1/10

Split Leaf Philodendron

4.6 out of 5 (74 experiences)

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

About Split Leaf Philodendron

The identity of this plant has been hotly debated amongst botanists until 2019, when it was declared part of the Thaumatophyllum genus. It has been known under many names, including the Split Leaf Philodendron (a misnomer shared with Monstera) and Philodendron selloum. Their flower stalk contains a set of sterile male flowers that produce heat. This heat amplifies smells that attract scarab beetles, which pollinate the fertile flowers! 🪲

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

Genus

Thaumatophyllum

Family

Araceae

Order

Alismatales

Also known as

Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Philodendron 'Lickety Split', Philodendron Selloum, Philodendron Shangri La, Fruit Salad Plant, Lacy Tree Thaumatophyllum and Philodendron Millions

How to care for Split Leaf Philodendron

💦 Water

How often to water your Split Leaf Philodendron

Split Leaf Philodendron needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Split Leaf Philodendron in your home

Split Leaf Philodendron may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Split Leaf Philodendron in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Split Leaf Philodendron

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Split Leaf Philodendron: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Split Leaf Philodendron after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #SplitLeafPhilodendron

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Split Leaf Philodendron is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Split Leaf Philodendron →

Benefits of Growing Split Leaf Philodendron →

Indoor Care Guide for Split Leaf Philodendron →

Outdoor Care Guide for Split Leaf Philodendron →

💦 Water Needs

Split Leaf Philodendron prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Split Leaf Philodendron Water Frequency →

Split Leaf Philodendron Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Split Leaf Philodendron may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Split Leaf Philodendron Light Requirements →

Split Leaf Philodendron Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Split Leaf Philodendron is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

💨 Humidity

Split Leaf Philodendron doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Split Leaf Philodendron Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Split Leaf Philodendron does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Split Leaf Philodendron →

Best Pots for Split Leaf Philodendron →

When and How to Successfully Repot Split Leaf Philodendron →

What Are Healthy Split Leaf Philodendron Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Split Leaf Philodendron should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Split Leaf Philodendron →

🌎 Native Region

Split Leaf Philodendron is native to Tropical South America.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Split Leaf Philodendron bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Split Leaf Philodendron Flowers →

Is Split Leaf Philodendron an Annual Plant? →

Is Split Leaf Philodendron a Perennial Plant? →

Split Leaf Philodendron Pollination Guide →

Common Split Leaf Philodendron Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Split Leaf Philodendron is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.

Split Leaf Philodendron Lifecycle →

Split Leaf Philodendron Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Split Leaf Philodendron can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Split Leaf Philodendron Temperature Tolerance →

Split Leaf Philodendron Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Split Leaf Philodendron →

When to Plant Split Leaf Philodendron →

How to Plant Split Leaf Philodendron →

Where to Plant Split Leaf Philodendron →

Winter Care for Split Leaf Philodendron →

Best Companion Plants for Split Leaf Philodendron →

Is Split Leaf Philodendron a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Split Leaf Philodendron can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Split Leaf Philodendron →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Split Leaf Philodendron, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Split Leaf Philodendron →

What Eats Split Leaf Philodendron? →

Care Summary for Split Leaf Philodendron

Split Leaf Philodendron

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Large, lush leaves 63

Fast grower 41

Survivor 32

Browns easily 12

Easy to propagate 9

Blooms easily 3

Pest magnet 1

@Jeranda

7 Plants

372 XP

Las Vegas, NV

01/24/2022

Don’t over water, he would prefer to be under watered. Clean the leaves with vinegar, oil, and water every few weeks.

Large, lush leaves

Blooms easily

Survivor

Browns easily

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by Jeranda named Phil on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Dcworkman

7 Plants

886 XP

Hubert, NC

01/12/2022

A little temperamental with light & water, but when you find the sweet spot, it is lovely! Tropical appearance.

Large, lush leaves

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @Dcworkman named Daphne on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Roxanne

25 Plants

14,308 XP

Portland, OR

11/04/2021

Grows quickly and it’s leaves just get bigger and bigger.

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Survivor

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @Roxanne named Matisse on Greg, the plant care app.

@Stacy

31 Plants

1,851 XP

Bedford, NH

10/31/2021

I just haven’t had much luck with mine. It’s barely hanging on

Browns easily

Survivor

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by Stacy named Bieber on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Icyeli_

3 Plants

75 XP

Victorville, CA

08/27/2021

It’s been easy to take care as of rn , I just repotted her so we shall see how that goes

Large, lush leaves

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @Icyeli_ named Hope on Greg, the plant care app.

