Philodendrons are a popular house plant with many different varieties. In fact, there are over 480 recognized types of Philodendron plants. One of the most interesting types of Philodendrons is the Philodendron Selloum.
The Philodendron Selloum is a plant by many names, and it’s one of the most common Philodendron plants you’ll see in the homes of plant enthusiasts.
In this article, you’ll learn why these plants are so popular and find out what Philodendron Selloum care involves in order to maintain these lush plants.
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Philodendron Selloum Name
The Philodendron Selloum was recently reclassified as Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, as it has been recently discovered that it is part of the Thaumatophyllum. Nonetheless, it is still commonly referred to as the Philodendron Selloum.
This Philodendron plant is known by a variety of other names, such as:
- Hope Philodendron
- Philodendron bipinnatifidum
- Horsehead Philodendron
- Tree Philodendron
If you see any of these names, they are most likely referring to the same plant. No matter how you want to call the Philodendron Selloum, there are a few basic elements about it that you should know.
Philodendron Selloum – The Basics
The Philodendron Selloum is a floor plant that is used to living in tropical rainforest environments. It is native to South America and can be found in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. In its natural habitat, this Philodendron plant grows across the floor, but you can use stakes to brace your Philodendron Selloum and encourage it to grow upward instead.
The Philodendron Selloum, as with other types of plants in its family, is known for its large green leaves with unique lobes and abundant foliage. A Philodendron Selloum leaf can potentially grow up to five feet long, but these larger leaves rarely grow this big as a houseplant. However, be prepared for these indoor plants to take up a lot of space and give any room a tropical feel.
It’s important to note that Philodendron Selloum is not only poisonous to pets, but they’re also harmful to humans. Make sure that you keep your plant away from small children.
Let’s discuss what Philodendron Selloum care looks like.
Philodendron Selloum Care – What You Need to Know
Despite how elaborate and dramatic this plant looks, Philodendron Selloum care isn’t as difficult as caring for other plants. As long as you keep the basics in mind, you should be able to foster an environment for this Philodendron plant to thrive.
Here are different elements that go into taking care of your Philodendron Selloum.
1. Make sure it gets enough light … but not directly
As with many rainforest plants, Philodendron Selloum plants thrive best in bright, indirect light. As floor plans, they live under the foliage of tall trees in the rainforest, which blocks most of the light.
It’s important to get the lighting conditions right for your Philodendron Selloum. It’s fine with a few hours of direct light in the morning but be sure to limit it to only a few hours early in the day.
Too much direct light could cause your plant’s leaves to turn yellow and possibly burn them. Not enough light will not only cause the leaves to turn dark green, but they’ll also become leggy, lose their shine, and stunt your plant’s growth.
For optimal light conditions, place your Philodendron Selloum near a north-facing window and rotate it from time to time to ensure even light exposure.
2. Quench its thirst, but not too much
One of the most difficult parts of caring for any plant is watering, and the Philodendron Selloum is no exception.
Since it is a tropical plant, the Philodendron Selloum needs water, and it doesn’t handle a lack of water very well. If you don’t water your Philodendron Selloum enough, you’ll notice that its leaves will wilt, change color, or start to drop.
At the same time, overwatering your Philodendron Selloum may cause it to become waterlogged. This creates an ideal environment for root rot to occur, which could also be detrimental to your plant’s health.
Make sure that you plant your Philodendron Selloum in a pot with drainage holes to let the excess water run through. Thoroughly water your plant until the soil is moist and discard the excess water at the bottom.
To test whether your Philodendron Selloum needs to be watered, touch the top inch of the soil to assess how moist it is. If the top inch is dry to the touch, your Philodendron Selloum needs water.
If you live somewhere humid, you’ll probably need to water your Philodendron Selloum less often. If you live in a dry climate, you’ll need to water it more often. The Philodendron Selloum loves warm temperatures and humidity, so to make up for the lack of moisture in the air, consider misting your plant from time to time or getting a humidifier.
3. Quality soil makes all the difference
Water and soil go hand in hand when it comes to Philodendron Selloum care. This plant needs soil that retains moisture, but that also drains properly.
Choose a soil that’s dark, rich, and slightly alkaline. Make sure that there isn’t too much salt in it, or else it may cause the tips of the leaves to burn. Adding peat moss to your soil will help with proper drainage.
4. Prune for aesthetic purposes
Pruning isn’t a necessary part of Philodendron Selloum care, but it’s great if you want to control the shape of your plant.
You can make your Philodendron Selloum less full by cutting off entire leaves at the base of the stem. If you want to expose the base of the plant’s stem to make it look more like a tree, you can also cut around the base.
Remember, the Philodendron Selloum is harmful to humans, so make sure to always wash your hands after handling the plant.
Summary
The Philodendron Selloum is one of the most interesting-looking types of Philodendrons, and one that you should consider adding to your garden. These plants provide a dramatic effect, and under proper conditions, they’ll grow to be lush and abundant, potentially taking over your garden.
Hopefully, you’ve learned that Philodendron Selloum plants are easier to take care of than you might have thought, making them worth the investment.
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Friday 27th of May 2022
[…] In its natural habitat, this Philodendron plant grows across the floor, but you can use stakes to brace your Philodendron Selloum and encourage it to grow upward instead. The Philodendron Selloum, as with other types of plants in its family, is known for its large green leaves with unique lobes and abundant foliage. via […]