Houseplants - Philodendron
Back to Houseplants

  (November) My problem is my split leaf philodendron. It is over 25 years old and it's huge. Over the years, I have put it in a larger pot and it just kept getting larger. The last pot that I put her in was as large as I could possibly move, even on a roller. The plant has three stalks, approximately 3 feet long each and they are about 3" in circumference with leaves growing out of the tops of the stalks. My problem is that over the last year, she has started to grow shoots out of the sides of her stalks, and the leaves coming out of the top of her stalks are turning brown at the edges and dying very quickly. What can I do for her? Has she possibly become root bound in this huge pot? Do I dare try to repot her, and how? As you can well imagine over the years I have become very attached to her and now that she is so old I want to take the best care of her. Actually she was a gift from my father (a plant lover also), who is now deceased, on my 21st birthday.

  Split leaf philodendrons are tough plants and as old as this plant is, I would bet it is rootbound. I daresay this plant is as large as you want it, so instead of repotting to a larger pot to compensate the overgrown roots, take it out of the container, prune off some of the side roots, shake off the old soil, and repot in the same size container with fresh soil. You may also want to divide the plant, leaving an individual crown or stalk for each plant that you repot. I would take care of these activities in the spring, when new growth kicks in, especially if you move it outdoors for the summer. Any parts that you prune off or accidently break off in the process can also be rooted, and can serve as a pass-along plant to one of your friends.

  I would like some advice on how to care for philodendrons. I have two variegated ones. One gets the morning sun, and the other gets the evening sun. They just sit there. I have had it about six months, but it has produced any runners yet.

  Philodendrons are easy plants to grow. All they need is some water and sunlight and they should thrive. If you want to encourage growth, try adding a little houseplant fertilizer. Don’t get carried away with it, or you can burn the plant. You purchased your plants when growth was slowing down, which usually occurs in the winter. Now that spring is here, all of our plants should begin growing more. If you really want to get them jump-started, move them outside in late April. With humid, warm conditions, most tropical houseplants thrive.

  I have two split leaf philodendron plants that are about twenty years old. They are potted and the main stalk has grown up and out of the pot at least twelve inches. Would it be advisable to cut this stalk and lower the plant? How and when would be the best time to do this? Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

  Many times split leaf philodendrons are grown on support stakes to keep them upright. You have a couple of options for your plant. You can either cut it back, or repot it to a larger container or deeper in the container it is in. If the plant is large enough for you, lift it out of the current container, shake off the old soil and then cut back some of the root bound roots. Plant it slightly deeper in the container and gradually cover it with more soil until it is at the depth you want it to be. The best time to do this would be in the spring when you plan to move it back outdoors--you can contain the mess better then, and the plant will begin to grow more.

Back to Houseplants