skip to main content

Help with Huge Philo Moonlight

16 years ago

I have a small Houseplant Store and I had a customer give me a very large Philodendron Moonlight today as a gift. It is one of my all time favorite plants BUT I have never seen a big one and I had no idea that they grew this way (see photo)! It's hard to tell in the photo but it has a 3 1/2 foot width and the main runner is about 2" thick. Can I cut this baby back and re-root it so that it is a more manageable size? Any advice would be appreciated.

(OKAY! I give up . . . exactly HOW do I get a picture uploaded into the gallery from my hard drive?)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

bihai
16 years ago
Well, this type of Philo can eventually get a lot bigger than THAT.
There is one of the red forms, you know, same type as a Moonlight but just a different cultivar, that has a spread of about 5-6 feet and goes up a totem about 6 feet as well at our local butterfly house.

I have a red one that has a spread of over 3 feet. Its "creeping" laterally because it has nothing to climb up on.

I suppose you could cut it back and that would buy you some time, but, it will eventually get just as big again.

I would buy a large pot and a large totem and train it onto the totem. I kept my red one for as long as I can in the house, this spring it HAS to go to the greenhouse and get a big totem in there.

This is mine:
{{gwi:75267}}
0
jennifer1
Original Author
16 years ago
Your philodendron is gorgeous. Here I have a link (if I did it right!) to mine. Not quite as healthy looking as yours. This one is very spindly. I wondered if I cut it back if it will force it to be fuller. The main stem is so thick, can I root it?

Here is a link that might be useful: my philo moonlight
0
Related Discussions
Philo Pink Princess
Q
Comments (19)
I just love touching the leaves of these plants. Kind of feels like a fruit roll-up but not sticky (I hope!!) LOL! It could be something else, fo' sho'. There are so many Philos, it was just my guess. If the orange new leaf is an anomaly, that probably indicates it's something else. Starting to have serious regret over not even asking how much for the plain green flowering section. I'm sitting here missing it pretty bad somehow. That can't be part of the same plant, and those hot pink flowers were amazing! I think that might have been Philo 'Moonlight'. Either way, the giant plant no doubt blew me away!! Not the kind of thing you usually see at a store. I knew I was home even before I saw that, somebody there obviously loves plants, it's not just a store. Can't say enough about how good it felt to just be at such a place for the first time in the better part of a decade, let alone seeing a lot of plants that I didn't know what they were, that "exploring the jungle" sensation. So the dark red/burgundy Philo I mentioned burns really easily and I'm assuming this plant is likely to also. I think they would look smashing planted together, will do that while repotting stuff, one less pot too. That one grows really slowly too, about 1 leaf per 5-7 weeks.
...See More
Moonlight Philo help?
Q
Comments (8)
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...
...See More
Weird Burle Marx Philo question
Q
Comments (8)
Jude, which window is it in and what size pot? I bought 4 philos back in the mid 90's..they were in 4" plastic pots about 5-7" tall. For yrs they didn't do a thing..At the time they were in nw windows, but mostly north. A few yrs later I thought it ridiculous..So, I repotted each in larger pots, and moved closer, (a few feet away) to sw windows..they sat on the floor..All of a sudden they took off..One now is over 12'..the others range from 1-2 1/2' tall. Since they've grown, I had to place them in a different location..south windows, but obsturcted by the house next door. And I notice a growth difference in lower light levels. So, despite what we're told that philos can live in lower light conditions, I disagree..I'm not saying they need full-force super duper southern windows, lol, but they do need bright light. If you had a plant a long time, and think it has scale, you won't miss them..believe me. they grow large. And mites build webbs so don't worry unless you actually see huge bumps or webbs..Toni
...See More
Monstera deliciosa or split leaf philo - what do I have here?
Q
Comments (39)
I bought a split leaf 2 years ago at a yard sale for $2. When I got it, there was only 2 small leaves. Since then, I would say it is about 3 1/2 - 4 ft tall and about 7-8 ft in diameter. There are so many leaves:) I love it, but I need to prune it back some because after I transplanted it into a new pot, the leaves are pointing in different directions and some of them are upside down now. I have tried to prop them up to face the right way, but I am afraid of breaking the thin stock. For some reason, their branches are thicker than the base. So, how would I go about pruning the leaves back? Do I just cut them where I would want it, or is there a certain spot on the branch, base, or what I call (conjunction-a cluster of branches from one place)? I won't do anything to it until I know it won't hurt it. This thing likes to grow fast!!! I can almost guarantee that I won't be able to find this place again on the web, so if you know the answer to my question, please email me at cpenena@hotmail.com. Very much appreciated.
...See More
bihai
16 years ago
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
0
jennifer1
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay. I see that this is not a Moonlight. I figured a Moonlight was a self-header. But this isn't exactly a climber either - more a sprawler. I wonder if I can cut the big main branch and not kill it.

{{gwi:381992}}

{{gwi:381993}}
0
philofan
16 years ago
You could stake it if you like--put in a totem and affix both branches to it. It has long petioles--that could be because of this particular species, but also from not enough light, which can cause the legginess. I would likely cut a little off the top first so it will be more manageable.
0

Related Stories

LIVING ROOMS New This Week: 4 Casual Living Rooms Moonlighting as Formal Spaces

By Mitchell Parker

Designers share their secrets to creating comfortable double-duty spaces with projects uploaded this week to Houzz

ARCHITECTURE Style 101: The Birthplace of Today's Rustic Look

By Michelle Fries

A look back to the beginning of cabin and lodge design can help you decide on a rustic look for your home today

HOUSEKEEPING What's That Sound? 9 Home Noises and How to Fix Them

By Mitchell Parker

Bumps and thumps might be driving you crazy, but they also might mean big trouble. We give you the lowdown and which pro to call for help

SMALL HOMES Houzz TV: In Love With Echo Park Style

By Carolyn Reyes

Whimsical artwork, vintage steals and online finds come together in this eclectic L.A. apartment

ORGANIZING 7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Kitchen

By Laura Gaskill

Our weeklong plan will help you get your kitchen spick-and-span from top to bottom

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Turning a Netherlands Barn Into a Country Home

By Louise de Miranda

Once a place for chilling milk, this Dutch home now lets the owners chill out in easygoing comfort

WINDOW TREATMENTS How Low Should Your Drapes Go?

By Judith Taylor Designs

Hover, brush the floor or pool like Scarlett O'Hara's tears — we give you the lowdown on curtain length options

GARDENING GUIDES 11 Perfect Plants for a Moonlit Garden — in Pots

Create an alluring after-dark aura on a patio or deck with container plants that glow white under the stars

COLOR Dreaming in Color: 8 Eye-Opening Yellow Bedrooms

By Jennifer Ott Design

Start your day energized and cheerful with bedroom hues that sing of sunshine or golden fields

GREEN BUILDING 6 Green-Roof Myths, Busted

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Leaky, costly, a pain to maintain ... nope, nope and nope. Get the truth about living roofs and see examples from simple to elaborate

Sponsored

More Discussions

Florida beauty branch support

0