True to its name, everything about the Philodendron Giganteum is grand in scale. The main reason for choosing to grow Giganteum is its ability to add lots to a room. It can also fill gaps in a garden with its lush leaves.
Understanding Philodendron Giganteum
The Giganteum belongs to the Araceae family. Its rich, glossy green leaves are well-known. They unfurl into large, elephant-ear-like shapes as the plant ages. These leaves can often reach a size of 60 cm. Under great conditions, the plant can grow very fast. It can reach heights of several meters.
Giganteum is not a plant of subtle accents; it is a space-filler. Its green is lush and vibrant. We recommend planting Giganteum in big indoor or outdoor spaces. You can appreciate its volume and beauty there.
Before caring for Philodendron Giganteum, you must know a bit about where it’s from. Opinions vary. But, it is believed that they come from the Caribbean. Caring for Giganteum involves simulating a tropical environment. It needs ample warmth, bright light, and humidity.
Identifying Philodendron Giganteum
Knowing how to identify Giganteum is key. There are many large types of Philodendron with distinct care needs. Nurseries often label them as ‘Giant Philo’ without specifying the exact type.
Philodendron Giganteum has heart-shaped leaves that are rich green, intact, and non-lobed. The leaves’ underside has prominent petioles with veins. They spread to the edges and come alive in the light.
Giganteum is not like many common philodendron varieties, which resemble vines. It is more like a canopy. It stacks its leaf stalks. The stem stays hidden until it sheds some of the lower (older) leaves.
Now, let’s dive into this detailed guide for the care of Giganteum. We will provide practical tips. They will help you grow and care for Giganteum well. This will keep it healthy and pretty.
Philodendron Giganteum Care Guide
Soil
For growing Giganteum in pots, use a rich, loose planting mix. It should drain well and have organic matter and sphagnum moss.
An easy option is to buy a cactus or succulent mix and add Malang sand and peat moss to it. Include chunks of organic material, like broken bricks, coconut coir, and bark. The plant’s roots prefer to wrap around these materials.
Caring for Philodendron Giganteum is much simpler. Plant it in the ground outside. Any place with drying soil is suitable. They thrive in soil with lots of organic matter. Use plenty of leaf mulch and sterile compost. They will help the soil keep water.
Tip: Use high spots at your yard’s edge or tree mounds for growing Philodendron Giganteum. This landscaping allows for natural water drainage.
Light
Philodendron Giganteum requires 70-85% sunlight exposure. The rich green color of its leaves shows their need for lots of light. They need it to make chlorophyll. This is an adaptation to the low light under the canopy of large tropical trees. It is also an adaptation to the cool, shaded environment.
Mimic this with low-filtered sunlight, and your Giant Philo will look incredible.
If you’re growing Giganteum indoors, they can tolerate shade. But, they will lose some leaf color and grow slower. They grow larger faster in semi-bright, filtered light. Direct sunlight is not ideal as it can burn the leaves.
In colder zones, it’s best to grow Giganteum indoors in pots. You can place them under fluorescent lights during winter.
Water
Watering is the only confusing element in caring for Philodendron. Some nurseries suggest drying out the soil between waterings.
These plants love moisture. The best care for Philodendron varies by the time of year. It also varies by climate zone and growing conditions. In tropical areas like Indonesia, you can water outdoor Philodendron Giganteum daily.
Grow it in a pot with good drainage. Let the top soil dry before watering.
Outside the tropics, the plant is active in spring and summer. In fall and winter, reduce watering but don’t let the plant dry out completely.
In colder zones – indoor pot planting is safest. Light watering about twice a week in summer and very minimal in winter is the way to go.
Temperature & Humidity
Its tropical nature influences the care of Philodendron Giganteum. Near the equator, plants thrive best because they love warmth. The ideal temperature range is between 13-27 degrees Celsius. But, anyone can care for this plant. You need to keep it at room temperature most of the day. And, the temperature must never drop below 13 degrees Celsius.
Like all tropical plants, a humid environment is good for growing Philodendron. They enjoy getting misted because it helps them stay fresh and clean. Keep humidity above 60% for the best results growth and plant health.
You can wipe its coarse leaves with a sponge to keep them looking fresh and shiny. Mist them 3 or 4 times a week in winter if your indoor humidity is very low. You can even use a humidifier. It provides the right environment for Philodendron Giganteum in the dry months.
Fertilization
Plant Giganteum in a mix with lots of organic fertilizer. Then, you won’t need much more. It is a plant that likes regular fertilization. But, decaying leaves and bark in rich soil feed the plant.
