Philodendron 'Glad hands' (quercifolium) leaf detail on white background.

Philodendron 'Glad hands' (quercifolium) potted plant in nursery pot on white background.

Araceae

Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ (quercifolium)

Q: Why is it sometimes sold as quercifolium?

Because Philodendron quercifolium is an older name still used in trade, but it is treated as a synonym of Philodendron pedatum .

Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ is a green climber whose simpler young leaves develop into deeply divided mature blades with numerous long, widely spaced lobes. Aerial roots form along the lengthening stem between the increasingly divided leaves.

Read full guide to Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ (quercifolium)

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Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ (quercifolium)

Light

Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux

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

Average 40–50%

Growth habit

Climbing hemiepiphytic herbaceous perennial.

Support

recommended

Growth speed

Average

Cultivated size guide

Height with support: 250 cm • Spread: 100 cm

Toxicity & safety

Toxic

Origin & habitat

Form of Philodendron pedatum; species native from Colombia and Ecuador through the Guianas and Brazil to Bolivia and Venezuela

Outdoor growing

Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care 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 growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

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 ‘Glad Hands’ (quercifolium)

Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ changes from simple young leaves to mature blades divided into many slim, widely spaced lobes. The long finger-like sections become clear through later growth, while the exact degree of division varies across successive leaves.

The stem lengthens upward and produces aerial roots along the climb, carrying divided leaves at successive nodes.

What distinguishes Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’

Uniform green colouring across the leaves
Numerous long, slim lobes spaced widely around mature blades
Simpler young and post-propagation leaves that divide further with development
A lengthening climbing stem with aerial roots
Upright growth that benefits from stable support

Origin & background

Cultivated identity and species origin of Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ (quercifolium)

Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ is a cultivated selection of Philodendron pedatum. The older name Philodendron quercifolium is still used in horticulture for the same species, which explains its parenthetical use with this selection.

Philodendron pedatum is a wet-tropical climber native across southern tropical America.

Plant care

How to care for Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’

Warmth and feeding:Keep the plant warm and protected from draughts. Feed modestly during active growth, keep the climbing attachment secure and maintain stable conditions around the roots.
Light, watering and substrate:Give the plant bright filtered light and increase exposure gradually after moving it to a brighter position. Before watering, feel below the surface and lift the pot. Water when the upper layer feels dry, has lost its cool dampness and the pot is noticeably lighter. If the mix still feels damp or the pot still feels heavy, wait longer. Once the mix is ready, water thoroughly and let all excess drain. Use an airy mix in a freely draining pot so excess moisture can leave the roots readily.
Humidity and airflow: Aim for 50–60% humidity around the foliage, with steady air movement as new leaves open.
Temperature: Keep the growing area within about 18–29 °C. Choose a warmer position if temperatures are set to remain below 15 °C.
Support and repotting:Give the lengthening stem a firm, stable support and guide aerial roots towards it. Leave clear space around developing leaves so their narrow lobes can open cleanly. Secure the support if it becomes unstable. When roots become crowded, repot and move the root ball and support together to protect established attachments. Juvenile leaves may be less divided after propagation. If leaves on an established climbing stem keep getting smaller, check support, light and root health before increasing fertiliser.
Propagation:For propagation, use a stem section with at least one healthy node, or layer an attached section before separating it. Each cutting or layered section needs a node that can produce a new shoot.

Issues & solutions

Understanding changes and problems on Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’

Torn lobes or pest signs on new growth: A single clean tear often comes from a lobe catching on nearby foliage or support. Repeated silver scars with dark specks can indicate thrips; fine stippling and webbing suggest spider mites; cottony clusters mealybugs; attached bumps scale; and small clustered insects with sticky residue aphids. Give opening leaves room and check folded growth, undersides and nodes. If pests are present, isolate the plant, remove accessible insects and use a treatment labelled for the identified pest on indoor ornamentals. Follow the label for hidden feeding sites and repeat treatments; existing scars will remain.
The stem base softens or leaves yellow above wet roots: Persistent wet substrate, cold conditions or poor drainage may damage roots and the lower stem. Pause watering, clear the drainage holes and inspect roots if decline continues. Keep all firm roots and nodes; cut only clearly rotten, soft tissue back to firm growth with disinfected tools and discard the decayed parts. If decay advances into the stem, isolate the plant and save only firm healthy growth above the damage. Replace compacted substrate with an airy, freely draining mix when necessary.
Droop with a light, dry pot: A light, dry pot can indicate that the root ball has dried out or become difficult to rewet. Water thoroughly, confirm the centre is moist and let excess drain. Check sooner next time. A white crust may come from fertiliser salts or mineral-rich water; flush it only if the pot drains freely and reduce feeding if needed. If wilting continues with moist substrate, inspect roots before adding more water.
Wet or haloed leaf spots keep enlarging: Expanding wet or yellow-haloed spots may indicate bacterial or fungal leaf disease. Sun, cold, sprays and rubbing can also leave dry, fixed marks. Isolate a plant with spreading damage, keep leaves dry, improve airflow and remove badly affected tissue with clean tools. Do not propagate from symptomatic nodes; obtain a reliable diagnosis before disease-specific treatment.

Safety

Philodendron ‘Glad Hands’ (quercifolium) is toxic to people and pets

Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Names & etymology

Where does the name Philodendron come from?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.”

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Philodendron in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.

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.