Homalomena Plant (Homalomena)

An Emerald Gem Plant or Homalomena, native to tropical Asia and South America, is an upright plant with dark green, waxy, spade-shaped leaves. The short compact shape of an Emerald Gem Plant makes it ideal for areas with height restrictions. Emerald Gem Plants are usually 12″-30″ in height when sold in the stores. Although an Emerald Gem Plant is a relative of the easy-care Philodendron, it is a lot more finicky and requires more attention. However, if you are tired of the same old houseplants, a Homalomena or Emerald gem Plant makes a nice addition to your plant collection.

LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS: A Homalomena Plant requires medium indirect light but grows even better in bright indirect light. Homalomenas can survive in low light but become thin and spindly. The bottom leaves of an Emerald Gem Plant turn yellow and fall off when there is not enough light.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS WATER: Watering is the most difficult part of caring for an Emerald Gem Plant. When an Emerald Gem Plant is either over or under watered the bottom leaves fall off. Always allow the top 50% of the soil of an Emerald Gem Plant to dry out before watering. An Emerald Gem Plant doesn’t like anything cold, so use warm water and never dump extra ice cubes into the soil.

FERTILIZER: Feed an Emerald Gem Plant monthly in the spring and summer when the plant is actively growing with a basic houseplant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. In the fall and winter fertilize an Emerald Gem Plant every other month if the plant is producing new leaves.

TEMPERATURE: Emerald Gem Plants like warm household temperatures between 65-80 degrees. Keep Homalomanas away from air conditioners and cold drafts.

HUMIDITY: An Emerald Gem Plant does well in regular household humidity.

FLOWERING: An Emerald Gem Plant or Homalomena produces spaths which rarely open so flowers are not often seen.

PESTS: Emerald Gem Plants are fairly pest resistant. If spider mites, Mealy Bugs, or white flies appear, spray an Emerald Gem Plant with the green solution.

DISEASES: Emerald Gem plants are disease resistant plants.

SOIL: Use a quick-draining, loose soil, containing plenty of peat moss, perlite, and hard sand for an Emerald gem Plant. This type of soil helps prevent an Emerald gem Plant from getting root rot.