Philodendron Selloum

Philodendron bipinnatifidum

Tree Philodendron

A Philodendron Selloum or Tree Philodendron is native to South America, but also grows outdoors on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. Indoors, the easy-care, self-heading Philodendron Selloum takes up a lot of space, often spreading 5ft. or more with 2ft.-3ft. leaves. The dark green, shiny leaves are large and deeply lobed. A Selloum does grow a trunk as it matures, but the huge drooping leaves usually hide it.

These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants

Light

A Philodendron Selloum grows well in bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light.. In lower light, the leaves turn a darker green; direct sun or too much light burns or fades the leaves.

Water

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

Fertilizer

Feed a Philodendron Selloum monthly during the spring, summer, and fall with a water-soluble fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. diluted to ½ the recommended strength. Too much plant food causes excess salt build up in the soil that can result in leaf burn.

Temperature

Philodendron Selloums like warm temperatures above 55 degrees. Keep them away from drafts and open doors especially during the winter.

Humidity

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

Flowering

It takes about 15-20 years for a mature 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 itself.

Pests

Plant insects such as AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com., Mealy BugsLearn how to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky, white, cottony residue on houseplants., scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew., and spider mitesLearn how to identify and treat Spider Mites on plants. This sucking plant pest causes yellow blotchy leaves with a red haze and a gritty feel to them. can be a problem. If any of these Plant PestLearn how to identify and treat the plant pest called Whitefly at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/whitefly-plant-pestss infect your Selloum, spray the entire plant with warm soapy water or the green solutionIf you don't want to use a commercial chemical product to treat plant pest problems try the “Green Solution.” This is a mixture of water, alcohol, biodegradable liquid soap, and mineral oil. Always test any spray on one or two leaves to be sure it won’t damage the plant. Depending upon how severe the infestation is, you can use these ingredients in varying proportions. If there are only a few pests, dip a Q-tip in alcohol and gently swab them off. For a more widespread problem, start by using a spray of warm water mixed with a few tablespoons of biodegradable soap. If that doesn’t cure the problem, make a solution using 8oz. water & 8oz. alcohol, add two tablespoons of biodegradable soap and two tablespoons of mineral oil. Spray all areas of the plant. Use this solution on leathery leafed plants (except palms), never on fuzzy leafed plants like African Violets or Begonias. For palms, omit the alcohol from the Green Solution. Never spray a plant that’s sitting in the sun or one with very dry soil. . Scrape off scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew. with a child’s toothbrush.

Diseases

Bacterial Blight can infect a Philodendron Selloum, causing small very dark green blotches on leaves that expand rapidly. Infected leaves eventually rot and die, becoming quite smelly in the process. The best way to prevent Bacterial Blight 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 rich, slightly alkaline soil that retains moisture. The leaf tips of a Philodendron Selloum burn if there is too much salt in the soil usually due to over-feeding.

Pot Size

You can tell it's time to move your Philodendron Selloum to a larger pot when the roots have filled the existing pot. The new container should be only 1"-2" wider and deeper than the previous container.

Pruning

Prune a Philodendron Selloum with sharp pruners or scissors to control its size and shape. You can remove entire leaves be cutting them off at the base of the leaf stem. You can remove the lower leaves if you want to reveal the plant's stem. Wear gloves when pruning a Philodendron Selloum and wash your hands and tools when finished, you don't want to get the sap in your eyes or mouth.

Propagation

Propagate a Philodendron Selloum from stem cuttings. Dip the cut end of the stem in a little Rooting HormoneRooting Hormone helps plant cuttings produce new roots and is very important to use if you want your propagation attempts to be successful. Always dip the cut end of a stem or leaf into water and then dip it into the rooting hormone before planting it. Tap off any excess powder since too much hormone is worse than too little. to increase the chance of success.

Poisonous Plant Info

A Philodendron Selloum is a very poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. houseplant with a levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222****** Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant. Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties. Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur. Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening. Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets. See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants #3 toxicity. All Philodendron contain calcium oxalate crystals. Eating any part of the plant may cause the following symptoms: pain in the mouth, drooling (dogs & cats), and vomiting. If swelling of the lips, tongue, and airway occurs, it becomes difficult to breathe or swallow.

Why are the leaf tips on my Philodendron Selloum turning brown and curling?

When a Philodendron Selloum has too much salt in the soil, usually from too much plant food or from using water that has passed through a water softener, the leaf tips turn brown and curl. Always dilute your plant food to 1/2 the recommended strength and never use water for any houseplants that has passed through a water softener. Drench the soil with some distilled water and feed your Philodendron Selloum less often.

What are the very dark green spots between the veins on the leaves of my Philodendron Selloum?

The very dark green spots between the veins on the leaves of your Philodendron Selloum are caused by low room temperature. These plants like to be warm and cozy so always keep the temperature above 55 degrees and never place a Philodendron Selloum near an air conditioner in the summer, or a door during the winter.

Why are the leaves on my Philodendron Selloum turning pale green?

The leaves on a Philodendron Selloum usually turn pale green when the plant needs more fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. or if the plant is getting too much bright lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light..