ABOUT THIS PHILODENDRON
McDowell – Our all-time favorite terrestrial philodendron! This ground-dwelling beauty reaches a mere 2 to 3 feet in height while the trunk remains well rooted underground. The enormous puckered leaves are deep forest green with thick cream veins. This is a terrestrial variety that actually grows underground, while sending up an array of beautiful folliage making this Philodendron increadibly easy to maintain. McDowell makes an excellent container plant as well as a leafy landscape plant for the tropical garden. These are very healthy tropical plants with well established root system.
The plants shipping now may vary in size, form and color from the images above. This Philodendron in particular is grown and shipped in a 6″ round pot.
The growth rate and leaf color of McDowell will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. A few leaves are often trimmed prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress.
QUICK SPECS
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OUTDOOR
Zone 9b-11
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PATIO
Zone 4a-11
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SOIL TYPE
Rich Moist
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% SUN
70-85%
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POT SIZE
6″ Round
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INCLUDES
One Plant
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PHILODENDRON PLANT CARE
McDowell are very easy to grow tropical plants that require little care indoors or out. Like other aroids, many species of Philodendron can be grown as houseplants, or outdoors in mild climates. They thrive in moist soils with high organic matter and grow best when provided with filtered sunlight. Philodendron plants can be grown in containers or outdoors as a remarkable landscape plant. Indoors plants thrive at temperatures between 55°- 80°F and in lower light conditions than other house plants. In the ground philodendrons get big and are often unrecognizable from their potted juvenile state. They add a wonderfully tropical accent to any well-lit space or cascading from your favorite planter. In very cold zones a containerized Philodendron can be brought inside for the winter months. Be sure to avoid frost and freezing temperatures.When you receive your new Philodendron, there is no need to worry about planting right away. Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water in the bottom and moving it to a shady location. You can then add some mulch to keep your plant standing upright. The mulch will also supply nutrients while in storage. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new Philodendron.
CONTAINER SIZE
Philodendron grow very well in patio and indoor containers. Allow enough room for growth generally a 10″ to a 20″ diameter, 10″ deep container will suffice to get started. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your plant will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow, at that point it is time for a larger pot.
SOIL
McDowell Philodendrons enjoy well drained but moist, rich organic mix. Remember try to stay away from wet, mucky or dry, sandy soils.
FERTILIZER
To help establish your new McDowell Philodendron, fertilize sparingly at least 6 inches away from the base, tri-annually with a slow time released product. Unfertilized they will tend to grow very slowly. Note: The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers will damage the roots and possibly kill the plant.
GROW ZONE & LIGHT
Best outdoors if grown in zone 9b-11, find your zone here. This Philodendron requires 70-85% sunlight. Depending on your location filtered sun is best. In the northern end of their grow zone McDowell plants should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. The patio zone is 4b-11 which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before frost.
BEFORE YOU PLANT OUTDOORS
At the nursery these Philodendron plants are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant this Philodendron in a brightly lit area you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting.
WHAT IS THE SHIPPING SIZE
All McDowell Philodendron Plants for sale will vary in size. In the spring, plants are often smaller than plants shipped in the fall. Plants designated with a sku ending in -4, -6 or -8 will arrive in a standard 4 inch, 6 inch or 8 inch round growers pot respectively. Our new, reusable, recyclable deep pots are 8 inches deep and 3×3 inches in width. Products growing in these pots are easy to transplant and allow for deeper roots and faster growth, they are designated with a sku ending in -t3, most of these often come with a wood totem. (Note: The item sku number can be found just below the buy button.) The color and style of these pots may vary. If we are out of a particular size item, we may ship a larger size at no additional charge. For more information, click the “best packaging” link at the bottom of this page.
Note:
Before leaving, McDowell Philodendron plants are inspected, watered, and pruned. Larger plants, generally those that ship in 8″ pots or with totems, will be topped to 36″ or 48″ overall, depending on the variety, if necessary to facilitate shipping. Your new plants’ pot is then bagged to ensure that the soil stays in the pot and not loose in the box. Plants are tissue or kraft paper wrapped and secured in place with natural biodegradable peanuts.
You may want to order your McDowell online now while they are in stock, supplies are limited.
Zone.9b Zone.10a Zone.10b Zone.11a Zone.11a Zone.11b