Philodendron ‘Lickety Split’
Tropical clumper. Deeply lobed leaves are ruffled, held on long stems making a full lush dome.
 |
height |
2–3ft |
 |
width |
2–3ft |
 |
tolerates |
Heat, Pots |
 |
water
needs |
Low – Moderate |
 |
water
info |
Indoors this plant wants water when the top of the soil is dry, but you can still feel moisture just below the surface. This plant will often fall into a once-a-week watering cycle, but remember that your watering should be based on the moisture left in the soil, which will depend partly on the moisture in the room and the weather outside. The soil surface goes a bit deeper for larger pots; for example, a plant in a 14-inch diameter pot should dry out a couple of inches deep before you water it, while a plant in a 4-inch pot will only want to dry out in the top half inch or so of soil.
Drooping leaves or a small crown with dwarfed leaves are signs of underwatering. |
 |
hardy
to |
26F |
 |
exposure |
Full Shade – Part Shade |
 |
indoor
outdoor |
In or Out |
 |
drainage |
In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix |
 |
fertilizing |
All Purpose |
 |
origin |
Hybrid |
 |
california
native |
No |
 |
sunset
zones |
9, 11–24, H2 |
SUNSET ZONES MAP
Growing Notes
Philodendron leaves will cleanly shed fron the trunk once they are no longer of use to the plant, leaving a textured trunk reminiscent of octopus suction cups.
Many philodendrons have aerial roots that help them attach to structures in nature, and they add an interesting element to the plant, but they can also be removed without disturbing the plant in the least. If you want, you can lean the plant against a plank, tree or wall and watch it attach itself.
Generally philodendrons are thought of as shade plants, but they can also tolerate a surprising amount of direct sunlight, especially if they are near the coast.
Special Interest
Purportedly the roots of philodendron can travel up to sixty feet away from the plant! This may explain why they are more drought tolerant than they look. If you have other water nearby, it’s likely your philodendron will find it.
Philodendrons are excellent dry-stack rock wall candidates, where their aerial roots meander in the rock cracks, holding up the wall and adding interest.
More Info
This plant has been raised to live indoors; however, it can also grow outdoors in mild areas of California. Keep in mind that the plant will go through a stressful transition, especially if moved outside in particularly hot, cold, or wet weather. Even if this plant will eventually thrive in direct sunlight, it has not been grown in this level of light, so if you plant it in direct sun, just expect that the leaves may burn at first, then happily regrow as they acclimate to the new levels of light. Planting in the spring or fall will help with this transition.
