UK temperature
Keeping philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) warm in a UK home
Philodendron bipinnatifidum (syn. Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, P. selloum)
More about philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) in the UK
The UK home, in plant terms
A typical UK home creates two opposite micro-problems at the same time. Radiator-driven heating spikes the air temperature and crashes humidity in the rooms where people actually sit; the older the housing stock the more likely a single-glazed window pane is sitting at near-freezing in January with a houseplant against it. Cold unheated bedrooms, north-facing rooms and conservatories without heating run far cooler than the thermostat suggests, and the British winter gives the lowest indoor daylight in any of Growli's markets. Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) is frost-tender, so the radiator-warmed side of the house is right for it in winter — just not pressed against a cold pane or directly in the radiator updraft.
The actual numbers
Ideally philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) sits between 18-27°C. (That is 65-80°F in Fahrenheit.) As a Brazilian rainforest native it prefers moderate to high humidity, ideally 50-60%. It tolerates average room humidity but rewards extra moisture with larger, glossier leaves. Group it with other plants or stand the pot on a damp pebble tray; the RHS notes daily misting is beneficial, though good airflow is needed to prevent fungal leaf spots. Watch for the room dropping below about 18°C overnight — common in UK unheated bedrooms in January, and the point where growth stalls and leaves chill-mark.
For the RHS hardiness side of this, see is philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) hardy in the UK? (rating RHS H2 (tolerates 1-5°C; grow under glass in the UK), sourced from the RHS rating system). For the US/USDA framing of the same numbers, see the philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) temperature guide.
Winter placement in a UK home
For philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) through a UK winter, three placement rules clear up most problems: 1) keep it at least a hand's width back from the window pane on single-glazed or very cold double-glazed glass, especially overnight when curtains close behind the plant; 2) keep it out of the direct vertical updraft above a radiator — that column of hot dry air browns leaf tips even on tolerant species; 3) judge by the room you can actually feel, not the central thermostat — many UK rooms run several degrees below the hall reading in winter. Humidity drops to roughly 25–35% in a heated UK living room; a pebble tray, grouping with other plants, or a small humidifier puts that back to a level houseplants actually like.
Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) temperature in the UK — frequently asked questions
What temperature does philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) need in the UK?
Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) prefers 18-27°C (65-80°F). The British issue is rarely the average — it is the extremes: a cold single-glazed window in January, the hot dry air directly above a radiator, or a north-facing unheated room that runs far cooler than the hall thermostat.
Will philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) survive a cold UK winter room?
Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) is frost-tender (RHS H2 (tolerates 1-5°C; grow under glass in the UK)). Keep it well above freezing, ideally above 10°C overnight, which means the radiator-warmed side of the house rather than an unheated bedroom or conservatory.
Can philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) go on a UK windowsill in winter?
On a single-glazed or very cold pane, no — overnight the leaves pressed against the glass can drop below the plant's comfort band, especially behind drawn curtains. A small gap (a hand's width back) or thicker thermal curtains in front of the plant fixes it, and modern double-glazing usually solves it outright.
Does UK radiator-driven heating dry philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) out?
Yes — UK living rooms typically run at around 25–35% relative humidity in winter. That is well below what most houseplants prefer. Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) tolerates this better than the calathea-and-fern family, but a pebble tray or grouping plants still helps.
What temperature range does philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) actually like?
18-27°C is the comfortable band (65-80°F in Fahrenheit for reference). That covers normal UK living-room temperatures all year; the work is making sure cold pockets (windowsills, unheated rooms) and hot pockets (radiator updrafts) do not push it outside that band.
More philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) care
See the full philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) care guide, its UK watering (hard vs soft tap water), and UK hardiness.