You cant lose anything except time and effort in trying to bring the plant back but I agree, its probably in plant heaven now. You bought a houseplant and its home is a pot. So why did you think it needed an outside planting. The pot confined the size of the soil it was in, it also confined the amount of moisture (water) it received to nurture itself on. But, with both in the garden, it received far too much water, the pot took it all in and didn't release it fast enough. The roots undoubtedly rotted out. At the first sign of too much water sitting around roots, the plant stops being able to draw nutrition from the water. Even though it was there....it couldn't use it and soon stops entirely feeding itself. In effect, it starved itself to death. The phil is a houseplant and while it can go outside during nice weather, it should be given care as strictly as what it is...a house plant. Plants grow according to their size of pot. But a plant that should be in a 4" pot, given an 8" pot, will soon show you it should not have been given the bigger home. Roots can only feed the plant what it receives from the soil and given too much food, it rebels. That's what happens when you put a plant into a pot with too great a source of food. It would have proven better to remove it from its pot, then given the garden place where good drainage would have treated it better. Mind you, the phil is not a garden plant. Most, if not all, houseplants are tropical. Let your new plant please you in its own way---in a pot....in your home.

Hi Sheri! If the plant is truly Monstera deliciosa it isn't a Philodendron at all. The genus Monstera contains 33 to 36 or so species depending on the scientific source quoted. There are many scientific names in the genus but almost all have been sunk into synonymy with a much smaller number of accepted species names. It sounds as if you've done your homework already since you know the name of the botanist that originally published the plant or at least his abbreviated name so I'd say you actually have that species. Monstera deliciosa has a number of natural variations and some produce leaves that remain very small for the entire life of the plant. I was recently given a cutting from a 20 year old plant the the largest leaves weren't 12 inches wide. Philodendron is a very large genus with something close to 1000 species divided into three major sections but that is a totally different discussion. The same common name is used for Philodendron bipinnatifidum (P selloum) since it has multi-lobed leaf margins (edges). Even if the plant were P. bipinnatifidum the growth method is basically the same. It sounds as if your growing conditions are good for Monstera deliciosa since it is very tolerant. I doubt you can over water it since it naturally grows along steam banks in southern Mexico and most of Central America. However, the soil mixture may not be good for this species. Monstera require a very fast draining soil so if you have it in Mississippi clay the roots may not be able to freely grow and gather water and nourishment. The other possible cause would be either lack of or over fertilization. Either is just as bad. Most commercial growers prefer something like Osmocote 30-30-30 for large aroids. If the soil is good I'd try the fertilizer first. If the soil has not been amended I would suggest you mix a large quantity of moisture control potting soil with about 20% peat moss and add a BUNCH of cypress mulch. If you can find a bag of cheap orchid bark with charcoal add that as well along with any compost you can find. I know it may be a big job but if you dig the plant up and replant it in this mix it should begin to thrive. My big question is the weather in your area. Although Monstera deliciosa will likely survive, it will be temporarily stunted by extreme cold. The species is not know to do great much north of Orlando so keep that in mind. You can shield it from the cold during any really cold nights but try to keep it from long exposure. You should know this species craves to climb. I have several large specimens in my own atrium and one is now 10 feet up the nearest tree. I've seen them in the tropics and in South Florida at least 50 feet into the canopy and have read of them climbing much higher. Other than that, without photos to examine I'm not sure what other advice to offer.

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.

Well that's ominous- sounding isn't it? Ew! I kinda thought they looked like tiny little crickets myself. I hope they've moved on far, far away! Thanks Fori : )