Philodendron Selloum Propagation is quick and easy if you follow the right procedure. You can propagate selloum in both water and soil without any help.
Root division and stem cuttings are the two highly successful methods of selloum propagation.
Just cut the right stem or divide the roots and prepare them for rooting in water or soil. Keep eye on them to measure the success. Give the best care after finishing the propagation process and you will have a new growing plant in a few days.
In this propagation guide, I will walk you through the complete process of propagating philodendron selloum.
When to Propagate Philodendron Selloum?
Spring is the perfect time for Philodendron Selloum Propagation. Because the newly propagated plants need a good amount of light throughout the day.
In spring we have long bright days and appropriate humidity for the propagation. Moreover, no heat waves and no high-temperature problems. Just a perfect growing environment for philodendrons.
More light means more food for your newly propagated plants.
Moreover, the mother plant did not go into shock when you cut the stems or divide roots for propagation in spring.
Because the mother plant is in its active growing season. It can grow more stems and roots easily.
Keep in mind that you should only propagate mature philodendron selloum. When your plant is at least 2 years old or more. Mature plant parts guaranteed your success in propagation.
Things You Will Need for Propagation:
- Garden gloves
- Protection glasses
- Small size terracotta pot
- A well-draining potting mix containing perlite and peat moss
- Few ounces of high-quality compost
- Rubbing alcohol to sterilize tools
- Sharp knife or pruning shears
- Rooting hormone (optional)
- Towel paper or newspaper
- Clean Glass container
- Filtered water or rainwater
How Can You Propagate Philodendron Selloum?
There are two most successful methods of propagating Selloum philodendron. Both are simple and have their own advantages.
Choose any method that you think is easy for you to follow.
Stem Cutting
In this technique, we use healthy stems of your philodendron selloum to multiply the plant. Philodendron plants are easy to propagate from their stem cuttings.
But there is a way to cut a stem you cannot just cut the random stem and plant it in the potting soil. First, you need to inspect your plant and choose the matured stem with leaves.
Leaf Nodes are an important part of a stem because it the place where the stem will grow new roots.
Most growers use water as a growing medium when they choose stem cutting propagation method.
It is not only easy to propagate stem cuttings in water. In fact, this way you can easily keep eye on the development of the new roots.
You can measure the success rate and adjust the growing environment if you think the development of new roots is slow.
Whereas in potting soil you cannot see what is going on under the soil.
Root Division
In this philodendron propagation technique, we divide the offsets or roots of the selloum for propagation.
Philodendron selloum grows small offsets that are like small plants that stay very short than the mother plant.
You can find them when you check the base of a matured philodendron selloum.
You need to separate them from the mother plant and plant them in the water or soil for propagating philodendron selloum.
For root division, I recommend using potting soil not water. Because these shoots already have roots. It is best to plant them directly in the soil and give some fertilizer to let them grow faster.
For me, root division is easy than stem cutting. Because I just need to unpot the plant, grab some root divisions and plant them in soil.
Then follow the regular care and I am done with the propagation.
How to Take Stem Cutting?
Before cutting a stem, you need to prepare your plant. Below is the process of taking a stem cutting of philodendron selloum for propagation.
Water Your Plant:
Give water to your plant 24 hours before the propagation. Because it is necessary to give nutrients to stems before cutting them.
Add a little bit of liquid fertilizer and use filtered water so that the philodendron roots can easily absorb nutrients.
Then find a healthy stem with few nodes and few bright shining leaves.
You should select multiple stems to increase your success rate.
Clean Your Plant:
Once you identify the healthy stems it’s time to clean them with a soft cloth and water. Use a limited amount of water.
It is best if you use a damp cloth, do not use spray water on leaves. Because it’s springtime and humidity is already high.
Misting water can increase the chances of leaf fungal diseases.
Cleaning is necessary to remove dirt and dust from the leaves. It will also reduce the chances of infection to the propagated stem.
Make a Clean Cut:
Now it’s time to make a clean cut without damaging the plant. Clean your knife with rubbing alcohol to reduce the chances of infection.
Then slowly make a cut below the leaf node and make sure you make a cut 4 to 6 inches below a node.
Again, sterilize the tools and store them in their place.
Do not use anything on the stem that you cut from the mother plant.
Remove Unwanted Leaves:
Put your stem on a paper towel or a newspaper for an hour to thicken the wound. It may release some watery substances.
It is toxic to humans and pets. Keep the stem away from your kids and pets. You should also wear gloves before performing the cut.
Remove the leaves that are at the bottom of the stem. Do not remove those leaves that are on the top part of the stem.
Now your stem cutting is ready for propagation.
How to Divide Philodendron Selloum Roots?
While dividing the roots of philodendron selloum you should be very careful. Most of the time people damage the main root ball in this method.
Follow the below process to safely separate offsets from the mother plant.
Unpot Your Plant:
Again, you need to water your plant a day before propagation. Water will lose the soil and you can gently tilt your plant and unpot it.
This is the safe method of unpotting the plant.
Then remove the soil with your fingers, do not use any sharp tool or you will damage the roots.
Wash the roots with normal tap water and check for signs of root decay. You will find many healthy plantlets.
