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Plant care

Heart-leaved Homalomena (Heart Homalomena) care

Homalomena cordata

Also called Heart-leaved Homalomena, Heart Homalomena.

RHS H1bUSDA 10–12Toxic to petsIndoor 40–60 cm tall and 30–50 cm wide

Watering rhythm

10-14days

Every 10–14 days in growing season; every 14–21 days in winter

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Light

Low light (north window or shaded room)

Soil

Well-draining aroid mix

Humidity

50–70%

Temp

18–30°C

Pet safety

Toxic to pets

Mature size

40–60 cm tall and 30–50 cm wide

Care at a glance

Light

If you have a corner where every other plant turned leggy and died, try heart-leaved homalomena. One of the more shade-tolerant aroids, H. cordata thrives in low to medium indirect light. It adapts well to interior spaces away from windows. Avoid direct sunlight, which quickly bleaches and scorches the foliage. The catch: when a low-light plant does fail, it's almost always because someone watered it on the same schedule as their brighter plants. Less light = less water, every time.

Watering

Watering heart-leaved homalomena: every 10–14 days in growing season; every 14–21 days in winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Allow the top third of the compost to dry out between waterings. Homalomena are more drought-tolerant than Philodendron but still susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Water less in winter when growth nearly stops. Always use well-draining pots.

Soil and pot

Heart-leaved Homalomena grows best in well-draining aroid mix. A mix of peat-free compost, perlite (30%), and orchid bark (20%) provides the excellent drainage this genus requires while retaining enough moisture for healthy growth. Avoid dense, water-retentive composts that stay wet for prolonged periods. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Heart-leaved Homalomena sits happiest at around 50–70% humidity and 18–30°C (64–86°F). Appreciates moderate to high humidity but is more tolerant of average household humidity (40–50%) than many aroids. Misting or a pebble tray is beneficial in winter when central heating dries the air. Avoid cold, dry draughts. If you keep the room above 18–30°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed heart-leaved homalomena sparingly. Feed monthly from spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. The slower growth rate of Homalomena means it needs less frequent fertilising than faster-growing aroids. Withhold feed entirely in autumn and winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on heart-leaved homalomena in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Yellow leaves — Typically indicates overwatering or root rot. Check that the root ball is not sitting in standing water. Allow more drying time between waterings and ensure the pot drains freely. A single yellow lower leaf occasionally is normal as the plant matures.
  • Stunted or very slow growth — Homalomena are naturally slow growers, but growth that effectively stops outside winter may indicate rootbound conditions, very low light, or cold temperatures below 16°C. Repot in spring if roots are circling the pot base, improve light levels, or move away from cold windows.
  • Root rot — Caused by consistently wet soil, especially in winter or in pots without drainage. Remove damaged roots, dust cut surfaces with powdered cinnamon or sulphur as a mild fungicide, and repot into dry, well-draining aroid mix. Water sparingly until new growth resumes.

Propagation

Divide clumps at repotting time in spring, ensuring each division has healthy roots and at least two to three leaves. Stem cuttings with a node can be rooted in water or moist sphagnum moss under warm, humid conditions, though success rates are lower than for division. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Heart-leaved Homalomena is toxic to pets. Homalomena belongs to the Araceae family and, like most aroids, contains calcium oxalate crystals. Ingestion causes oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting in cats and dogs. H. cordata is not individually listed by ASPCA, but based on family toxic principles (Araceae, calcium oxalate), it should be treated as toxic to pets and kept out of reach. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Heart-leaved Homalomena care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Homalomena cordata?

Homalomena cordata is most commonly called Heart-leaved Homalomena, but it is also known as Heart-leaved Homalomena, Heart Homalomena. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Heart-leaved Homalomena apply identically to anything sold as Heart Homalomena.

How much light does heart-leaved homalomena need?

Heart-leaved Homalomena grows best in low light (north window or shaded room). One of the more shade-tolerant aroids, H. cordata thrives in low to medium indirect light. It adapts well to interior spaces away from windows. Avoid direct sunlight, which quickly bleaches and scorches the foliage.

How often should I water heart-leaved homalomena?

Water heart-leaved homalomena every 10–14 days in growing season; every 14–21 days in winter. Allow the top third of the compost to dry out between waterings. Homalomena are more drought-tolerant than Philodendron but still susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Water less in winter when growth nearly stops. Always use well-draining pots. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is heart-leaved homalomena toxic to cats and dogs?

Heart-leaved Homalomena is toxic to pets. Homalomena belongs to the Araceae family and, like most aroids, contains calcium oxalate crystals. Ingestion causes oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting in cats and dogs. H. cordata is not individually listed by ASPCA, but based on family toxic principles (Araceae, calcium oxalate), it should be treated as toxic to pets and kept out of reach.

What USDA hardiness zone does heart-leaved homalomena grow in?

Heart-leaved Homalomena is rated for USDA zone 10–12 and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Heart-leaved Homalomena deep-dive guides

Every aspect of heart-leaved homalomena care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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Heart-leaved Homalomena qualifies for 6 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Heart-leaved Homalomena is also commonly called Heart-leaved Homalomena or Heart Homalomena.