Philodendron Gigas Houseplant Care Guide

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Philodendron Gigas is a rare velvet plant that grows stunning foliage as the plant matures. This isn’t a common houseplant you’ll find at a big box store, but it is a plant worth splurging on.

Philodendron Gigas main care directions.

Water. Philodendron Gigas is a tropical houseplant, so the soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged. Water this plant when the top inch of soil is dry and make sure to water thoroughly.
Light. Philodendron Gigas thrive in bright indirect sunlight or under plant grow lights. Do not place this plant in direct sunlight as this can scorch the delicate velvety foliage.
Fertilizer. Fertilize Philodendron Gigas during the active growing season which is typically spring through summer with a natural or synthetic fertilizer. If using a synthetic fertilizer, make sure you dilute the recipe in half.
Humidity. Philodendron Gigas are tropical plants and love humidity at 60%+. This promotes healthy new growth and your plant will thank you for it.

Philodendron Gigas thrive with these care tips.

Light

Philodendron Gigas thrive in bright indirect sunlight. You can also grow this plant under plant grow lights.

These plants are quite the growers when put in an environment where they can thrive. Place this plant in a bedroom getting morning (east facing windows) or afternoon sunlight (south facing windows).

You can also place this plant under plant grow lights, but make sure to carefully watch how your plant does under grow lights. Depending on how strong the plant lights are, this can burn the foliage.

I use T5 Barrina grow lights and love them. I run them on a 13 hour timer. This helps a ton because I’ve run out of space to put plants near windows.

Water

Philodendron Gigas like to be watered when the top inch of the soil is dry. Dip your finger about an inch into the soil to see the moisture level of your plant.

If you’re using a well-draining soil, this might be hard to do since the mix is so chunky. With super chunky soil mix, your best bet is to water thoroughly at least once a week. Chunky mixes need to be watered more since water isn’t being retained in the mix.

If you tend to be an underwaterer or overwaterer, use a moisture meter which will tell you when the soil is dry or moist. This can save you a lot of money in the long run because you’ll form better watering habits. Moisture meters are typically less than $10 and great for beginner houseplant enthusiasts.

Soil

Philodendron Gigas thrive in well-draining soil mix. An easy well-draining recipe calls for 2 parts coco coir, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part orchid bark.

You can also grow this plant in a leca or lechuza pon substrate if you prefer a semi-hydroponic method of growing plants. Philodendron are easy houseplants to grow in semi-hydroponic and I have a lot of success with them.

If you don’t want to make your own potting mix, use Fox Farm Ocean Forest. This houseplant mix contains a blend of high quality ingredients and is perfect for any houseplant.

Temperature

Philodendron Gigas thrive in regular home temperatures of 70°F to 80°F.

Just like other houseplants, do not place this plant in a spot that does get drafts (keep away from windows, doors that lead to the outside, or vents).

Fertilizer

Fertilize Philodendron Gigas during the active growing season. This will vary depending on where you live. For example, I live in an area where I typically fertilize year round since there’s no winter here.

I use both Key Grow Solutions Blue Butterfly and Dyna Gro Grow. I mix in a spoonful of the fertilizer into a gallon of water and use this water to feed my houseplants.

If you are using a non-organic, synthetic fertilizer, it’s always recommended to dilute the recipe in half because of how strong the N-P-K ratios are. If you are using an organic fertilizer, you typically do not have to worry about diluting the recipe because the N-P-K ratio is so low.

Humidity

Philodendron Gigas are tropical houseplants and definitely prefer higher humidity. Humidity levels between 60%-80% are ideal and you’ll notice much faster growth this way.

If you find that you want your plant to live in higher humidity conditions, read these tips to increase humidity.

Put high humidity plants together in a group. When you group high humidity plants around each other, this creates a humid microclimate. The plants will continue to release moisture around each other through transpiration.
Place a pebble tray underneath your high humidity plants. I purchased small rocks at a hardware store and placed them on a planter tray. Place your planter on the tray. Put enough water in the tray until it hits the planter bottom and the water will evaporate around the plant.
Use a humidifier and run it daily near your houseplants.
Mist your plants. Some people say this doesn’t help, but I think it does so I continue to do it.
Place high-humidity plants in your bathroom. I place certain high humidity plants in my shower and they’re thriving.

Propagation

Propagating a Philodendron Gigas is easy. All you have to do is take a stem cutting that has at least one node on it and place that node in water.

