Roxburgh's Typhonium (Dwarf Voodoo Lily) care

Light

Roxburgh's Typhonium wants the spot a few feet back from a sunny window — bright enough to read a paperback at noon, but the sun never falls directly on the leaves. Prefers partial to full shade, avoiding direct sun which scorches the small leaves. A bright but shaded outdoor position — under trees or on a sheltered north-facing patio — suits it well. Indoors, a bright windowsill out of direct sun works well. Good for a semi-shaded indoor setting. A faint hand shadow at midday is the right amount; a sharp dark shadow means it's getting direct sun and probably too much.

Watering

Water roxburgh's typhonium moderate during growing season; withhold in dormancy. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Water when the top centimetre of compost feels dry during the growing season. The small tubers are highly prone to rot if overwatered. Keep virtually dry during winter dormancy; store the tubers in their pots or in dry vermiculite above 5°C.

Soil and pot

Roxburgh's Typhonium grows best in free-draining, humus-rich compost. A mix of quality peat-free compost and perlite (3:1) provides adequate nutrients and drainage. Avoid heavy or water-retaining compost. Small pots (9–11 cm for 1–3 tubers) are preferable; larger containers can lead to overwatering and rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Roxburgh's Typhonium sits happiest at around 50–70% humidity and 18–28°C growing; dormant tubers stored above 5°C (64–82°F growing; dormant tubers stored above 41°F). Appreciates moderate tropical humidity during the growing season. Occasional misting is beneficial in dry indoor environments. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues around the small tubers. If you keep the room above 18–28°C growing; dormant tubers stored above 5°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed roxburgh's typhonium sparingly. Apply a dilute balanced liquid fertiliser (half-strength, 10-10-10) every 3–4 weeks during active growth in spring and summer. Do not feed dormant tubers in winter. A light top-dressing of slow-release fertiliser at repotting in spring is also effective. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on roxburgh's typhonium in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Tuber rot from overwatering — The most common problem, especially in winter. The small tubers desiccate less easily than they rot. Keep dormant tubers almost completely dry in frost-free conditions. During the growing season, allow the compost surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• Tuber loss in cold storage — Small tubers desiccate quickly if stored too dry or too warm. Store in barely damp vermiculite at 5–10°C, or leave in their pots and stop watering entirely. Check monthly for signs of shrivelling or rot.
• Pungent spathe odour — The inflorescence emits a strong unpleasant odour for a short period to attract carrion fly pollinators. This is normal and brief. Bring outdoor pots temporarily indoors only if necessary — repeated moving stresses the plant.

Propagation

Divide offsets (small satellite tubers) from the mother tuber at the start of the growing season in spring. Each division with a growing point will produce a new plant. Pot individually into 9 cm pots of free-draining compost. Seed propagation is rarely practised in cultivation. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Roxburgh's Typhonium is toxic to pets. Typhonium roxburghii is an Araceae aroid containing insoluble calcium oxalate raphides throughout all plant parts. Ingestion causes intense burning, oral swelling, and hypersalivation in dogs, cats, and people. The genus Typhonium follows the same toxicity profile as other Araceae aroids listed by the ASPCA. Keep well away from pets and children. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Roxburgh's Typhonium deep-dive guides

Every aspect of roxburgh's typhonium care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common roxburgh's typhonium problems & fixes
• Roxburgh's Typhonium watering schedule
• Roxburgh's Typhonium light requirements
• Best soil mix for roxburgh's typhonium
• Roxburgh's Typhonium fertilizing guide
• When to repot roxburgh's typhonium
• How to propagate roxburgh's typhonium
• How to prune roxburgh's typhonium
• What's eating my roxburgh's typhonium?
• Roxburgh's Typhonium growth rate & size
• Roxburgh's Typhonium cold hardiness
• Roxburgh's Typhonium temperature & humidity
• Is roxburgh's typhonium toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is roxburgh's typhonium toxic to cats?
• Is roxburgh's typhonium toxic to dogs?
• All 7 Typhonium varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

Roxburgh's Typhonium qualifies for 6 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best bathroom plants — Humidity-loving houseplants that also cope with lower light — suited to the steamy, often-dim conditions of a typical bathroom.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Roxburgh's Typhonium is also commonly called Roxburgh's Typhonium or Dwarf Voodoo Lily.

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