Philodendron maximum

Natural range and habitat of Philodendron maximum

Philodendron maximum occurs naturally in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern and west-central Brazil, with records from Vaupés in Colombia.

It is a climbing or hemiepiphytic aroid of wet tropical forest.

How to care for Philodendron maximum

• Support: Install a strong pole or plank early. A mature plant becomes heavy, so both support and pot need to remain stable.
• Light: Strong indirect light supports vigorous climbing growth and larger leaves as the plant matures.
• Watering: Water deeply after the upper part of the mix has started to dry and let the excess drain.
• Potting mix and drainage: Use a chunky, bark-based mix that drains freely while holding a little moisture.
• Temperature and humidity: Warm, stable conditions around 18–29 °C suit it; 15 °C is the lower limit for prolonged exposure. Keep humidity around 50–60%.
• Root space: Move to a slightly larger pot as the root system fills the container. Excess unused potting mix can stay wet for too long around a smaller root ball.
• Feeding: During active vine growth, use a modest dose of complete houseplant fertiliser; then reduce feeding as growth slows.
• Propagation method: Take a healthy stem section with at least one viable node; an existing aerial root can help it establish.

Problems and solutions for Philodendron maximum

• Successive leaves become smaller: Check that the stem is attached firmly to its climbing support and receives enough filtered light. If both seem adequate, inspect the roots before increasing fertiliser. A densely rooted pot may need a slightly larger container. Keep every firm root intact. If confirmed soft rot is present, cut only the decayed root sections back to healthy tissue with disinfected scissors and discard the rotten pieces before repotting in fresh, airy substrate. The bright indirect light guide can help with positioning.
• The plant leans or pulls its support loose: Reinforce the support and stabilise the pot before the stem bends or breaks under the weight of larger foliage.
• Several lower leaves turn yellow: A single old lower leaf may yellow naturally. If several do so, check moisture throughout the root ball and whether a large pot is staying wet too long. Rewet a very dry root ball; for wet substrate, improve drainage and choose a container proportionate to the healthy roots. If roots are clearly rotten and soft, use disinfected scissors to remove only affected sections back to firm tissue. Discard the rotten pieces and repot the healthy roots in fresh, airy mix. The yellow-leaf guide covers the main causes.

Philodendron maximum 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.

Where does the name Philodendron maximum come from?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.” Maximum is the neuter form of the Latin superlative maximus and means largest or greatest.

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

Kurt Krause first described Philodendron maximum in 1913 in Das Pflanzenreich, IV, 23Db, page 49.