Choose plantlets with thick roots almost like a pencil thick.
Cut the Roots:
Use a sterilized knife or shear to cut the selected healthy thick root. Place it aside and gently fill the old plant pot with the same soil to its half.
Now place the mother plant in the pot and fill the remaining portion of the pot with soil.
Makes sure your plant is straight and gently tap around the main stem of the plant. For a few days, the mother plant can show some weakness.
But in 4 to 7 days, it will become strong and healthy like before.
Treating Roots:
Because you choose the thick root you can remove the damage or any decaying portion of the root.
To prevent fungal diseases, I use copper fungicide and apply it to the roots.
This way I ensure that my roots will grow without facing any fungus or decaying issues. I don’t use cinnamon powder because the roots are small and I want a strong solution.
After using fungicide place the root division on a paper towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Propagating Philodendron Selloum in Water
Using water as a growing medium is best to propagate philodendron selloum with the stem-cutting method. Below is the complete guide.
Step-by-step process:
- First of all, take a glass jar and clean it properly with dishwashing soap and warm water. Use a dry cloth to dry it from the inside.
- Fill the glass jar with clean filtered water. Do not overfill, keep the water level 2 inches below the neck of the jar.
- Place the stem cutting in it, but before that make sure you use the rooting hormone on the cut. Rooting hormone is optional but it is used to help the stem to grow roots faster.
- Make sure the cut edge and last leaf nodes are always submerged under the water.
- Place the glass container in a bright place away from the reach of direct sunlight.
- Do not place it in the bathroom or in the kitchen. Make sure there is enough fresh air flow in the room.
- Change water every 4 to 5 days or when it gets dirty and unclear.
- Within 10 to 15 days the stem will grow feeder roots. These are the first roots of your newly propagated philodendron selloum.
- Once these roots grow 1 inch long, you can transfer the stem cutting to a terracotta pot.
- Use fresh potting soil, transfer your plant to it, place the pot in indirect bright light and start following the regular philodendron selloum care guide.
Philodendron Selloum Propagation in Soil
By using the potting soil for philodendrons propagating the roots you are giving them an optimal environment to grow. Also reducing the chances of fungal diseases and early death of roots.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Remove the thin roots and fibrous lateral roots.
- Use a small 5 to 6 inches pot and fill it with well-draining potting soil. I use perlite, peat moss, and vermiculite in equal parts.
- Perlite is necessary for keeping the soil moist, peat moss for increasing the airflow, and vermiculite for increasing the fertility of the potting mix.
- Add a few ounces of compost to increase the percentage of organic nutrients in the soil.
- Fill half of the pot with the soil and gently plant the stem in it and fill the remaining pot with the soil.
- Give some water to add nice moisture to the soil. Use filtered water only.
- Place the pot in indirect bright light. Do not expose it to direct sun rays as they can burn the plant leaves.
- Wait for 20 to 25 days and your propagated plant will show new growth.
How to Give Care to Newly Propagated Philodendron Selloum?
Proper Light
Placing your propagated plant in the best location is the first and most important step of care. Choose a location where plenty of indirect bright light is available throughout the day.
Philodendron selloum and Philodendron Sodiroi need bright light to grow healthy and disease-free.
But if there is only a bright sunny window in your room. Then you can install a curtain to filter the light for your newly propagated philodendron selloum.
Nutrients
Nutrients come in the form of fertilizers for houseplants. Use liquid organic nutrients to give an extra nutrient boost to your plant.
Fertilize philodendron selloum only in spring and summer same as you fertilize Philodendron Hope.
It will absorb 100% of the given nutrients and grow a good number of shining leaves. Nutrients also make the plant’s immunity strong and quick.
Any type of general-purpose houseplant fertilizer is good to use. These fertilizers come in a balanced ratio of NPK.
Watering
Because philodendron selloum is a tropical plant it needs constant moisture throughout the year. But this does not mean it needs frequent watering sessions.
If you use the well-draining soil formula with ingredients like perlite and peat moss. Then you need to water your plant less frequently.
In summer your plant needs more water and it depends upon the temperature in the grow room.
Whereas in winter selloum needs watering application once in 15 to 20 days.
Let the top surface of the soil completely dry before watering the plant.
Protection From Pests
Pests often attack new and young plants that are in their first year of life. I use neem spray to prevent pest attacks.
You should also use neem spray and keep the plant surroundings clean.
Inspect your plant for pests every time you give water and also remove dust from its leaves. By keeping your plant clean you can reduce the chances of pest attacks up to 75%.
Ideal Temperature
For optimal health philodendron selloum, the ideal temperature is between 60 to 85 degrees F. Do not place your propagated plant at a temperature below 55 Degrees F.
This will freeze the cells of the leaves and they develop brown spots.
Above 85 degrees F is also dangerous for the plant. High temperature increases the rate of respiration and transpiration.
This increases the chances of dehydration.
Conclusion
Now that you know the methods and complete process of philodendron selloum propagation. You can easily propagate it without taking help from others.
Everything is listed that you need to propagate it.
If you still find it difficult or want some more clarity on the steps comment below.