If you’re planting in a pot, fertilize Philodendron Giganteum . Use a balanced organic fertilizer from your local store. Use it only during the growing months. Remember to stop fertilizing in winter. When caring for Philodendron Giganteum in winter, focus on managing humidity.
People prefer organic to chemical fertilizers. This is especially true for aroids like philodendron. This is because the organic ones release and are safe. If you use chemical fertilizers, we recommend a balanced liquid leaf fertilizer. It will improve appearance and fertility. This allows for easier concentration reduction. Dilute the fertilizer concentration to half the specified level. Over-fertilization can curl leaf tips and even kill the plant.
Propagating Philodendron Giganteum
Giganteum is not the easiest plant to propagate, unfortunately. Propagate climbing philodendrons from stem cuttings in water. But for self-heading plants like Philodendron Giganteum, the method is more complex. It is usually not suitable for home gardeners.
There are ways and solutions, though. If you’re lucky, your Giganteum will produce offsets or pups. You can plant these in pots once they grow. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to propagate and grow Philodendron.
Different Planting Methods for Philodendron Giganteum
Being self-heading means you can grow Giganteum in pots or soil for a very long time before it starts to climb. If the plant is small, you can plant Giganteum on a table in a small pot. If it grows larger, you can move it to the floor. But, eventually, you will have to plant it in the ground to get the full aesthetic effect from its size.
Philodendron Giganteum doesn’t must routine pruning. Just trim off any discolored dead leaves, stems, and aerial roots. Use sharp garden scissors for a clean look. This plant is self-heading with large leaves. It grows into a thick, lush form with a few leaves.
It’s advisable to prune Giganteum only if they are very mature plants with many terminals.
Potting Philodendron Giganteum
You can plant Giganteum in narrow pots as they enjoy being root-bound. This plant’s roots grow well. They tend to wrap tightly around large chunks, like stones or pieces of brick or bark.
You will see roots coming out of the drainage holes of the pot. You only need to repot it when it gets top-heavy and its roots fill the pot. Remove the plant with the root ball and put it in a larger pot. Larger plants may only need repotting once every 2-3 years.
Step-by-Step Guide to Propagating Philodendron Giganteum
Nurseries propagate self-heading philodendrons from seeds or through tissue culture. Both of these techniques are impractical for home gardeners. We’ll share a more accessible method.
Propagate Philodendron Giganteum from Plantlets/Offsets
If you have a mature Giganteum, look for small plantlets at the soil’s surface. They are near the base of the plant where the stem is visible after older leaves have fallen.
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One of the leaf nodes will sprout a plantlet.
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Wait until the plantlet grows big enough for its stem to show. This can take from a month to several months, depending on your environment.
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Sometimes, the plantlet develops aerial roots.
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Then, you can use the air layering technique (explained below) to further grow its roots.
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Once the roots are long enough, you can plant it in soil.
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Usually, your plant determines if you can propagate it this way or not and how .
Air Layering Method for Philodendron Giganteum
You’ll need a 15 cm transparent plastic bag, sphagnum moss, and some ties.
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Locate small air root projections on one of the older leaf nodes at the base of the plant.
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Make a few small holes at the bottom of your plastic bag and place a handful of moist sphagnum moss at the bottom.
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Cut the top end of the plastic bag so that you create a cover to wrap around the stem.
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Now, let’s go to the plant. Hold the water-soaked moss in the plastic bag against the aerial root. Use one hand and don’t damage the root. But, wrap the plastic cover around the stem. Secure this moss bag to the stem with the ties, creating a nice wet moss bundle for roots to grow into.
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Ensure your wet moss bundle does not come off the root node.
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Keep the moss moist by watering through the holes in the plastic.
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After a few weeks, you’ll see that roots have grown into the moss.
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Carefully remove the plastic and moss without damaging your new roots.
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With sharp garden scissors, cut the stem below the new roots and separate the cutting.
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Plant the cutting. Use the guidelines in the section on ideal soil for Philodendron Giganteum care.
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Place the cutting in a shaded area and keep the soil moist until the new plant thrives.
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Continue usual Philodendron Giganteum care for the parent plant.
Pro tip: For a better chance of success, do this with several nodes at once so that at least one of them will root.
Propagating Philodendron Giganteum from Basal Shoots
Again, it’s your plant that will determine if you can propagate it this way or not.
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The parent plant will branch at the base, and the new branch will throw roots into the ground.
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Once the roots have established, you can cut the branch from the main plant.
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Pull on the roots to see if they are in the ground. This shows they are set.
