Philodendron pastazanum

Natural range and habitat of Philodendron pastazanum

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

• 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.
• Watering: Let the upper layer of the potting mix 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.
• Potting mix: Use a coarse, airy aroid mix that drains freely and does not collapse into a dense wet layer beneath the stem.
• Light: Provide bright indirect light and shield the foliage from scorching sun. Keep the large leaves out of strong midday sun.
• Temperature: Aim for indoors and protect it from cold drafts. Use 18–29 °C as the normal growing range and protect it from extended periods below 15 °C.
• Humidity: 50–60% humidity is a useful target for the broad foliage. Keep airflow moving around the plant, especially in a large, moist pot.
• Feeding: Use a balanced houseplant fertiliser at a moderate dose during active growth; feed less as growth slows.
• Propagation: Divide the creeping rhizome into healthy sections with a node and some roots where available, keeping the stem on the mix surface while it establishes.

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.
• The creeping stem reaches the pot edge: This Philodendron travels along the substrate. Give the advancing stem a wider planting area or place a second pot of airy mix beside it so new roots can grow into the fresh substrate as the stem advances.

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.