LIGHT

• Requires bright, indirect light to maintain dense foliage and prevent stretching.
• A few hours of direct morning sun (East window) is beneficial.
• Insufficient light causes the stems to stretch (etiolate), leading to a sparse, weak appearance, and leaves will be smaller with less lobing.
• Avoid direct afternoon sun, which can burn the leaves.

WATER

• Prefers the soil to dry out mostly between waterings.
• Allow the top two-thirds of the soil to dry out completely before soaking thoroughly.
• Overwatering causes yellowing of the entire leaf, starting with the lower ones, and is the most common cause of root rot.
• Underwatering causes the leaf tips to turn brown and crispy.

SOIL

• Needs a rich, chunky, and very well-draining potting mix.
• A blend of potting soil with large chunks of orchid bark, coco coir, and perlite provides the aeration needed for its thick roots.

GROWTH HABIT

• Ideal conditions: High humidity (50%+), warm temperatures (70-85F), and bright light.
• Growth rate & size: Growth rate is fast under ideal conditions. It grows as a large, upright tree on a woody trunk, easily reaching 6-10 feet tall indoors, requiring significant space.

PROPAGATING

• Propagated by removing and rooting offsets ("pups") that emerge from the base of the trunk.
• Can also be propagated by air layering on the trunk or by taking stem cuttings (if a stem is removed during pruning) with a growth point.

PRUNING

• Pruning is mainly to remove old, yellowed, or damaged leaves.
• Cut off old leaves at the base, close to the trunk, once they have fully browned. The remaining stalk will dry up and eventually form the distinctive leaf scars on the trunk.
• Pruning the top growth is not recommended unless you need to severely restrict height, as it destroys the natural, symmetrical crown.

REPOTTING

• Repot when the plant is root-bound, typically every 2-3 years, or when it becomes top-heavy.
• Repot in spring or early summer.
• Use a heavy, stable container to anchor the large, top-heavy crown and prevent tipping.

FERTILIZING

• Feed heavily during the spring and summer growing season (monthly).
• Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
• Stop fertilizing in the fall and winter.

FLOWERING

• Produces an inconspicuous, spathe-and-spadix flower (rarely seen indoors).
• Requires the plant to be very large and mature to flower.

TOXICITY

• Toxic to humans and pets. Contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which cause oral pain, swelling, and vomiting if chewed or ingested.

PRO TIPS

• Wipe the massive leaves regularly to maximize light absorption and keep them glossy.
• Yellowing leaves are often normal for the oldest, lowest leaves as they age, but excessive yellowing suggests overwatering.
• The plant requires a lot of horizontal space as the leaves spread outward significantly.