Philodendron Selloum Houseplant Tips

Hi Shaden,

Here is some advice how to help your Philodendron Selloum grow better.

Light
Philodendron Selloums grow well in bright indirect light. In lower light the leaves of a Philodendron Selloum turn a darker green. Direct sun or too much direct light burns or fades the leaves of a Philodendron Selloum.

Water
Unlike other Philodendrons, the Philodendron Selloum likes moist but not soggy soil. During the winter, water this Philodendron less often, keeping the soil barely moist.

Fertilizer
Feed a Philodendron Selloum with a water soluble fertilizer monthly during the spring, summer, and fall. Dilute the plant food to 1/2 the recommended strength to avoid excess salts building up in the soil of a Philodendron Selloum and burning the leaves.

Temperature
Philodendron Selloums like to be warm so keep the temperature above 55 degrees during the winter.

Humidity
A Philodendron Selloum is a tree philodendron and has thinner leaves than many of its relatives, this is why it needs a more humid environment to flourish. If your house or office is very dry in the winter, place a Philodendron Selloum near a humidifier or on a wet pebble tray.

Flowering
It takes about 15-20 years for a Philodendron Selloum to flower and it rarely flowers indoors. The pedal-less flowers of a Philodendron Selloum are enclosed in a spathe, a modified leaf, which is often mistaken for the flower.

Pests
Plant insects such as Aphids, Mealy Bugs, scale, and spider mites can be a problem for a Philodendron Selloum. If your Selloum gets any of these pests, spray the entire plant with warm soapy water or the green solution. Scrape off scale with a children’s toothbrush.

Diseases
Bacterial Blight is a plant disease that infects a Philodendron Selloum causing small very dark green blotches on leaves which expand rapidly. Infected leaves eventually rot and die, becoming quite smelly in the process. The best way to prevent this plant disease from infecting your Philodendron Selloum is to keep the leaves dry at all times, avoid overhead watering, and immediately remove any infected leaves.

Soil
A Philodendron Selloum grows best in a rich, slightly alkaline soil that retains moisture. The leaf tips of a Philodendron Selloum burn when there is too much salt in the soil usually due to over-feeding.

Pot Size
Re-pot a Philodendron Selloum when it becomes pot-bound. You can tell it’s time for a larger pot when the roots take on the shape of the existing pot. The new container for the Selloum should be 1″-2″ wider and deeper than the previous container.

Pruning
Prune a Philodendron Selloum with sharp pruners to control its size and shape. You can cut entire leaves off of a Selloum at the base of the leaf stem. Remove lower leaves to reveal the plant’s stem. Wear gloves when pruning a Philodendron Selloum and wash your hands and tools when finished. All Philodendrons are very poisonous and you don’t want to get the sap in your eyes or mouth.

Propagation
Philodendron Selloums are easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Dipping the cut end into a little Rooting Hormone increases the chances of success.

Poisonous Plant Info
A Philodendron Selloum is a very poisonous houseplant with a level #3 toxicity. All Philodendron Plants are poisonous if ingested and the sap may irritate the skin.