Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Araceae
Philodendron maximum
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Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- 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.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- 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 maximum
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
Climbing hemiepiphytic herbaceous perennial.
Support
recommended
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height with support: 300 cm • Max. spread: 150 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia; wet tropical biome
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 your space, 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 mix should dry before watering again; a lower % means the mix stays more evenly moist.
- Potting mix: a short profile of structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks where stress risk increases.
- Humidity: target bands (Normal/Moist/Humid); consistency usually matters most.
- Outdoor growing: shows when a potted indoor plant can go outside and what kind of outdoor shelter it needs.
- Growth habit: growth form (rosette, trailing, climbing) for placement and support.
- Support: shows whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: fast/average/slow under suitable indoor conditions; this is a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term potential; the format differs for climbers and trailers.
- Toxicity & safety: irritating or toxic compounds and physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native region and typical habitat.
Philodendron maximum
Philodendron maximum is an Araceae species from tropical South America, grown for broad green foliage and adult leaves with a semi-glossy surface. Mature blades can develop a narrowly ovate, sagittate or triangular-sagittate outline, giving older plants a strong vertical presence on support.
The climbing stem needs a stable vertical surface, while the expanding blades need open space around the plant. Bright filtered light, warmth, steady moisture and a chunky substrate help the roots stay aerated as the plant gains size.
Broad adult leaves and climbing growth in Philodendron maximum
- Family: Araceae, the aroid family.
- Foliage: Large green leaves with a semi-glossy surface.
- Leaf shape: Adult blades can be narrowly ovate, sagittate or triangular-sagittate.
- Petioles: Sturdy petioles hold the blades away from the climbing stem.
- Growth habit: A climbing Philodendron that needs vertical room as it matures.
- Indoor development: Leaf size increases gradually on support when warmth, light and root health stay steady.
- Growth rate: Moderate to strong in warm, bright, humid conditions, slower in cooler or darker periods.
- Safety: Toxic if chewed or swallowed by pets or children.
Indoor growth for Philodendron maximum
Philodendron maximum develops from an elongating stem with aerial-root nodes. A pole, plank or similar support gives the stem contact points, while an airy, evenly moist substrate keeps oxygen around the thicker roots.
The species is associated with wet tropical forest in South America, with records from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia. Indoors, the same growth pattern needs warm temperatures, filtered light and enough space for each new blade to open without rubbing against a wall, shelf or neighbouring plant.
Care for Philodendron maximum foliage
- Light: Place Philodendron maximum in bright filtered light. Harsh direct sun can mark large leaves.
- Water: Water after part of the mix has dried. A large pot that stays wet for too long can stress the roots.
- Humidity: Moderate to higher humidity helps new leaves expand cleanly.
- Temperature: Keep warm and protected from cold windows, cold floors and draughts.
- Substrate: Use a chunky aroid mix with enough structure to stay open around thick roots.
- Support: Give the climbing stem a sturdy pole, plank or similar vertical surface before the plant becomes heavy.
- Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot, the mix has compacted or the support no longer suits the stem height.
- Fertilising: Feed lightly during active growth; reduce feeding when light levels and growth slow.
- Propagation: Propagate from stem cuttings with at least one node, kept warm and humid while rooting.
- Pruning: Remove damaged leaves at the petiole base or shorten an overlong stem above a healthy node.
- Semi-hydroponics: Semi-hydro can work when roots are adapted gradually and the reservoir stays clean and oxygenated.
Philodendron maximum leaf tearing, yellowing and slow growth
- Yellow lower leaves: Check for wet roots, old compacted mix or a pot that dries too slowly.
- Damaged new leaves: Expanding blades can tear if humidity drops or the leaf rubs against nearby surfaces.
- Slow growth: Cold conditions, weak light or root stress can interrupt leaf expansion.
- Pests: Inspect leaf backs, petioles and new growth for thrips, spider mites, mealybugs and scale.
Philodendron maximum toxicity
Philodendron maximum has insoluble calcium oxalate crystals in its leaves, petioles and stems, so it should be kept away from pets and children that may chew plants.
Botanical background of Philodendron maximum
Philodendron was described by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Litteratur, Theater und Mode, and the genus name comes from Greek roots meaning tree-loving. Philodendron maximum was described by K. Krause and published in Das Pflanzenreich in 1913. The species epithet maximum is the neuter form of Latin maximus, meaning largest or greatest.
A large-growing climbing Philodendron with broad semi-glossy leaves, sturdy petioles and a strong mature form on support.
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 maximum – giant size, support, and indoor expectations
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