Plant species: Philodendron gigas

Plant genus: Philodendron

Plant family: Araceae

Plant origin: The native range of this species is Panama. It is a liana and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Soil drainage: moist and well-drained, we recommend a substrate mix composed of coco coir, perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, pumice

Soil pH: acidic

Fertilizers: Philodendron splendid is a plant with low fertilization needs. However, for the good development of the plant, we recommend using a bio fertilizer (we use the BioBizz brand for the plants we cultivate) from the beginning of March until the end of November.

Air humidity: it is a hybrid that grows vertically, with no high humidity needs, being perfectly adapted to indoor environments.

Temperature: 18-29 degrees Celsius

Light: plenty of indirect light

Plant height with pot included: 20-25cm

Pot diameter: 9x9cm

Philodendron gigas is a rare species that can grow up to 15-20 meters in height in its natural environment. It is appreciated by collectors for its velvety appearance and elongated leaf shape. The newly unfurled leaves have a reddish hue, which darkens to a deep green as they mature.

It is a climbing hemi-epiphytic plant with rapid growth when attached to a climbing support.

Like all Philodendron species, Philodendron gigas loves plenty of indirect light (east-facing windows are the best options) and a substrate that is watered when the top two cm have dried.

Attention! To check the substrate's moisture level, inserting a finger into the pot to a depth of 2 cm is the best moisture meter for the soil. If you feel the substrate is wet, keep the watering can away for one or two days, and if it feels dry, water it.

Attention 2! When we talk about watering, we must consider the pot in which the plant is planted, as well as the amount of substrate and its degree of aeration. For example, do not pour a liter of water into a pot with a diameter and height of 12 cm, as it will drown the plant's roots. The best practice is to discard the excess water from the collector tray half an hour after watering.

The plant should be mounted on a support pole covered in coco fiber or moss, in which case the aerial roots will cling to this support, resulting in a plant with a stronger stem and increasingly larger leaves.

Good luck with the care! And don't forget to give us updates about your plant, using the hashtag #greenmirrors and tagging @green.mirrors in your Instagram posts! We promise to share them in our stories.

Tags: Philodendron, Philodendron gigas, Araceae, rare plants, unusual plants, decorative foliage plants, trailing plants, air-purifying plants, indoor decorative plants