I know exactly how you feel, Kwie2011. When I stumbled up to that website, I think I suffered from sleep deprivation shortly thereafter, lol. I combed over as much of it as I could, trying to soak it all in. I was devastated when the original site stopped functioning. I thought all of Steve's knowledgeable information was lost to those of us online. You can't imagine how thrilled I was when I learned that the IAS had archived it. I'm always going back to read up on different sections whenever I get the chance. Seeing as how I live here in Arkansas, not too far from his "Exotic Rainforest," I plan on some day heading on up there to check it out for myself. As beautiful as the pictures are, I'm certain that they don't entirely do this place any justice. :)

hi again thanks philofan for your advice. I did called Home Depot to try to get Latin name for the plant i mention above, they said it is Monstera Deliciosa after they looked at their log. I am more relived knowing that my plant is the correct one. Any special fertilizer should i feed it and how often. I know this type of Monstera climbs on tree trunks, but i plan to cut it when it becomes unmanageable. I also explained to the empolyee at garden center at Home Depot that they have two different kind of Monstera and I also gave them the correct names for them and they appreciated it. Thank-you in advance if you all decide to give me tips and advice regards on how to take care of it. Should I fertilize it which have higher Nitrogen than other K and P? Thanks

systemic should kill the scale, but it will remain dead on the leaves: so it will be hard to say if it's gone or not. so cleaning them off helps to monitor for appearance of new ones. if it's just a few you can rub them off with a soft toothbrush or tissue. you can make a solution of 1:1 water rubbing alcohol and soak the paper towel with that and wipe them off. but you have a large plant :) - it'll take while... it's prudent to check after 1 week of spraying if you still see any thrips crawling and if so then spray again. if your scale infestation is bad you might need to reapply systemic say after 1 month. also make sure to apply full dosage based on the size of your pot and try to dig it in with a spoon to mix with soil: moisture activates it. if it is dry on the surface it won't be working, only when you water the plant. since it's a large plant once a week watering might be expected, but it's better in this case to water lightly twice a week to make sure plant is absorbing systemic continually.

This is way overdue but I was looking for help with brown spots at the end of my philo leaves! Did you solve the root problem with the feedback given? I was given and took this advice: Repot your plant in a larger pot with a thin log or thickish stick (in my case I filled a cylinder-shaped "cage" made of a sort of mesh wire, and filled it with soaking wet spagnum moss that dried out but I keep spraying it). Then when the roots come out into the air, you can tuck them into little pockets in the log, or in my case into the mesh. However, it sounds easier to clip! I would feel funny doing it, I'm very sensitive to plants' pain. On the other hand, I prune and pinch out in the back container garden. Inside in summer, because of AC, it's hard to keep the spagnum "logs" truly moist in the philo pots and they take up some room but they are decorative.