SKU: 48093416890
giant philodendron care

giant philodendron care Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’

Sale price$25.81 Regular price$28.68
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $7.17 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 16 - Jul 21

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

giant philodendron care Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’The Philodendron Mcdowell is a crawling, drought tolerant plant that has lush, heart shaped leaves and a velvet like texture. This tropical plant is well known among collectors and indoor plant enthusiasts, and it is the ideal combination of easy care and captivating beauty. This crawling hybrid is a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. This unique origin gives McDowell its natural adaptability to warm and humid

The Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ is a crawling, drought-tolerant plant that has lush, heart-shaped leaves and a velvet-like texture. This tropical plant is well-known among collectors and indoor plant enthusiasts, and it is the ideal combination of easy care and captivating beauty.  

This crawling hybrid is a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. This unique origin gives ‘McDowell’ its natural adaptability to warm and humid environments, as well as being tolerant to low light; which mimics the shaded conditions of tropical forest floors.

The standout feature of the Mcdowell Philodendron plant is undoubtedly its massive, heart-shaped leaves, which can reach up to 2 feet in length when grown in ideal conditions.

These leaves have a deep green hue with prominent, white-veined patterns, and their texture resembles a velvety fabric, giving the plant an exceptionally tactile allure.

It is a terrestrial grower, which means it typically crawls along the soil rather than climbing, making it ideal for low, wide pots. 

Though it rarely blooms indoors, the Philodendron 'Mcdowell' plant can produce tiny, spathe-like flowers. These blooms are not as showy as the plant's foliage and often go unnoticed, but they do emit a subtle fragrance. Flowering may occur if the plant is grown outdoors in a tropical climate or in a greenhouse that replicates its native conditions. 

As an indoor plant, Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ not only enhances the aesthetic of a space with its dramatic foliage, but it also helps purify the air by absorbing pollutants. Like other philodendrons, it plays a role in removing toxins, making it an excellent choice for improving indoor air quality. Its lush, tropical appearance adds a sense of tranquility and vibrant greenery to any interior setting.

When and How to Water Philodendron ‘Mcdowell

Like other drought-tolerant plants, the Philodendron McDowell can handle some neglect when it comes to watering. It is important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Overwatering can be more harmful than underwatering for this plant.  

In the spring and summer, during the growing season, you want to keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged. A good rule of thumb is to water it when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. You can water it thoroughly typically for 1-2 weeks, allowing excess water to drain out of the pot to prevent root rot. 

In the fall and winter, during the dormant season, the McDowell Philodendron plant doesn't need as much water. You should reduce the frequency of watering to once a week. It's essential to adjust your watering schedule based on the plant's needs and the environmental conditions. Overwatering can be more harmful than underwatering for this plant, so it's better to err on the side of slightly underwatering than overdoing it. Just keep an eye on the moisture and adjust accordingly to keep your Philodendron happy and healthy!

Light Requirements – Where to Place Your Philodendron Plant 

When grown indoors, it does well in bright, indirect light for at least 4-6 hours a day. You can place it near a window where it can get filtered sunlight or even a few feet away from a window with bright, indirect light.

Just avoid placing it in direct sunlight as that can scorch its leaves. If you notice the leaves turning yellow or brown, it might be getting too much light. 

For outdoor cultivation, Philodendron McDowell can still do well in bright, indirect light. It's best to place it in a spot where it gets filtered sunlight or dappled shade.

If you're in a region with intense sunlight, make sure to protect it from direct sun exposure, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

Remember, the key is to provide it with the right balance of light – not too dim and not too bright. 

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

When it comes to soil for your Philodendron McDowell, it thrives in a well-draining potting mix. This type of soil allows excess water to drain away, preventing waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. You can also consider adding some orchid bark or charcoal to the mix to enhance aeration and drainage, promoting healthy root growth. Planet Desert specialized potting soil, opens in a new tabGo to soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media that includes an organic substrate with mycorrhizae to help with the growth of a healthy root system to help your succulents thrive. 

