Chris Buckland
If you are someone who adores huge, extraordinary, and stunning tropical plants, then you will totally fall in love with the Philodendron bipinnatifidum. Also known as Philodendron Selloum, this exquisite plant has beautiful, dark green leaves that grow like a tree.
Trust me; this is one of the best indoor plants to make your space look like a real-life jungle. No matter where you place it; living room, bedroom, or guest room – it will fill the area with charisma and boldness!
The Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant can spread up to 5 feet, and its leaves can be anywhere between 2 to 3 feet wide. With that being said, this plant will require a huge area and space while making it hard for people to ignore its beauty.
Also, the texture of the leaves is super shiny along with unique lobe shapes spreading wide. As the plant is tropical, it is commonly found in South America, Brazil, and Argentina.
The plant doesn’t require a hardcore maintenance routine, but still, you need to give it some extra care to keep its beauty and boldness intact! Not sure how to do that? Well, what are we here for? Below, we are sharing all the tiny bit details you need to know about this plant, along with all the care routines and some decor ideas. Keep Reading, it will get interesting!
Characteristics of the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum
| Origin | It is native to South America, Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. |
| Botanical Name | Philodendron bipinnatifidum |
| Maintenance | Medium Maintenance |
| Light | Bright and Indirect Light |
| Temperature | 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and pets |
| Flowering | It doesn’t bloom often |
| Other Names | Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, Philodendron Selloum, and horsehead philodendron |
| Maximum Size | Up to 5 feet long, and leaves 2 to 3 feet wide. |
| Propagation | It is propagated through stem cuttings. |
How to Care for the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum?
As we have mentioned above, the beautiful, large, and vivid Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant will ask for a little extra care, affection, and effort from you.
Obviously, it needs some extra maintenance to stay in its perfect, beautiful shape, right? There are no hard and fast rules, just a simple maintenance routine to keep your Philodendron Bipinnatifidum fresh and happy! Here is a little care guide for your convenience:
Light for Philodendron Bipinnatifidum
The Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant loves bright and shining sunlight to thrive and grow to its fullest, but only if it is indirect.
If you place the plant in direct sunlight, its leaves will burn while turning brown and rusty. So, it would be best to put the plant in front of a north-facing window, where the sun rays are bright yet indirect. Here are detailed instructions on How Much Light Does Your Plant Need?
Also, the plant can tolerate low-light conditions as well. But make sure to provide it with proper and bright sunlight once in a while to fulfill its needs.
Temperature
The Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant is not so demanding in terms of temperature. In fact, it can thrive and flourish in a normal home temperature. The ideal temperature for this plant is between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, anything above 55 degrees Fahrenheit would also work.
Moreover, if you are placing this plant somewhere outside, make sure to bring it inside when the temperature drops. Freezing weather and the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum are not exactly best friends!
Watering
Unlike some other plants, the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum loves water, and it needs a lot of it. Therefore, you need to keep your soil moist all the time. Not soggy and filled with water – just moist. To avoid sogginess, make sure to build drainage holes in the pot to get rid of excessive water.
So, it would be best to water your Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant two times a week, especially in spring and summer. However, you can squeeze the watering in autumn and winter. All you need to do is keep the soil moist, always!
Humidity
Again, as compared to some other house plants, the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum needs an extra amount of humidity to thrive and grow. See, it is a huge plant, with big and thin leaves, so it will definitely need high levels of humidity to avoid rusting and crunchiness.
The ideal level of humidity for the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum is 70% to 80% – not less and not more than that. For your plant’s best care, you must know about What is High Humidity and How to Increase Humidity for Your Houseplants
If you live in a humid area, achieving this level wouldn’t be a problem. If not, then that is not a big issue either. You can spray your plant with a mist daily, place it in the bathroom for a while, and the easiest one; buy a small-sized humidifier.
Soil
Talking about the soil, the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum has very common and basic requirements. Like all the other houseplants, it also loves lightweight and good-quality soil. Also, the soil should be well-draining to avoid sogginess and pounds of water.
So, it is essential to buy a well-draining and lightweight soil, containing loads of organic and beneficial substances like sand and pumice.
Fertilizing
This is the most important step – you should fertilize your Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant once after every 2 weeks to keep it happy, fresh, and healthy! For this, you need a good, lightweight fertilizer formulated especially for inhouse and tropical plants.
