Fat Boy Philodendron

Fat Boy Philodendron (Philodendron martianum) is grown for the swollen stalks that name it: each glossy paddle leaf sits on a thick, water storing petiole with a bulging base. It builds a tidy rosette to about 80cm tall and a metre across and stays there, holding a corner without taking over the room. It wants warmth and filtered light rather than sun, which makes it straightforward indoors anywhere in the country.

Why you'll love it

• A shape you do not see often. The bulbous petioles and thick upright leaves give it a sculptural look against plain walls.
• It forgives a missed watering. Those swollen stalks store water, so a week or two of neglect does no harm. Consistent overwatering is the real risk.
• It stays put. This is a self heading philodendron, not a climber: no trellis, no aerial roots across the shelf, no annual retraining.
• Low light is fine. Bright filtered light is best, but it tolerates the dim corners where flowering plants give up.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in Australia. Living rooms, offices, bathrooms and bright hallways all suit it, and inside, climate stops mattering.

Pots and containers. A pot 300mm to 400mm wide gives it room to reach full width, and it is happy slightly snug, so no rush to size up.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it lives outdoors in sheltered shade, an understorey clump beneath palms. Further south, keep it potted so it can come under cover before the first cold night.

One caution: like all philodendrons, the leaves and sap contain calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Keep it off floor level if you share the house with a chewer.

Growing Fat Boy Philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or dappled shade outdoors in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. Direct midday sun scorches the leaves and bleaches out the gloss. It is frost tender, so below about 5 degrees bring it inside.

Soil. A quality indoor mix opened up with perlite or coarse bark. The pot must have a drainage hole, since standing water is the fastest way to lose it.

Water and feed. Water when the top third of the mix is dry, weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter, and tip the saucer out. A half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is enough.

Pruning. Almost none. Cut spent leaves off at the base of the stalk, and wipe the foliage with a damp cloth so it can use the light.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown: tube stock, 200mm in packs of six, and single 300mm pots. Tube stock is young, a few small leaves, and fills a 200mm pot within a season or two. The 200mm plants are established and ready to pot up, and a 300mm plant can go straight into a decorative pot.

Thick leaves and firm stalks mean it travels well. Give it a bright indirect spot for a week before the first water, and expect a month before new growth. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Read about growing Philodendron Xanadu in Australian gardens.
• Browse the wider indoor plants range.
• Find a pot friendly plant to sit alongside.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves and sap contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting if a pet chews them. Rarely serious, but keep the plant up off the floor in a household with pets.

Does it climb?

No. It is a self heading philodendron, forming a rosette from a short central stem, so it needs no stake, pole or trellis.

How often should I water it?

Once the top third of the mix has dried. Yellowing lower leaves usually mean too much water rather than too little.