Philodendron pastazanum

Where Philodendron pastazanum grows naturally

Philodendron pastazanum comes from eastern Ecuador and Peru.

It grows on the ground in warm, humid rainforest, including wet valleys, stream cliffs and disturbed forest where the stem can spread laterally through moist ground-level vegetation.

Philodendron pastazanum care

• Light: Give it bright indirect or filtered light. Keep the large leaves out of strong midday sun.
• Watering: Let the upper layer of the substrate begin to dry before watering again. In a broad pot, check the centre as well as the rim because moisture can linger around the middle.
• Temperature: Aim for about 18–27 °C indoors and protect it from cold drafts. Avoid prolonged temperatures below about 16 °C.
• Humidity: Around 60% relative humidity or higher is a useful target for the broad foliage. Keep airflow moving around the plant, especially in a large, moist pot.
• Substrate: Use a coarse, airy aroid mix that drains freely and does not collapse into a dense wet layer beneath the stem.
• Container and repotting: Use a broad or elongated pot, keep the creeping stem on the surface and repot before the growing point reaches the edge.
• Feeding: Use a balanced houseplant fertiliser during active growth at the product's recommended rate; reduce feeding when growth slows.
• Propagation: Cut a healthy section of the horizontal stem with at least one node and ideally some roots. Rest the section on an airy, lightly moist mix and keep the stem at the surface.

Common problems with Philodendron pastazanum

• The plant wilts while the substrate is still wet: Check the roots before adding more water. Dark, mushy roots or a sour smell can indicate root rot. Stop watering and inspect the root system; our root rot guide shows what to do next.
• Dry brown edges spread across the broad leaves: Check humidity and how far the root ball is drying between waterings. Stabilise both before changing anything else. See our brown leaf tips guide.

Philodendron pastazanum 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.

How the name Philodendron pastazanum came about

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.” The epithet pastazanum is geographic and means from Pastaza.

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 pastazanum in 1940 in Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem, volume 15, page 42.