Rhaphidophora Decursiva care: Ultimate Grow & Care Guide

Rhapidophora decursiva is a rare epiphyte gaining popularity all over for its pinnate lobed leaves.

Let me guide you toward how you keep these tropical gifts vibrant for many years.

Plant Overview

Rhaphidophora decursiva natively ranges from the Indian Subcontinent to Southern China.

Let’s look at a brief overview of the favorite piece of décor of many households:

Rhaphidophora Decursiva: Best Care Hack

Regardless of how intimidating the plant appears, if you own any tropical plants like Monstera and Philodendron, taking care of Rhapidophora decursive will not bother you.

1. Sunlight & Temperature

Decursiva adores 6-8 hours of bright dappled light with temperatures ranging from 60-70°F.

A drop in temperature below 50°F causes frost injuries to the plant. Also, harsh sunlight scorches the leaves of the dragon tail.

Likewise, low-light conditions slow down leaf development and ultimately cease plant growth.

Moving the plant near an east-facing window or using a grow light helps maintain optimum warmth and light condition. 

You can have a delightful experience raising a Rhapidophora if you live anywhere from zone 10 to 12.

2. Water & Humidity

Rhapidopera decursiva is a vining tropical plant that thrives in relatively high-humid conditions demanding weekly watering.

Lightly mist the plant with distilled or rainwater, or simply group it with other house plants for enough moist air.

Humidifiers could be a savior if the leaves of your plants are curling and yellowing.

Also, water the plant deeply and thoroughly only once the top half of the soil is dry. You can use a hygrometer or a chopstick to check the soil’s dryness before watering.

Bottom watering could be a perfect way to water decursiva. 

Further, reducing the watering frequency to every 10-14 days during the colder months is essential when the plants are less active.

3. Soil & Fertilizer

Dragon tails attain fuller growth in a well-draining nutrient-rich medium, similar to Rhapidophora pertusa.

While overfeeding triggers salt buildup triggering the root burn, your plant might be wilting and droopy due to a lack of nutrients in the soil.

For that, use some all-purpose fertilizer or a 20-20-20 fertilizer once every month, diluted to its 1/4 strength.

However, it would be best to avoid fertilizing the plants, for winter is the plant’s sleeping phase.

Meanwhile, the texture of the soil has a lot to do with plant growth. Add perlite, peat moss, and bark chip in the soil mix to avoid soil compaction elevating to a withered plant.

4. Potting & Repotting

As a vigorous grower, Decurciva requires annual repotting in a 2-3 inch larger pot.

Repotting allows the roots to have enough space for airflow and growth.

In addition, it might be a signal for a bigger home if the water quickly runs out from the bottom of the pot and the leaves appear discolored and gloomy.

While repotting, use a terracotta pot with a few drain holes, or drill the hole on your own to prevent roots from going soggy.

5. Pruning

Pruning in Rhapidophora is essentially done to make it aesthetically appealing when it has outgrown your space.

Trimming of the leggy stem growth allows room for new luscious growth, discouraging the spread of infections.

That said, excessive pruning of the plant (over 25% ) will stress the plant.

Instead, trim a few leaves in a day until all the deformed parts are removed.

Propagating Rhaphidoptera Decursiva

The most effective way to propagate Rhapidoptera Decursiva is via stem cutting and air layering. 

You might find some seed propagation methods online, but trust me, it takes ages for your seed to turn into a full-fledged plant.

The perfect time to jump into propagation would be spring and summer.

1. Air Layering

Producing a new plant from the stem still intact to the mother plant is called air layering.

• Select a healthy stem and make a small cut using a garden knife in the middle.
• Keep the wound open by using a toothpick.
• Wrap the wound with moist sphagnum moss as a substrate to initiate rooting.
• Use plant twine or ties to secure the layered portion and cover it with a plastic bag.

It might take a few weeks to a month for new growth and roots to appear.

You can transplant the rooted portion into a new pot or container, separating it from the mother plant.

2. Stem Cutting 

To propagate your plants, stem cutting is the easiest method. 

To start, you will need a garden shear, rooting hormones, and some potting mix.

• Identify a healthy stem with multiple leaves, nodes, and vibrant colors.
• Cut 2-3″ of the stem, preferably with aerial roots. Make sure the cutting has at least two nodes.
• Fill a jar with water, add a few drops of rooting hormone and place the cutting.

• Make sure to change the water once every week to avoid root rot.
• Or, simply plant the cutting into a fresh potting mix.
• Rooting shall begin in about 4-5 weeks.

When directly planting the cutting in soil, regularly mist the potting soil. 

Transplant the cutting once the root is firm and the plant is 3-4 inches tall. 

Rhaphidophora Decursiva: All About Growth

Rhaphidophora is a fast-growing plant depending mainly upon the environment you provide them.

This robust plant could easily reach up to 40 feet in its natural habitat, with each leaf 40 inches long and 20 inches wide.

And the oval, disk-like shaped green colored leaves contain asymmetrical 9-15 lobes that extend up to 6 inches, resembling a dragon’s tail. 

You might have a rare view of flowers in thick spadix covered in the yellow spathe, up to 3.5 cm, during spring and fall.

Pro tips: Rotate the plant once every 20 days for balanced and uniform growth.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva : Plant on sale

These mini monsters like plants, are considered shop favorites and are touted as rare.

It is not available often, and when it is, it gets out of stock too soon.

Here are some genuine sellers to get your plant on your doorstep. 

Toxicity of Rhaphidophora decursiva

According to Queensland Government, each and every part of Rhaphidophora decursiva are poisonous as they contain calcium oxalate crystals.

Following this, your pet might have a puffier look due to irritation, burning of the mouth, and swelling of the lips.

While in humans, the poisoning has other distinct symptoms like painful urination, numbness of the tongue, and dizziness.

It is always recommended to contact the vet nearby or the hotlines below if your pet or kid mistakes the plant for food. 

•  ASPCA: (800)426-4435
• America’s Poison Helpline: (800)222-1222

Despite the risk, if you long for the plant, keeping them away from the reach of your pets and kids could help.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva vs. Philodendron dragon tail

Rhaphidophora Decursiva is often mistaken for Epipremnum Pinnatum due to the ‘dragon tails’ in their names.

Although both belong to the same family, ‘Araceae,’ they differ in appearance, size, and genus.