The stem should have roots in about a month. Move the stem cutting into your desired substrate once the root is at least two inches long.

Common Questions

Are Philodendron Gigas rare?

You probably won’t find Philodendron Gigas in a big box store like Lowes or Home Depot. Your best bet is to buy the plant at a local plant shop that carries rarer plants or by purchasing this plant online on Etsy.

How much is a Philodendron Gigas?

A medim sized Philodendron Gigas in a 4 inch pot goes for around $100 on Etsy.

How do you care for Philodendron Gigas?

Philodendron Gigas thrive in bright indirect sunlight or under plant grow lights. This plant loves higher humidity and would do well in a DIY greenhouse cabinet or in an area that gets higher humidity in the 60%+ range.

Water your plant when the top inch of soil is dry. Make sure to fertilize your plant in the active growing season with a natural or synthetic fertilizer.

Are Philodendron Gigas fast growers?

Philodendron Gigas are comparable to other Philodendrons and grow relatively quickly depending on the growing conditions.

Do Philodendron Gigas climb?

Philodendron Gigas is a climber and you’ll notice the leaves get quite large as the plant grows taller. The leaves on this plant can get up to 3 feet long.

Are Philodendron Gigas poisonous?

Yes, this plant is highly toxic to both animals and humans.

Why is my Philodendron Gigas yellow?

Philodendrons Gigas are known to turn yellow when the plant is receiving too much water. Make sure you’re only watering your plant when the top inch of soil is dry.

If you have a problem with overwatering, you may want to consider moving your plant to a lechuza pon or leca substrate. This is because this type of substrate makes it much harder to overwater your plant.

Why is my Philodendron Gigas leaves curling?

Philodendron Gigas leaves curl when the plant is thirsty. Make sure you’re watering your plant on a proper schedule.

Gigas leaves also curl when the plant is not receiving enough humidity. Make sure your plant is receiving at least 60% humidity either in a greenhouse or in an area where other houseplants are receiving at least 60%.

You can check if your plant is receiving enough humidity by investing in an affordable hygrometer that will tell you the humidity in a certain area.

Do Philodendron Gigas like to be misted?

Instead of misting your plant, give your plant the humidity it needs by placing it near a humidifier or in a DIY Ikea Greenhouse Cabinet.

How fast does a Philodendron Gigas grow?

In the right growing conditions, Philodendron Gigas grow quickly. Give it adequate sunlight, humidity, nutrients, and a consistent watering schedule and it’ll grow like crazy.

Does Philodendron Gigas fenestrate?

Philodendron Gigas do not fenestrate.

How big does a Philodendron Gigas grow?

Philodendron Gigas can grow up to 65 feet tall out in its natural habitat. This plant can reach the ceiling when grown inside the home and given adequate growing conditions.

How do you know if your Philodendron Gigas is happy?

If your Philodendron Gigas is actively growing and getting taller, your plant is happy.

Is Philodendron Gigas toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets and humans. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Common pests

Some of the most common pests for this houseplant include spider mites, mealybugs, scale, and aphids. These pests can hurt your plant which is why prevention is key.

To help prevent any pest infestations on your plant, here’s what to do.

Inspect your houseplant before bringing it home.
Treat your new houseplant with a natural or synthetic pesticide when you bring it home.
Quarantine your houseplant away from your other houseplants for at least two weeks.
Regularly check your plants for pests. This is also a great time to clean your plants.
Cut off dead leaves as dead matter can attract bugs.

If you find a plant that has pests on it, quarantine the plant away from your houseplants and clean the plant with an organic or nonorganic insecticide.

I use Bonide Systemic and Azamax on my plants as a preventative. Both of these products are used once a month to keep pest pressures down and they’re both incredibly effective.

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Philodendron Gigas has brown tips, this may mean you’re overwatering your plant. Make sure your plant is in well-draining soil and that you are only watering when the top inch of soil is dry.

Yellowing leaves: If your Philodendron Gigas has yellow leaves, this can mean you’re giving your plant too much sunlight. Move your Philodendron Campo to a spot getting less sunlight.

Curly leaves: If your Philodendron Gigas has curling leaves, this may be due to the plant being thirsty or being placed in a spot that is drafty. Do not place this plant near a door leading to the outside, window, or vent.

Key Points To Remember

Philodendron Gigas are stunning plants with unique foliage that can get quite large in size.

Give this plant adequate humidity, sunlight, water, and fertilizer and you’ll have a happy plant growing.