Common Issues with Philodendron Giganteum
Irregular Brown spots on Philodendron leaves
These may be due to bacterial infections. For example, Erwinia blight or Pseudomonas leaf spot. These are sometimes seen in Philodendron Giganteum.
You can identify a bacterial infection by a bad smell. It comes from the plant. This disease usually attacks small plants. It seems less severe in larger ones in the ground.
Bacterial infections must moisture to spread. First, isolate the plant from others in your garden. Trim affected leaves. Reduce watering and stop misting the plant. This will keep the leaves dry or dry out to control spread. Bactericides are usually not necessary.
Dark Spots on Leaves
This might be due to exposure to cold drafts. Trim the damaged leaves and move your plant to a warmer location.
Leaves Wilt or Turn Yellow
This is usually due to root rot caused by overwatering or a fungal infection at the roots. Immediately check the base of the plant. You may be able to save some cuttings. You can try growing them in fresh, sterile soil that drains well.
Yellowing/Browning Leaves
If you notice the leaf edges turning brown and dry, it indicates underwatering. The Philodendron leaves are turning yellow. The soil feels moist. This could be a sign of overwatering.
Pale Color
Leaves lacking the dark green color are a sign of poor lighting. Move your plant to a brighter location.
Common Pests
When growing Giganteum, pests and insects are not a major concern. This plant has many common pests. They include aphids, caterpillars, fungus gnats, whiteflies, scale insects, shore flies, and thrips.
Good control measures include regular applications of insecticides and neem oil. Do this once a month or as specified on the packaging. To control pests, caring for a Philodendron Giganteum includes washing its leaves. Do this once a week. Do this during watering. Then, wipe them dry. Severe infestations must more detailed treatment usually involving chemicals.
Tips for Keeping Philodendron Giganteum Problem-Free
These are some tricks for Giganteum care we’ve learned over the years.
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Keep the room above 21 °C (about 70°F) all day. This is best for growth.
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Indirect sunlight or dappled light is best. It is the best lighting for growing Philodendron Giganteum. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
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Fertilization: Giganteum responds better to liquid fertilizers than to solid ones. Always opt for organic options to ensure gentle nourishment.
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Soil Moisture: Keep the soil moist during the growing months. Ensure the pot has good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can cause root rot.
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Leaf Cleaning: Regularly wash the leaves to prevent dust accumulation and pest infestations. But, ensure the leaves are dry post-washing to avoid fungal diseases.
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High humidity promotes lush growth and glossy leaves. So, mist the plant often.
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Pot Size: Grow Giganteum in smaller pots , and repot as the plant grows.
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Pot Material: If planting in a pot, use a heavy material like ceramic. The plant becomes top-heavy as it grows, and a heavier pot prevents tipping.
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Outdoor Planting: Giganteum is well-suited for outdoor planting in suitable climates.
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Grow Giganteum on elevated platforms or in the higher parts of your yard. This gives them better drainage and lets their leaves grow freely.
Frequently Asked Questions about Philodendron Giganteum
Is Philodendron Giganteum poisonous to cats?
Yes, the plant is toxic to both dogs and cats. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. This is like other plants in the Araceae family. Chewing or biting into the plant releases these crystals. They cause tissue penetration and irritation in the mouth and gut. Pets may vomit and paw at the mouth. They may also eat less and drool a lot.
Can you grow Philodendron Giganteum from seeds?
Yes, but the plant must flower. This rarely happens in potted conditions. Seeds have a limited shelf life unless processed and vacuum-packed. This method is more common among professional nursery growers than home gardening enthusiasts.
How to make Philodendron Giganteum look fuller?
Self-heading philodendrons aren’t suited for pruning. To make them look fuller, provide adequate leaf-inducing fertilizers. Giganteum is a large-leafed plant, and even a few leaves can fill up space .
Should you mist Philodendron Giganteum?
Regularly misting the plant and applying insecticidal soap helps prevent pests. As a tropical plant, higher humidity encourages lush growth and glossy foliage. But, be cautious of bacterial infections that can spread due to moisture.
Conclusion
If you love large-leafed tropical plants, you should consider growing Philodendron Giganteum. The real joy of growing Giganteum is watching young, glossy leaves unfold. They grow into bright, large green giants, often bigger than older leaves.
This happens when you plant them outdoors in large pots or the ground. You can grow Philodendron Giganteum in indoor pots. But, other philodendron types are better for indoors. You can explore ones like Philodendron Brandtianum or Philodendron Billietiae. Happy planting!
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