Your Philodendron McDowell doesn't require a lot of feeding. During the growing season in spring, you can fertilize it with a balanced NPK fertilizer diluted to half strength. Feed the plant once a year to provide it with the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. During the dormant season in fall and winter, you can reduce or stop fertilizing altogether since the plant's growth slows down during this time. Always remember to follow the instructions on the fertilizer package to avoid overfeeding, which can harm the plant. With the right soil mix and proper fertilization, your Philodendron plant will continue to thrive and grace your space with its lush green foliage.

Hardiness Zones & More 

When grown indoors, with bright, indirect light keep the temperature between 65-80°F during the day and no lower than 60°F at night. Avoid placing it near drafty windows or doors as sudden temperature drops can stress the plant. Maintaining a stable temperature will help your Philodendron thrive and remain healthy indoors. 

For outdoor planting, the Philodendron McDowell is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 10-11. These zones typically have milder winters with temperatures above 30°F.

If you live in a colder climate, you can still grow it outdoors during the warmer months and bring it inside before the temperatures drop. This plant thrives in temperatures above 50°F and doesn't tolerate frost well. 

The Philodendron plants enjoy moderate to high humidity levels. Indoors, you can increase humidity by misting the plant regularly, using a humidifier, or placing a tray of water near the plant. Outdoors in humid regions, the plant will naturally benefit from the ambient moisture in the air. 

Wildlife – Philodendron Mcdowell Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators 

The Philodendron McDowell is known to attract pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies with its unique flowers. These pollinators are drawn to the plant's nectar and can help facilitate the pollination process, leading to the production of seeds. By attracting these pollinators, the Philodendron McDowell contributes to the ecosystem's biodiversity and promotes plant reproduction. 

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

Philodendron McDowell is mildly toxic to pets and humans, causing symptoms such as irritation and swelling if ingested. It is safe to touch and handle without any adverse effects. However, it is recommended to keep this plant out of reach of pets and children to prevent accidental ingestion.

How to Propagate Your Philodendron ‘Mcdowell 

The Philodendron McDowell can be propagate through stem cuttings. To propagate your plant, you can take a cutting with at least one node (where leaves are attached) and place it in water or directly into a well-draining potting mix. Keep the cutting in a warm and humid environment, and roots should start to develop within a few weeks. Once the roots are established, you can transplant the cutting into a larger pot with soil and continue to care for it as you would a mature plant. This method of propagation is relatively straightforward and can help you expand your Philodendron collection. 

Key Takeaways

  1. This Philodendron is a hybrid created by John Banta, a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. It inherits the striking heart-shaped leaves and velvety texture from its parent plants.
  2. The Philodendron 'Mcdowell' is a crawler rather than a climber, unlike vining Philodendrons, which grow upward with support.
  3. The extremely large, heart-shaped leaves are velvety with prominent white veins, making it a popular choice among collectors. Young leaves often emerge with a pinkish hue before maturing into a deep green.
  4. As a crawler rather than a climber, Mcdowell grows horizontally across the soil, requiring a wide pot or ground space to thrive.
  5. This Philodendron plant is known for its air-purifying qualities, making it a popular choice for indoor spaces.

The Bottom Line 

Overall, the Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ is a stunning hybrid known for its large, heart-shaped, velvety leaves with distinct white veins that give it a bold, tropical appearance. As a crawling variety, it grows horizontally, spreading across the soil, which makes it ideal for wide containers or as a ground cover in tropical gardens. This plant thrives in bright, indirect light and requires consistently moist but well-drained soil. It’s essential to let the top inch dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. High humidity (around 60-80%) and warm temperatures between 65-80°F are ideal for its growth, making it a great indoor plant, especially when a humidifier is available in drier environments. With proper care and attention, Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ brings lush, green beauty to any space and rewards growers with its impressive, luxurious foliage. Order your very own Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ for sale today! 

