Moonlight Philo help?

16 years ago

Apparently now that I'm back, I can't shaddup, lol...it's like I never left. ;)

I bought a mid-sized, gorgeous moonlight philo earlier this summer. I then proceeded to leave it in the car, windows open a couple of inches, while I grocery shopped ...the temp soared to 95 degrees.

The uppermost, largest leaf immediately went translucent and limp; I cut it off. The next two are okay but with a big large spot on each, brown surrounded by yellow, like a bulls-eye (is this necrosis??)

I assumed the damage was all from the heat and the sun, but now all of the leaves are curling/puckering at the edge. The plant looks fine other than that, but it's worrying me.

It's on a shelf right next to a northern window that is surrounded by houses. It gets bright northern light all day, and once in awhile a morning ray across a leaf, but no direct sun other than that.

I've not repotted it, not wanting to traumatize it further, and I'm sure the soil is lousy. It has one root that went from outside the pot into the bottom of the pot - looped around - not sure what that's about, but I can't pull it loose.

I've never had luck with the self-heading philos. I've bought them all really young and lost them all. This is a really beautiful, well-established plant with several large leaves and I don't want to lose it. Should I repot? Move it to a different location? Leave it alone and see what happens? What's up with the brown & yellow bullseyes??

Thanks for any help!

Jude

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

shiver
16 years ago
You'll probably get some different opinions here, but if it were my philo I'd just leave it alone and let it recover for a few weeks.

Like yours, my young self-heading philos always died too---it drove me crazy! I really did have better luck when I purchased these kind of philos larger and more established (for other plants it's usually just the opposite). Moonlight is a pretty strong/fast grower so I bet your plant will start putting out new growth soon---then you can chop off the yucky burned foliage. A bright north window should be just fine. Good luck and happy growing. :)
GrowHappy
16 years ago
it's heat damage....it happened to my blue philo in much the same way as yours! some of the leaves developed translucent patches. As days went on, more leaves developed this same thing. I just pulled them off as they came and waited for the damage to subside. It did in a couple of weeks, but I'd lost quite a few leaves for it. Since the 'Moonlight' is self-heading, rather than climbing, I wouldn't pull too many leaves off until it starts sending out some new growth. You don't have that many leaves to begin with on this type of philo.

Good luck to you, Jude.
Related Discussions
WANTED: philos
Q
Comments (1)
i have philo hederaceum, monstera obliqua a relative of the philo, and i have philo erubescens,orange and red new leaves they flower alot and are verry attrctive. email me
...See More
Help with Philo ID
Q
Comments (2)
Minibim, I don't seem to be able to email you from GardenWeb. I'm just wondering if you found a trade for the Philo? If not, please contact me at chammer@cfl.rr.com Russ
...See More
Help with Huge Philo Moonlight
Q
Comments (5)
I may be wrong here...I am NOT a Philodendron expert. I grow a whole lot of different ones, but that doesn't make me an expert. That said... I don't think your plant is philodendron Moonlight. Moonlight is a self-heading philodendron, it should have a uniform kind of "round" appearance to the whole plant, kinda symmetrical, you know? Those types, like my red one pictured, eventually DO grow trunks and either sprawl or attach to something to continue growing. Takes a while but it happens. Your philo looks like a vining type. It looks like it could be one of the "Emerald" philos, or perhaps Burle-marx. You definitely need ot get it established on a totem. It looks perfectly healthy, it just never got trained onto anything so its kinda growing all over the place. Google Philodendron Moonlight and you will see the difference between it and the plant that you have
...See More
Help, My philo is not ok!!
Q
Comments (2)
You may be ok and may just need to wait for new leaves to replace the freeze-burned ones. Then with your new soil - don't over water. Some folks say to stick your finger 3+ inches in the soil and if it's not moist then water it. But, knowing that, I still over-water. I might get a moisture gauge this winter. You've posted to the right place. See what others suggest as well.
...See More
greenjude
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you both!

But is the puckering heat damage too? That didn't happen right away, and it's getting worse every day...read that it might be an MG deficiency, so that's why I considered repotting...the leaves - and more of them - are getting more curled and puckered all the time. I can't find any other info on what could be causing that, and I haven't found bugs.

Thanks!
Jude
GrowHappy
16 years ago
Jude, if you just bought the plant, I wouldn't repot it right now. Give it some time to acclimate and recover from the heat damage. I'm sorry I can't help with the cause of the puckering. I've never had that happen.

Shanika
ines_99
16 years ago
I just did the same thing with some prayer plant cuttings, and they did NOT make it. I was only in the store to buy some milk, too! With the heat around here, it was like putting the poor things into the oven. I got more cuttings this week, and this time carried them into the store with me. (Hot car + plants = not good)
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Jude, noticed you said you were away..mind if I ask where you've been hiding? Is everything okay with you?

Ok, I give up..what does self=heading plant mean? LOL. I tried figuring it out while reading the posts, but that one has got me..

I would think the heat caused puckering. Have you ever brought plants home in hot summer (w/o ac on)...by the time u get them home, several leaves are puckered..I agree w/everyone else..do what you're doing, do not repot until plant resumes health.
Cars heat up quick, especially when it's hot to begin with..and a few minutes in a store can harm them..
Anyway, I hope all is well with you,, Jude....Toni
greenchic
16 years ago
Hi! I have one of these plants, bought in early spring. I was lucky enough to get it while it was being unloaded off the truck. I damaged it a bit when i used a soapy water mixture during a mite outbreak. The moonlight didnt have mites, but some nearby plant did and i wanted to be sure.

Problem was, it was too much soap and i destroyed some leaves. I decided not to cut them just yet, but wait until new leaves grew in before i get to cutting. Plants get thier energy from the work leaves do and if i cut off too many it many limit the plant. Just my personal philosophy-not sure how scientifically accurate it is.

Anywho, ive gotten at least 4 new leaves these past few months, and another on the way. In the late fall I may trim the more damaged leaves. I really love the bright green of the new leaves. Isnt that awesome? would love to paint my room that color...
shiver
16 years ago
Hey hopeful, I was going to answer your question a long time ago, but then got distracted and forgot about it. I'm sure many others must have the same question:

What is a self-heading philo?

A self-header is a *non-trailing* philo. They grow in a mounding fashion and the leaves will fall off by themselves when they are spent. This is different from the trailing/vining philos that *you* have to trim. I'll attach a pic below.

Here is a link that might be useful: self-heading philo (moonlight)