Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
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Araceae
Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' (gloriosum x pastazanum)
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- Representative photos:
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- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
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- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' (gloriosum x pastazanum)
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~30–50% dry
Substrate
Airy + fast-draining • Light moisture buffer • Bark-based • Medium-chunky
Temperature
Ideal: 18–29 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Moist 50–60 %
Growth habit
Creeping rhizomatous herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
High
Max size indoors
Max. height: 60 cm • Max. spread: 100 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Horticultural hybrid of Philodendron gloriosum × Philodendron pastazanum
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' (gloriosum × pastazanum)
Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' is a large crawling Philodendron hybrid created from Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. It grows from a creeping stem that travels across the substrate surface, producing broad heart-shaped leaves with pale venation and a softly textured, quilted look as the plant matures.
The crawling stem needs horizontal room to advance, with each node able to touch the substrate and root as it moves. A wide planter lets the leading stem extend across the mix, settle at the surface and root from successive nodes.
Broad veined leaves on a crawling stem
- Parentage: Philodendron gloriosum × Philodendron pastazanum.
- Growth habit: Creeping stem that travels across the substrate surface.
- Foliage: Broad cordate leaves with pale venation and a softly raised surface.
- Pot shape: Best matched with a wider container that allows the leading stem to keep moving.
- Maturity cue: Large leaves develop more reliably when new nodes root into the mix and emerging blades expand in steady humidity.
Wide-planter growth from gloriosum × pastazanum
Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' was created by John Banta in 1988 from Philodendron gloriosum × Philodendron pastazanum and named after his friend Dean McDowell. The parent species are South American Philodendron species from wet tropical regions: Philodendron gloriosum is native to Colombia, while Philodendron pastazanum is native from Ecuador to Peru.
The visible stem should sit on or just above the substrate, with nodes in contact with the mix. Burying the stem too deeply can trap moisture around the growth points, while leaving the leading stem unsupported at the pot edge can slow new root formation. A loose top layer of airy mix helps new roots enter the substrate as the plant expands.
Even moisture, airy mix and horizontal stem contact
- Light: Provide bright indirect light, around 10,000–20,000 lux, to support large leaves while protecting the soft surface from scorch.
- Watering: Water once the top 30–40% of the mix has dried; the creeping stem performs best with even moisture and good oxygen around the roots.
- Substrate: Use a chunky but moisture-retentive aroid mix with bark, coco fibre, perlite or pumice and a small humus fraction.
- Pot shape: Repot sideways into a wider planter when the leading stem reaches the pot edge.
- Humidity: Aim for 60% or higher where possible, especially while large new leaves expand.
- Temperature: Keep at 18–28°C and protect the root zone from cold floors and winter draughts.
- Feeding: Feed at low to moderate strength in active growth to keep new leaves well sized and evenly coloured.
- Repotting: Position the creeping stem on top of the mix with nodes touching the substrate, then secure it gently if needed.
Leaf tears, edge marks and smaller new leaves
- New leaf tears: Often linked to low humidity, handling or cramped growth; give the next leaf more space and stable moisture.
- Yellowing around the stem base: Check whether the creeping stem is buried too deeply or sitting in constantly wet mix.
- Brown leaf edges: Look for dry root pockets, low humidity or fertiliser buildup in the substrate.
- Small new leaves: Usually means the plant needs stronger indirect light, healthier roots or more horizontal room.
- Pale speckling: Inspect the broad leaf backs carefully for spider mites or thrips.
Pet and child safety
Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' is toxic if ingested. Like other Philodendron plants, it contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth and throat. Keep cuttings, damaged leaves and pruning waste away from pets and small children.
John Banta, Dean McDowell and the parent species
Philodendron belongs to Araceae, and the genus name comes from Greek roots meaning “tree-loving”. Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' is a documented gloriosum × pastazanum hybrid named for Dean McDowell.
Choose Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' for a broad-leaved crawling Philodendron with pale venation, horizontal growth and a wide-planter habit.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
FAQs about Philodendron 'Dean McDowell'
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