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.
A Philodendron Selloum grows well in bright indirect light. In lower light, the leaves turn a darker green; direct sun or too much light burns or fades the leaves.
Unlike other Philodendrons, the Philodendron Selloum likes moist but not soggy soil. During the winter, water less often, keeping the soil barely moist.
Philodendron Selloums like warm temperatures above 55 degrees. Keep them away from drafts and open doors especially during the winter.
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.
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.
Plant insects such as Aphids, Mealy Bugs, scale, and spider mites can be a problem. If any of these Plant Pests infect your Selloum, spray the entire plant with warm soapy water. Scrape off scale with a child’s toothbrush.
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.
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.
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.