Philodendron xanadu starting to climb?

[Tracy]

I planted this Philodendron xanadu at least a decade ago in this planter in a couple of spots near a Pritchardia maideniana.  One of the plants has now attached many aerial roots to the base of the palm and appears to be trying to climb up it.  I'm hopeful that it will as the foliage on the Pritchardia now requires one to crane one's neck to see when standing too close to it.  Anyone have experience with this commonly planted Philo climbing up their palms or other plants?

[Silas_Sancona]

33 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I planted this Philodendron xanadu at least a decade ago in this planter in a couple of spots near a Pritchardia maideniana.  One of the plants has now attached many aerial roots to the base of the palm and appears to be trying to climb up it.  I'm hopeful that it will as the foliage on the Pritchardia now requires one to crane one's neck to see when standing too close to it.  Anyone have experience with this commonly planted Philo climbing up their palms or other plants?

No pictures but yes, would observe specimens in the process of climbing palms like Phoenix roebelenii  planted nearby,  or where stalks had roots trying to cling to stucco walls in some yards / commercial landscapes i helped maintain while in FL.  Never saw any that were big / tall ..mainly right about the height as yours..

[metalfan]

It took many years for it to be discovered that Xanadu actually does make a trunk (like selloum). Its just so slow growing no one figured it out for about 20 years LOL

[Merlyn]

I've seen it "climbing" nearby plants, but it seems like it was by accident rather than design.  So if you planted a stake or pole next to a trunk it would probably end up climbing up parallel to the pole.  I bet you could "train" it to climb the palm trunk over time, just by pruning off any aerial roots that try to pull the trunk in the wrong direction.  I've done that with a couple of Selloum aerial roots.  I have one that I am trying to grow into a "tree" and periodically cut off the roots that try to pull it away from vertical. 

[metalfan]

They have an identical growth habit to the larger Philo selloum. Lots of adventitious roots prop it up so it appears to be 'climbing' but it will stand quite well on its own