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 48093416890

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell giant philodendron care

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.3 ★★★★★
Based on 25 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
K
Verified Purchase
Karen R.
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
A must-read for all couples no matter how long (or little) they've been together!
I'm not all that big on self-help books, although I've also read some of Dr. Gray's Mars/Venus books to help me better understand how and why men and women are so different, and to embrace those differences and re-learn communication and conflict-resolution skills. This book by Dr. Chapman is entirely different and just as effective, in a different way. My boyfriend's son had sent it to him a year before we met, when he (my BF) and his wife were about to split up, hoping that it might help and maybe they'd reconcile. My BF read it cover-to-cover, loved it, learned from it, and, while it didn't save his marriage (his wife was leaving him for her new boyfriend no matter what), he highly recommended it to me and I bought it the next day. Wow, am I glad I did! It's an easy read and makes so much sense. We all have our own "love language" - and if our partner doesn't know it, and expresses his/her love a different way, it may not be the way that we need (and vice versa). My love language is Words of Affirmation (there are 5 major languages, and we all have one primary language that our partner should learn, and we should learn our partner’s). So when he tells me how much he appreciates me, loves me, tells me I look pretty, what a great mom I am, whatever, I positively glow. He also *shows* his love in so many ways, not just with words, so even if he doesn't say it, he shows it, and I appreciate him so much for that (and for so many other things). But because my "language" is Words of Affirmation (probably stemming from my childhood, when I got little to no positive feedback or encouragement), his loving words mean more to me than anything else, even though the other languages are important too. By the way, the 5 Love Languages, according to Dr. Chapman, are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch (in a non-sexual way, such as spontaneously giving an affectionate hug or squeeze on the arm while passing by, bear hugs, sitting with my legs on his lap while we watch a movie, cuddling – yes, guys, cuddling is great and I’m lucky that my BF loves to do it too – and he’s as masculine as they come!). While the other languages are very important, I determined that my primary language is Words. We all have different primary languages. But I realized that, despite his showing me his love in so many ways, if he never again said "I love you" to me, or told me I'm pretty when we go out, or gives me an atta girl when I accomplish something important to me, etc., I'd feel that something major was missing (and in the book you'll read about how we all need our Love Tanks filled and the way to fill them is to speak our partner’s language regularly – that sounds silly maybe, but the book puts it into logical context). Quality time (one of the languages) doesn't mean simply being in the same room watching TV together; it means things like sitting down and talking (and listening) to each other without multi-tasking (texting, glancing at the score on TV, reading the paper, etc.), even if only 20 minutes a day. Important? Absolutely. Acts of Service: I’d bought a house last summer and when my BF was over the other day he saw an 8-foot extension ladder in my family room and asked me about it. I told him that the light bulb in the ceiling fan in my 2-story family room had burned out and I needed the ladder to reach it. The ladder was still there last night and the bulb not yet changed because when I’d climbed up and tried to remove the fixture cover, the screws were too tight so I gave it up that night, planning to go up again the next day with a wrench, pliers or other grip to loosen them, but I hadn’t had a chance to yet. So without a word last night, he got right up on the ladder and unscrewed it for me (I love a strong man!). I was grateful, absolutely, yet I also could have done it myself, so Acts of Service isn’t my primary language, though it’s still important. Receiving Gifts isn't my language either, although of course I appreciate them. Physical Touch: that comes naturally to both of us so it wasn't even a consideration since we both do it regularly. Therefore, Words are my primary language. As for my BF, turns out that's his language too, which doesn't always happen that way; most of us have different love languages. Anyway, sorry to go on and on, but I highly recommend this book, whether you're embarking on a new relationship or want to rekindle an existing one that may need a new spark. My grateful thanks to my BF's son, who sent him the book, otherwise I wouldn't have known about it. (By the way, just learning what each other's language is isn't enough. That's only the first step. From there, Dr. Chapman goes on to share how to actually speak the language, to put it into practice. My relationship was fantastic from the start, and knowing what I know now from reading this well-written book will help ensure it stays that way! So stop thinking about it: Add it to your cart! :) (And thank you, Dr. Chapman!)
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2013
M
Verified Purchase
Michael D.
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Best
One of the best books on Love & happy relationships, along with Love by Leo Buscaglia, The five love languages, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, THe Romance Factor, The Practical Guide to Romantic Love by Callahan,
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
SAmazonShopperS
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
The most impactful book on lasting love & relationships
Profound - highly recommend this book to EVERYBODY who has or wants to have a significant other. The different love languages really resonates with me and could save many relationships. This book initially a gift to me from my childhood best friend. It practically saved her marriage. I have since read it and purchased it for other loved ones. Dr. Chapman explains how important it is for couples to understand how each other and themselves both give and receive love. It is possible for couples to truly love each other, but to truly feel unloved because they don’t think the same about giving and receiving love. Everybody generally has their own primary love languages for receiving love and giving love. It may be the same for giving/receiving, and it may be different. If a husband does not meet the primary love language of his wife, she might not sense his true feelings and start to be unsatisfied with their relationship. Understanding your spouse’s love language and acting accordingly will fill their “Love Tank”. The “Love Tank” analogy is a great metaphor for describing how loved someone feels. Meeting people’s primary love language consistently will fill up their love tank and help them feel loved like they need. But if a spouse fails to meet this primary love language, it might leave their “Love Tank” empty, which leads to feelings of being unloved and issues in relationships. Secondary languages are also important, so it's critical to reflect and understand your own priorities and that of your spouses. The five love languages are: 1. Words of Affirmation: If this is your love language, you feel most cared for when your partner is open and expressive in telling you how wonderful they think you are, how much they appreciate you, etc. 2. Acts of Service: If your partner offering to watch the kids so you can go to the gym (or relieving you of some other task) gets your heart going, then this is your love language. 3. Affection: This love language is just as it sounds. A warm hug, a kiss, touch, and sexual intimacy make you feel most loved when this is your love language. 4. Quality Time: This love language is about being together, fully present and engaged in the activity at hand, no matter how trivial. 5. Gifts: Your partner taking the time to give you a gift can make you feel appreciated.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2014
C
Verified Purchase
Chevy Blue
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Helped my marriage
First I must say I REALLY enjoyed this book. Me and my husband both. I heard about this book on Moody radio and decided to give it a try because I wanted a better marriage with less fighting and disagreements. I am soo happy I did. This book was right on point for me and my husband. I read it first, then got the audio version for him to listen to, which he did 4 times. It really gave me great insight into my self and my husband. It helped me to understand how to best express my love to my husband in the way he wants and understands most, and he was able to do the same for me. This hasn't been a cure all, but it helps to understand each other much more than we ever have before and we have been together for 18 years. The book is very well written, its an easy read and you should are able to get through it quickly. The change comes with investing time to apply the principles you have learned. I personally had to go through the material more than once to really let it sink it. This has been a small financial but HUGE emotional investment in one of my most important relationships. The knowledge in this book has really help my husband (his words) to better navigate personal relationships, not just with me, as it is intended, but also with his sister, friends and even stranger. I have found I can use this information is so many interactions and encounters with people throughout the day, it really opens you up to a new perspective. Gary Chapman did a great job explaining the details of the love languages. Anytime in conversation with someone complaining of relationship or even just communication issues I make sure to recommend this book. Can't say enough good things about it and we plan on checking out his other books as well.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2016
Z
Verified Purchase
Z. Paxton
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
This saved my marriage
Really, it did. Simple and profound, a quick read. We all want to express love in the form that we want it for ourselves which is a recipe for disaster and completely arbitrary for your partner however well meaning that is. My wife kept saying that she didn't feel loved in spite of my significant attempts.... Now I know why. For instance saying "I love you" had absolutely no impact on her because her "words of affirmation" category is zero (absent). But she has a high need for physical touch (hooray for me because that is a big match). That insight lead to further research into tantric sex and now I'm having the best sex of my life and more frequently than when we were younger (amazing on both counts). The key was finally understanding what she needed so that she could feel "filled up" In the customized way that she needed. The examples are a bit dated, but still conceptually valid. For her the "acts of service" wasn't washing the dishes, but acts of targeted thoughtfulness that took some time to properly distinguish. I took it on to do something appropriately thoughtful for her every single day since she tested high in that category.... That was a grand slam home run over time. We also took a course in the enneagram (highly insightful personality typing) about the same time that dovetailed nicely. She was a type 2 that wants to make everyone around her happy, everyone except herself of course; she gives and gives until she is depleted and then becomes resentful. For her to be able to state what she wants and needs remains a huge struggle for her but she expects me to just know... A paradox for sure, but now I understand that by keeping her "filled up" overcomes that sense of depletion. (The enneagram is also highly recommended to know yourself and those around you). She takes care of those round her and she needed someone to do that for her; a huge insight. The punch line is that I now get back what I need with a new passion that feels more like an ongoing honeymoon. Priceless. ;-)
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2014

recommand products