Well, here is the result of a little experiment using cuttings from heartleaf philodendron. I'll note here that is is not "good" science, because among other things the number of cuttings was small. But it is suggestive.... I tried rooting four cuttings, each with only one smallish leaf. Two cuttings were each just a leaf on an internode section (vine, but no node), and two were a leaf, short bit of internode, and a node. I used a gel form of IBA-plus-fungicide. I cut the pieces with a sharp clean knife, and immediately dipped either the node or the end of the internode into the gel, then put it into a shallow "hole" in the growing medium in the pot where my other heartleaf philly vines are growing wonderfully. I then packed the soil in snugly around the base of each cutting. I made sure the area where these new cuttings had been inserted stayed moist, while avoiding drowning of the cutting ends by overwatering. I waited two weeks. Three of the cuttings dried out and pretty well died (i.e., bottom portions turned coppery colored, then shrivelled and dried out). One - with a node - took root nicely. On pulling out the three dead cuttings, it turned out that one of the two internode cuttings had indeed grown a few root hairs - but apparently not fast enough to bring sufficient water into the cutting and prevent its demise. This little informal experiment suggests to me that internode cuttings treated with IBA can develop root hairs. But possibly cuttings without IBA treatment would have done just as well (?). It also suggests that a cutting WITH a node has a better chance of rooting. As I mentioned, this was simply an easy-to-do informal trial, and was good for stimulating a bit of reflection. I welcome anybody who has experimented more extensively with IBA or vine cuttings (or anything related) to post here about what they've observed. Happy houseplant growing..... Joel

Thanks purp! So just leave some of the old soil in? I am fine with that! Last time I had them slipping out every where and snapping.... It's a good idea to add another support, will have to go out and find one! I hate change in my room and this one was a big one.... Hopefully it starts to thicken up again! I'm always so jealous of all your plants! Always seem to be doing so well and looking so good Thanks shihtzu4su! I started tapping the vines to wall wall as they grew and do it to new shoots as they emerge. Works pretty good and even some parts don't even need tapping anymore because of the Ariel roots. The only draw back is that eventually some of the tape loosens and a vine will come crashing down in the middle of the night! Freaks me out every time Thanks Rio! Yeah iIve been noticing it too on this new site... I think for me at least is when I take photos with my phone upright it then flips it sideways on here as all the photos I have taken with my phone sideways seem to stay in there proper position. I only ever go on here on my phone which accounts for a lot of problems.... I went on here for the first time using the computer and it's so much easier to move around and edit posts Hopefully my cuttings root. