Is Rhaphidophora Decursiva Toxic?

Is Rhaphidophora Decursiva Toxic?

Rhaphidophora decursiva is a massive climbing plant with fascinating fringed leaves.

This epiphytic tropical plant is native to Southeast Asia, the Himalayan woods, Malaysia, and Africa.

It belongs to the plant family Araceae, and there are over a hundred different species. They all bloom and adore scrambling up trees and other climbing structures.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva is an Araceae species found in the wild in China, India, and other Southeast Asian countries.

The plant is notable for its large leaves, which change form as it grows.

When young, the leaves are blue-green and oval-shaped, but as the plant ages, the leaves spread out and have deep, alternating lobes.

A completely grown plant’s leaves can grow to be 40 inches long and 20 inches broad.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva climbs easily by forming air roots that connect to trees.

This plant may grow to be more than 50 feet tall in the wild. It is normally considerably smaller as a houseplant, at around five feet tall.

A Rhaphidophora Decursiva plant requires special care. It is a tropical plant that cannot tolerate cold temperatures well.

Light Requirements

The Rhaphidophora Decursiva thrives in indirect light that is mild to bright. It is adapted to these conditions since it is a forest understory plant that climbs trees to obtain more light.

The more light it receives, the faster and larger it grows. You’ll also notice that it produces more leaves, and larger ones at that.

Water Requirements

When it comes to caring for your Rhaphidophora Decursiva, one factor to keep an eye on is water. The plant will grow rather huge and has a large root system.

When the top 1 to 2 inches of soil on your decursiva plant has dried up, water it. Check this by poking your finger into the dirt.

Humidity Requirements

While it prefers tropical humidity, the decursiva plant may also thrive in low-humidity indoor environments.

A plant humidifier will provide a regular level of humidity to your decursiva.

Soil Requirements

Light, airy, and well-draining potting soil is ideal for Rhaphidophora Decursiva. This is critical since the plant’s roots require a lot of air movement.

This also ensures that excess water drains away from the roots, preventing them from remaining in water for lengthy periods of time. It, like other aroids, prefers a slightly acidic soil pH.

Fertilization Requirements

Raphidophora’s big leaves necessitate a monthly dose of a balanced houseplant fertilizer during the spring and summer.

Because the plant goes into dormancy and does not develop new growth in the fall and winter, fertilize every two months.

What Is Wrong With My Rhaphidophora Decursiva?

Overwatering is an issue that can harm this houseplant, as it does with other aroids. It may not be due to a lack of water, but to other issues as well.

Poorly drained soil, pots lacking drainage holes, or large pots, for example, can all contribute to this issue.

The most noticeable indicators are moist or soggy soils or potting mixes, as well as yellowing foliage.

Wilting, moldy soils, mushy stem bases, and leaves falling are some signs to look for, particularly in the event of root rot (defoliation).

Root rot is due to the presence of fungi on the Rhaphidophora Decursiva’s roots.

Situations like this can lead to over-watering and rotting of the root structure.

How Do You Make Rhaphidophora Decursiva Bushy?

Your growing rhaphidophora decursiva will become more floriferous and bushier if it receives proper maintenance.

A plant in bloom is lovely, but if it continues to produce blooms without pruning, the stems will get very long. That can make your decursiva look less appealing, especially if you want to grow the plant up a wall or fence.

Prune off any dead branches or leaves during the fall or winter months when your plant is not producing new growth.

Dead stems and new growth are usually determined by the season.

The fresh new leaves will be smaller, and the old, dried leaves will look shaggy.

So again – before you prune your decursiva it is important to know when it blooms and when it doesn’t.

Is The Rhaphidophora Decursiva Rare?

Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a highly sought-after variety nowadays. This is a rare plant that is seldom found at nurseries or garden centers.

Although the plant produces flowers, it is often grown for its gorgeous foliage, which changes form and size as the plant ages. This plant is simple to cultivate if the proper conditions are met.

In its native environment, this blooming plant grows in tropical monsoon and broad-leaved evergreen valley woodland.

Decursiva develops as an understory plant in dappled or filtered light, and it may creep on the ground, climb trees, or grow over rocks.

You should also be aware that it grows in the same manner as a hemiepiphyte.

Are Rhaphidophora Decursiva Fast Growers?

Rhaphidophora decursiva is a huge climbing tropical liana that grows quickly and is evergreen. In its native habitat, it may grow to be 66 (20m) feet long or more.

Nonetheless, as a houseplant, they may reach a height of 5-8 feet and require a climbing structure.

In its native environment, this blooming plant grows in tropical monsoon and broad-leaved evergreen valley woodland.

Decursiva thrives as an understory plant in dappled or filtered light, and it may creep on the ground, climb trees, or grow over rocks. You should also be aware that it grows in the same manner as a hemiepiphyte.

How Do You Identify Rhaphidophora Decursiva?

Size and growing habits

Rhaphidophora decursiva is a huge climbing tropical liana that grows quickly and is evergreen. In its native habitat, it may grow to be 66 (20m) feet long or more.

Nonetheless, as a houseplant, they may reach a height of 5-8 feet and require a climbing structure.

Rhaphidophora decursiva juvenile leaves are smaller and bluish-green in colour.

However, as the plant ages, it begins to produce massive pinnately split glossy green leaves up to 40 inches long and 20 inches broad (3.3 feet long by 1.7 feet wide).

The leaves are often asymmetrically deeply lobed, with splits reaching the mid-rib vein, i.e., the pinnae.

As a result, they resemble palm fronds, a dragon’s tail, or Monstera, which accounts for the confusion or popular names.

Their contour, on the other hand, is oblong oval or oval with an almost heart-shaped base.

The majority of leaves contain 9-15 pinnae per side and are slightly thin at the base.

Stems and aerial roots

1. decursiva has thin greenish stems when young. Nonetheless, as they age, they thicken to around 1.1 to 2 inches in diameter (3 to 5 cm).

Aerial roots emerge from nodes, whilst branches emerge from the axil. There are up to 7 nodes between the leaves on these plants.

The aerial roots assist the plant in climbing or attaching to the host and in absorbing nutrients. They may often develop to be exceedingly long and thick.

In the wild, you’ll see them clutching trees or other things for support. However, if these aerial roots are not provided a place to ascend or attach, they may perish.

When your stems are young, always guide them. If you allow them to grow in a specific direction or style, it will be difficult to change them afterwards.

Flowers

If let to mature, these plants normally bloom in the spring or summer.

Nonetheless, they are unlikely to blossom as houseplants.

Rhaphidophora decursiva typically has bisexual, inconspicuous yellowish-white blooms on an upright corn-like spadix. A yellowish curved or boat-shaped leafy-like bract surrounds the spadix (spathe).

Flower

To learn more about the spadix, it is an inflorescence with a fleshy stalk that contains small flowers that is common to many plants in the arum family.

Berries/fruits

The fruits of R. decursiva grow on the spadix or fleshy spikes. They resemble sticky pulp that ranges in hue from yellow to orange to dark green to greenish cream. Please do not consume them.

Is A Rhaphidophora Decursiva A Monstera?

Rhaphidophora decursiva is an aroid, sometimes known as an Araceae plant. Rhaphidophora is the genus; it is not a monstera, contrary popular belief.

Monstera is a separate genus. Decursiva grows in the wild in Southeast Asia, China, and India.

A juvenile plant differs greatly from a mature one in appearance. When the plant is young, the leaves are smaller, more pointed, and oval-shaped.

The leaves will acquire profound fenestrations (splits/cuts) as it ages. Mature leaves can grow to reach more than 3 feet long.

What Is The Difference Between Epipremnum Pinnatum Vs. Rhaphidophora Decursiva?

Dragon Tail Plant and Centipede Tongavine are other names for Epipremnum pinnatum. It is common in North Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Southern China, and other parts of the area.

Both of these plants are climbers of the Araceae family. They are, however, from separate genera, Epipremnum and Rhaphidophora.

Furthermore, and exhibit some similarity. For example, these plants’ juvenile leaves are smaller and more regular in form, whilst their adult leaves are symmetrically pinnately split.

There are, however, distinctions. The leaves of Epipremnum pinnatum vary from somewhat elliptical to arrow-shaped, whereas Rhaphidophora has oval leaves.

Furthermore, R. decursiva has somewhat shinier bigger mature leaves than Epipremnum pinnatum, which are smaller (10 to 20 inches long), leathery, and thicker.

Furthermore, the leaves of Epipremnum cultivars such as Cebu blue (with blue-hued leaves), skeleton key, Variegata, albo, and others do not match those of R. decursiva.

Does Rhaphidophora Decursiva Likes Pruning And Grooming?

Rhaphidophora decursiva requires little trimming. Only remove damaged, dead, or yellow leaves to enhance their health; otherwise, they may attract pests.

If you want to limit their growth and shape, you can clip a few long stems, especially in early spring. This encourages branching and so fuller development.

To avoid cross-infection, always use sterilized pruning shears, knives, or scissors while trimming these tropical plants.

Finally, to keep your leaves looking glossy and attractive, wipe them down with a moist cloth on a regular basis.

Is Rhaphidophora Decursiva Toxic?

Humans, dogs, cats, and other pets are poisoned or toxic to Rhaphidophora decursiva. This plant is poisonous in every way (leaves, roots, flowers, and stems).

The presence of needle-like insoluble calcium oxalates known as raphides is the cause of their toxicity. It causes the following effects when swallowed or chewed:

A burning feeling and severe mouth discomfort. Tongue, lip, or mouth swelling, Drooling, Pet pawing and refusal to eat

As a result, do not give this plant to your rabbits, bearded dragons, children, dogs, cats, or other pets.

Also, while some sites suggest that the fruits are harmless, they should be avoided. We further dismiss the claim that “the stems and leaves are used medicinally to treat severe injuries, fractures, swellings, colds, lumbago, snake bites, coughs, and bronchitis.”

Does Rhaphidophora Decursiva Produce Flowers Indoors?

1. decursiva will occasionally blossom inside, despite its rarity as a houseplant.

This is most likely if you fertilize monthly during active development (spring and summer) and bimonthly during dormancy (fall and winter.)

If let to mature, these plants normally bloom in the spring or summer. Nonetheless, they are unlikely to blossom as houseplants.

Rhaphidophora decursiva typically has bisexual, inconspicuous yellowish-white blooms on an upright corn-like spadix. A yellowish curved or boat-shaped leafy-like bract surrounds the spadix (spathe).

To learn more about the spadix, it is an inflorescence with a fleshy stalk that contains small flowers that is common to many plants in the arum family.