@Pearl

5 Plants

71 XP

Everett, WA

08/24/2021

My first plant! So easy to take care of!

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by Pearl named Harry on Greg, the plant care app.

@Waleed

3 Plants

46 XP

New York

08/13/2021

Gorgeous growth, come in light green but develops a deep green color. A very fast grower (philodendron hope).

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by Waleed named Philodendron hope on Greg, the plant care app.

@Kaitlyn

36 Plants

643 XP

Denver, CO

08/03/2021

I found this split leaf philo as a grocery store plant. It was looking overgrown in a 6 inch-ish pot, so I took it home & put it into something more appropriate. It’s been maybe about 2 years, and I’ve had to repot it twice- this time into one of the biggest pots I could find at the store, so I’m a little worried about what it will require next year. Either way it’s a good problem to have.. such an easy plant, that always seems happy & puts on new leaves quite frequently during growing season.

The aerial roots were definitely an unexpected surprise for me when I first started seeing them- from what I read they are primarily used by the plant for support, which makes sense. Because it grows so big, and the stalks/leaf shoots can get pretty tall- I’ve found this one can definitely benefit from being re-seated every time you repot it.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by Kaitlyn named Split Leaf Philo on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Plantdaddylove

22 Plants

471 XP

Pittsburgh, PA

08/01/2021

LOVE!!!

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Blooms easily

Survivor

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @Plantdaddylove named Bullwinkle on Greg, the plant care app.

@@The252

42 Plants

1,348 XP

Pittsburgh, PA

07/12/2021

Oli, our split leaf philodendron, survived for years in a dark office with little care or attention. Now he is basking in sunlight and surprising us with new leaves weekly. In the office, all of his leaves touched the ground. Now he is more than 2 feet tall!

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Survivor

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @The252 named Oli on Greg, the plant care app.

@Lauane aparecida

5 Plants

69 XP

Hamilton, Waikato

07/07/2021

Fast growing plant, super easy to care and beautiful! Mine is my pride and joy ❤️

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by Lauane aparecida named Pandora on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Nkele_di

5 Plants

170 XP

Pretoria, Gauteng

07/03/2021

An easy plant to care for, I mostly underwater her during the winter months. Great plant for beginners

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

@@Nkele_di

5 Plants

170 XP

Pretoria, Gauteng

07/03/2021

Easiest plant to care for!

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Blooms easily

Survivor

@@NishLaursen

37 Plants

813 XP

Arvada, CO

06/25/2021

Large tropical plant with large lush leaves. We have had our split leaf philodendron for 18 years now we brought it back with us when we moved back to Colorado from Florida. Another one of our tropical plants that requires us to bring it outside in the summertime and bring it inside down to the basement under the grow lights in the winter time. Not really susceptible to pests like some tropicals that we have are. You probably noticed that a lot of the roots at the base of the plant are exposed, they are supposed to be exposed that way. Those exposed roots are how the plant holds itself up.

Large, lush leaves

Browns easily

Fast grower

Survivor

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @NishLaursen named Split Leaf on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Megansjungle

23 Plants

1,511 XP

Arcola, TX

06/21/2021

This guy can thrive outside down here in Houston! I lost it in the freeze and replanted one because I missed it so much! I was afraid it would be small forever but it is growing like crazy!!! I got nervous because some leaves at the bottom were turning yellow-brown and falling off but learned that that happens as they push new growth out! So don’t be scared!

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Survivor

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @Megansjungle named Smitty the Splitty on Greg, the plant care app.

@@jrobin4

13 Plants

531 XP

06/16/2021

Big and tropical! I just wish mine would fill in a bit more. If so, it would be a five star and one of my faves.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @jrobin4 named Hemingway on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Js.Cabral27

9 Plants

283 XP

06/16/2021

Love to see how huge the leaves have grown so far! Love Igor!

Large, lush leaves

Split Leaf Philodendron plant photo by @Js.Cabral27 named Igor on Greg, the plant care app.

@Semira

5 Plants

82 XP

East Cannington, Western Australia

06/09/2021

Thrives outside on my balcony during the cooler periods of the year. Completely died when I left it in my room for a week and accidentally left the blinds closed. Cut off all the dead leaves and it’s sprouted 7 new leaves in 4 months.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves