Philodendron martianum
Philodendron martianum Engl. · Flask Philodendron
UK price
£80 to £300
Estimate
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 0
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- -
- On record
- 0
Cutting/cormNone
7cmNone
12cmNone
MatureNone
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
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Recent UK sales
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For sale in the UK
Before you buy
- Check the growing point for firmness — softness here usually means rot has already reached the crown
- Look for genuinely thick, swollen petioles rather than slender ones, since this trait is the whole point of the species
- Confirm the root system looks proportionate to the plant's size
- Check for pest damage at the base of the petioles, an easy place for scale or mealybugs to go unnoticed
About Philodendron martianum
Thick, sausage-like, swollen petioles give Philodendron martianum its 'Flask' nickname and set it apart from every climbing species in the genus — this is a self-heading plant with a compact rosette habit, no support required. Endemic to humid lower montane forest in southern Ecuador's Zamora-Chinchipe Province, it's adapted to steep slopes and does best in rocky, well-drained soil rich in leaf litter. Leathery elliptic leaves and persistent cataphylls at the base complete a plant whose whole appeal sits in that unusual swollen-stem silhouette.
Native range
Endemic to Ecuador (Zamora–Chinchipe Province)
Classification
- Genus
- Philodendron
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Wild
- Growth habit
- Self-heading, compact rosette
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- Elliptic to oblong
- Leaf length
- 20-35 cm
- Leaf width
- 10-15 cm
- Petiole colour
- Green
- Venation
- Pronounced midrib
- Texture
- Leathery
- Variegation
- None
- Growth habit
- Self-heading rosette
Philodendron martianum care
- Substrate
- A high-porosity mix — 50% perlite, 30% orchid bark, 20% coco coir — in a sturdy pot sized to the plant's upright habit rather than a climbing support.
- Watering
- Water thoroughly, then let the top third of the mix dry before watering again. The swollen petioles store some moisture, so this species tolerates an occasional missed watering reasonably well.
- Humidity
- High, 60-80%.
- Feeding
- Feed at quarter to half strength every 2-3 weeks in the growing season with a balanced fertiliser; drop to monthly over winter.
- Repotting
- Repot every 12-18 months into a pot sized for the eventual rosette spread; this species builds a substantial root system without a climbing support to lean on.
Common problems
Root rot
Cause: Substrate that stays wet, often from a mix that's too dense or a pot with poor drainage
Fix: Repot into a chunkier mix immediately and trim away any mushy roots
Slow, stalled growth
Cause: A naturally deliberate grower compared to the genus's climbing species
Fix: Be patient; self-heading philodendrons build size steadily rather than quickly
Thinner, less swollen petioles
Cause: Insufficient light or inconsistent watering
Fix: Move to brighter indirect light and keep watering on a consistent cycle rather than alternating drought and soak
Gear for this plant
- Coir Moss Pole, 120cm (4-Pack)Coco coir totem for climbing aroids to root into as they grow upward.
- Natural Rooting Powder, 3 x 75gRooting hormone powder for stem and leaf cuttings.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Digital Hygrometer & ThermometerLCD humidity and temperature gauge for checking a grow spot against a plant's target range.
How to propagate Philodendron martianum
- Methods
- Offset, Stem cutting. Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Rewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
- Time to establish
- 4-8 months
- True from cuttings
- Yes. Cuttings keep the cultivar's character.
- Notes
- Propagates from basal offsets once the rosette is established; self-heading philodendrons are slower to offset than climbing types but establish reliably once rooted.