Also, make sure to decide the amount of fertilizer after thorough and detailed research. Too much food can cause the leaves to rust, crisp, and burn.
Philodendron Bipinnatifidum Decoration Ideas
Now that we have gone through the technical and care details, let’s move to the fun and creative part! Here are a few ideas on how you can decorate this bold beauty in your home:
Wooden Pot
Want to go for the full jungle and tropical vibes? Place your Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant in a wooden pot and place it in any corner of your home!
Long Vases
Find a beautiful, long, and vintage vase and place the Philodendron Selloum plant in it for a chic yet traditional look!
Glass Jars
Nothing can beat the beauty and simplicity of clear glass jars, right? Put the plant in a crystal-clear glass vase/jar for a minimalist yet classy vibe!
Main Door Entrance
Want to leave your guests stunned with sheer beauty and boldness? Place the Philodendron Selloum plant at your main door entrance!
Stair Cases
Place the plant at the foot of your staircase for some extra decor for your house. And yes, also putting the plant in a wicker basket would be like a cherry on top!
Common Issues of the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum
Luckily, the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum causes no diseases, at all. However, there are a few issues with pests and bugs like every other houseplant, but you can resolve them conveniently and smoothly. Let’s take a look:
Mealybugs
Mealybugs and in-house plants are a very common combination – nothing new. These small, cotton-like bugs feed on the roots of your plant, and the earlier you find them, the quicker you can get rid of them. All you need are some q-tips, alcohol, or an insecticide.
Spray the liquid on the plant to kill all the mealybugs, and then remove them with the help of q-tips or cotton buds.
Scale
Scale is another kind of bug, but a bit stronger and trickier than mealy bugs. They stick to the stems of your plant and have extremely hard shells. However, still, there is a way to get rid of them. First of all, you need to break their shells with a blade or knife.
After that, take some q-tips and an insecticide and repeat the process you do for the mealybugs!
Why should you get a Philodendron Bipinnatifidum?
All the minor issues aside, the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum gifts you with a few undeniable health benefits as well. Let’s take a look:
- They suck all the pollutants, allergens, and dust particles from the air while acting as a vacuum.
- The Philodendron Bipinnatifidum is proven to be extremely beneficial in raising the oxygen levels in the atmosphere.
- The plant effectively removes formaldehyde from the air – a harmful toxin for your lungs.
Risks Associated with Philodendron Bipinnatifidum
The Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can be harmful and toxic to both pets and humans if ingested. Therefore, make sure to keep the plant away from your tummy, and out of reach of children and pets at all times.
However, if someone still ingests them by mistake, rush to the hospital or vet immediately. You will undergo a minor treatment for food poisoning and you’re good to go!
Now that you know all about the huge and extravagant Philodendron Bipinnatifidum plant, we are sure you are ready to brighten up your space by buying it. Just keep all the maintenance tips and risks in mind, and make sure to provide the plant with utmost care and affection!
Read more about Philodendron Xanadu!
If you have other houseplants in your home, you can check out our blog to know more about how to keep them thriving!
FAQs
How big does a Philodendron bipinnatifidum plant get?
The size of a Philodendron bipinnatifidum will depend on many different factors, including the care it is given and its growing conditions. In general, however, these plants will grow to be anywhere from 6 inches to 3 feet tall.
The width of the plant will also vary, but it can get up to 3 feet across.
Is Philodendron bipinnatifidum same as Selloum?
No, they are two different plants. Selloum is also called as African violet, is a very popular plant and is a member of the species Streptophyta bifolia.
The Philodendron bipinnatifidum is a very easy plant to grow and maintain because it can adapt to many different light and environmental conditions. It has a lovely purple leaf which contrasts well with the white flowers that it produces.
How fast does Philodendron bipinnatifidum plant grow?
In the right conditions, Philodendron bipinnatifidum plants can grow to be large and very full. The best way to water a Philodendron bipinnatifidum plant is to soak the entire pot in water for 10 minutes. This will help the roots soak up water and nutrients that are deep in the pot. Then, empty out the excess water and let the roots dry out a little bit. This will help prevent root rot.
The best light conditions for Philodendron bipinnatifidums are bright, but not direct sunlight. They need bright indirect sunlight or artificial light. Humidity should be 50-70%. The ideal temperature is 22-24 degrees C.
It can take up to 6 months for your plant to start showing signs of growth, but once it does, the plant will grow quickly. In ideal conditions, your plant can grow up to 10 cm a month!
