Plant of the Month- Selloum Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)

Looking for a large showy plant to fill a bright corner of your home or office? The Selloum Philodendron may be a good option. This non-climbing member of the Philodendron family grows quickly and is relatively easy to maintain. In its native tropical habitat, Paraguay and Brazil, it can grow to heights of 15ft and be over 10ft in width. The leaves are large, often 12-24″ long and have many wavy deep lobes around the edges.

Outdoors it does produce flowers, but these are almost never seen on a plant grown indoors.The Selloum grows best in bright filtered light. It does not tolerate dryness, so keep it evenly moist at all times. Its large leaves are quite delicate and therefore prefer a humid location whenever possible. Regular pruning is needed to keep the plant a manageable size. As it grows taller, the weight of the leaves usually pull the main stem over. It can take on some very unusual forms when this happens, often growing horizontally along the floor.
The Philodendron Selloum is quite resistant to disease and pests. It is prone to spider mites if the air is too dry. Although rare, the thrip pest may infest this plant and can severely damage the leaves. Regular inspection and cleaning of the leaves with a damp cloth will prevent most insect issues. Regular fertilizing is important too; this will keep the leaves from becoming pale and yellow.