhaphidophora hayi grows best at humidity levels ranging from 50% to 60%. It will survive in practically any setting, but if you want to pamper it, spray it lightly once a week.

It is better to spritz your plant in the morning so that the water can evaporate before dusk. Place your pot on top of a pebble tray with water coming halfway up the stones, or use a humidifier. Evaporation will supply additional humidity where your plant requires it.

Soil: A well-aerated, quick-draining potting soil that dries up fast is required for shingle plants. You can use an equal mix of large-chunk orchid bark, coarse-grade perlite, and peat moss, and then add around 10% charcoal to help eliminate toxicities that can build up in the potting mix over time.

It grows best when provided with a mossy post or burlap wrapped pole to climb and thrives in damp soils with high organic matter. It will climb if provided a trellis, and its leaves will get larger and more fenestrated.

It is ideal to re-pot the plant once or twice a year, or when it has outgrown its pot and become root-bound. Choose a new pot that is 1 inch larger in diameter than the present pot for repotting.

Remember to choose a pot with drainage holes. Early Spring is the best time to re-pot because the plant will be actively growing.

Water: Once a week, water the plant. Before watering, allow the potting mix to dry. During the warmer months and growing season, water more often. Reduce the watering to once every two weeks throughout the cooler months of the year.

Overwatering or keeping the soil wet for an extended period of time will increase root rot. Skip watering for a week or two if the leaves are yellowing from overwatering.

Fertilizer: During the growing season, feed the plant every two weeks to once a month with a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.

Do not fertilize your plant in the late fall and winter, when development has slowed and the plant is dormant. Too much fertilizer might cause your plant’s foliage to burn. Make sure the soil is wet before applying any type of fertilizer.

Where Does Hayi Rhaphidophora Grow?

Rhaphidophora hayi is a tropical lowland coralline limestone and basalt rainforest aroid found in moist tropical lowland rainforests.

It’s common in Papua New Guinea, Indonesian Papua, and Queensland, Australia. It can be found in Bougainville, New Ireland, Muyua (Woodlark Island), New Britain, and other places in Papua New Guinea.

This aroid is a climbing hemiepiphyte that is evergreen and permanent. As a result, it spends part of its life as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on other plants) and part of its life as a terrestrial plant or liana (has roots in the ground).

It is usually found shingling on tree trunks, rocks, or any other support. The stem grows tightly to the vertical structure, and the leaves rest flat against it, producing a lush, dark green shingle look.

Finally, Rhaphidophora hayi has a medium growth rate that is heavily influenced by growing conditions. It grows relatively quickly in a bright, warm, humid climate with moist soil.

Does Rhaphidophora Hayi Need Soil?

The soil should be well-drained, somewhat acidic (pH 6.0–6.5), high in organic matter, and nutrient-rich for Rhaphidophora hayi. These plants are not picky, and you can use any well-drained loamy soil or potting mix, including soilless, to grow them.

All you have to do is make sure your potting mix is well-drained, aerated, and nutrient-rich.

As a result, you can use aroid mixtures, sphagnum moss, coco peat, LECA, or make your own. For example, you could mix equal parts potting mix, perlite/pumice, and peat moss. Peat moss will raise the pH and add humus, while perlite will help with drainage.

Does Rhaphidophora Hayi Grow Indoors Or Outdoors?

Rhaphidophora hayi is an excellent choice for indoor houseplants, gardens, patios, parks, and ground-covering plants.

Indoors, they can be grown in pots, hanging baskets, or terrariums (allows for best control of humidity and other conditions). They are ideal for every room, including the dining room, kitchen, workplace, bedroom, bathroom, and living room.

However, if you want them to flourish and grow taller with bigger leaves, offer and train them to climb on something.

You can, however, have an untreated softwood, branch, trellis, iron-bark totem, or anything else to climb on.

Finally, if they’re going to be outside, make sure they don’t get direct sunshine. You can use shingle on the wall, tree trunks, wooden fences, and other materials.

Burlap-wrapped, coco coir or sphagnum moss totem/pole, and flat board are usually the best options (porous and supports growing roots while flat will give best shingling results).

How Do You Propagate Hayi Rhaphidophora?

Rhaphidophora hayi is propagated by stem cutting in either potting mix/soil or water. However, seed propagation is possible but uncommon.

Potting mix or soil propagation is preferred because it has a better success rate. Also, as with other plants, propagate this shingle plant in the spring.

1. Soil propagation

The following are required for soil propagation:

• sterile pruning knife, shears, or knife
• Plastic bag (optional). It will, however, aid in maintaining humidity and moist soil, as well as promoting faster rooting and growth.
• Rooting hormone (optional).
• Potting mix that is well-drained and aerated — sphagnum, coco coir, soil, aroid mix, etc.
• Small pot.

Follow these steps:

• Place the potting mix in your growing pot and thoroughly moisten it.
• Select and cut about 4-6 inches of healthy stem with at least two nodes using your pruning knife.
• Remove the lower leaves, leaving the top one or two.
• Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone. We utilize HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel. However, Garden Safe Brand TakeRoot Rooting Hormone is also effective. This step is optional; however, it will expedite rooting.
• Make a hole in the dirt and plant the stem cutting. Make sure the potting mix covers at least two nodes.
• Lightly spray the cutting and place it in a clear plastic bag with some breathing space. Allow the paper bag to come into contact with your cutting leaves.
• Place your cutting in a location with bright, indirect light, especially at temperatures ranging from 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius), and keep the soil moist by misting it as needed. Remove the plastic paper bag every several hours to allow your plant to breathe.
• After around two weeks, roots will begin to sprout, and you may observe new growth. However, the actual time depends on the conditions you supply.
• A plastic paper bag is not required if you have a greenhouse cabinet. Gardman has a nice little indoor greenhouse that won’t take up much space. You can also go to IKEA.
• When the cutting is robust enough, move it to a growing pot. After that, resume your normal care routine.

1. Water propagation

Instead of planting Rhaphidophora hayi in water, place it in a jar of water. However, make sure to replace the water every few days.

How Do You Mount Hayi Rhaphidophora?

Mounting may be intimidating if this is your first shingle plant. It is, however, uncomplicated.

If it was previously mounted and has outgrown the mount, or you want to replace the mounting pole for any reason, start by unmounting it. When unmounting, carefully remove the plant away from the mount, taking care not to rip any aerial roots.

After that, gently shimmy or shake the pole out of the pot. Take care not to injure your plant’s roots.

Next, look for organic stuff in the aerial roots. If organic debris is present, hose it down to loosen and eliminate it. If your plant leaves any organic matter, it will be difficult for it to cling to the new mount.

Install the new pole and gently place the plant, making sure the stem is close to it. Tie the stem to your mount with floral tape or soft string. Once the spot is attached, you can remove it.

To avoid rot when misting your plant, simply tie the stem and not the foliage. Also, make sure not to overtighten the string or tape. It will suffocate the stem.

Finally, if you used a sphagnum moss board or pole, spray it both before and after installing. Keeping the sphagnum moist promotes quicker root growth and attachment.