Growli

Container guide

Growing philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in a pot

Verdict
Ideal in pots
Pot size
15-20 cm (6-8 in) across
Mature size
Indoors typically 1-1.5m tall and wide; outdoors in frost-free climates it can reach 2.5-4m (RHS) or more over many years, with individual leaves up to 90cm long.

Compost and drainage

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.

Watering philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in a pot

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "When the top 2-3cm of compost feels dry, roughly weekly in summer" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.

Potting on

Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

More philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) care

Growing philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in containers — FAQ

Can you grow philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in a pot?

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) is well suited to container growing — at about 2 cm mature it is comfortably pot-sized. A container around 15-20 cm (6-8 in) across gives it room without leaving the compost sitting wet, which is the usual mistake when people over-pot a small plant.

What size pot does philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) need?

Aim for a container 15-20 cm (6-8 in) across. Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

What compost and drainage does philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) need in a container?

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.

How often should I water philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in a pot?

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "When the top 2-3cm of compost feels dry, roughly weekly in summer" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.