All about the bushy, beautiful philodendron xanadu!
Today I’m covering the beautiful, bushy philodendron xanadu. It belongs to the Araceae family, philodendron genus. But the xanadu is only one of over 450 varieties of philodendron.
It’s native to Brazil, and it is commonly grown as a landscape plant in tropical, subtropical, and warm climates. Unlike many other varieties of philodendron, the xanadu does not climb but rather grows more upright. Want to learn how to keep the xanadu happy? Let’s dive in!
Light
The xanadu needs more light than most other varieties of philodendron in order to maintain its appearance. That means that it thrives in bright, indirect light. Anything less, and you might find that the stems will become longer and a bit “leggy” in search of light.
If you start to notice leaves with several inches between them on the stem, then your plant likely needs more light to stay happy. This is something I noticed on a clearance rack xanadu I purchased—the growth was all very leggy after it had been growing indoors under less-than-ideal lighting for a while.
You can’t “unstretch” leggy, sparse-looking growth. As hard as it is to do, the best course of action is to prune those stems off and adjust your plant’s care to encourage bushier, healthier new growth. It’s worth it, I promise!
Keep in mind, though, that too much light may cause the leaves to become discolored, leaving the plant with a pale, unhealthy look. Some yellowing is normal as the plant ages, but a number of light yellow or bleached leaves may indicate that you’re giving your plant too much light. Add a sheer curtain if the window the plant is by gets too much direct light!
For more philodendron care posts, check out my care posts on heart-leaf philodendron and philodendron micans.
Watering
Like other philodendrons, the xanadu prefers moist soil. I recommend watering the plant when the soil becomes dry a few inches down. You can use your finger or a moisture meter to check this.
When you do water the plant, saturate the soil completely until water drains out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the planter. Don’t let the plant to stand in water, though! This may cause root rot because the water-logged soil will prevent the flow of oxygen to the plant’s roots.
Soil
Xanadu enjoys any light, airy, well-draining potting mix. Something with fine moss, coco coir, or perlite mixed in will help to ensure the soil retains only the moisture it needs to feed the plant and nothing more.
Soil is such a critical part of your watering routine, too. If it’s too dense, you won’t be able to nail down a successful watering routine because the soil won’t drain properly. Any mix labeled as something good for houseplants or indoor plants will do the trick!
Humidity
As a tropical plant, xanadu prefers a humid environment. But it can still survive the level of humidity found in most homes. But even though this plant can survive in the average household humidity, it does not like dry air. So make sure to keep it away from heat or AC vents.
To keep humidity up, try adding a humidifier near the plant. Even better, group your xanadu with other houseplants that have similar care needs, and add a humidifier in the middle. The collection of plants will also help to keep ambient humidity levels a bit higher.
The extra humidity will encourage lush growth and shiny foliage. My xanadu goes outdoors for our humid spring and summers here in Maryland. And it really grows like a weed on our covered patio!
Temperature
Xanadu enjoys daytime temperatures between 65- and 75-degrees Fahrenheit, with a low of about 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it the ideal houseplant (although, like I said, it can be grown outdoors during warm months or in mild climates).
If you do choose to grow your xanadu outdoors, know that it is definitely not frost tolerant. It will likely be totally fine with a few night-time dips down into the low 50s, but you’ll begin to see signs of stress with temperatures lower than that.
Toxicity
All philodendron plants contain calcium oxalates, which are considering toxic to humans and pets if ingested. They can lead to oral irritation and swelling, gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, and more nasty symptoms. Always keep this plant away from pets, children, or others who may try to consume any part of it.
Propagation
Philodendron xanadu is a patented variety meaning that it cannot be propagated for sale. However, you can propagate this plant for your personal collection. While you can’t propagate philodendron xanadu using a leaf cutting, you can very easily propagate it through division.
As a fast-growing plant, it will outgrow its pot fairly quickly. When this occurs, you can repot it into a larger pot—or you could divide it into two smaller plants! This is what I did with a bargain-bin xanadu I got. When I cleaned it up, trimmed the dead leaves, and removed it from the pot, I broke a few small pieces off.
When you break these pieces off, just make sure you get some of the root system with them. Pot them up in separate smaller pots and keep the soil a bit moist while the plant is established itself. It’s as easy as that!
Wrapping up…
Philodendron xanadu is a great “anchor plant” to help fill out a room. It grows big and bushy, so it will make a statement when placed a sunny corner surrounded by smaller accent plants. Keep an eye out for one to add to your collection—and, who knows…you might find a bargain bin plant to nurse back to health like I did! Happy planting 🙂
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Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
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