Philodendron Gloriosum
Philodendron gloriosum
Unlike most philodendrons, this one crawls along the ground instead of climbing. It needs a wide rectangular pot with room to spread sideways, not a moss pole.
- Light
- Bright Indirect
- Humidity
- 60%+
- Temperature
- 65-85°F
Light Requirements
Bright Indirect. Put it 3-5 feet from a south or east-facing window, out of direct sun. Direct afternoon sun will scorch the leaves!
Watering
Water when the top inch has dried out. Keep it moist but never soaked. In summer, roughly every 5-7 days. In winter, every 10-14 days. This one lives on the ground in the wild, so it doesn't handle drought as well as the climbing philodendrons do.
Humidity
Target humidity: 60%+. Get a humidifier. Seriously! Pebble trays and misting barely make a dent compared to even a cheap ultrasonic humidifier placed near the plant.
Temperature
Keep it between 65-85°F. Watch out for cold drafts from windows in winter and hot air blowing from vents. Most tropical houseplants start struggling below 55°F, and frost will kill them.
Soil and Potting
Rich, chunky aroid mix: 2 parts potting soil, 1 part orchid bark, 1 part perlite. Since this one actually grows in the ground (not on trees), it benefits from more organic matter than your typical epiphytic aroid.
Propagation
Cut a section of the horizontal rhizome with at least one node and root it in water or moist aroid mix. Roots pop up fast, usually 1-2 weeks in water! Pot it up once they hit 2-3 inches. You can also divide the rhizome into sections, each with a growth point.
Common Problems
New leaves take 1-2 months to fully unfurl. That's normal, not a problem! The real issue people run into is using a round pot. Once the rhizome reaches the edge, it has nowhere to go and growth stops. Use a rectangular planter and give it room to crawl.
Worth Knowing
- Most philodendrons climb trees. Gloriosum is the rebel of the genus. It creeps along the forest floor in Colombia with its rhizome right at the soil surface. It doesn't want a moss pole. It wants floor space.
- Mature leaves can reach 30-40 cm across under ideal conditions, but that takes years. If yours has small leaves right now, that's normal! The big, velvety hearts with bold white veins develop as the rhizome establishes itself. Worth the wait!
- The name gloriosum means 'glorious' in Latin. It might be the most accurately named plant in horticulture. First described in 1883 and it's been earning it ever since.
Toxicity
Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. Contains calcium oxalate crystals causing mouth irritation and stomach upset.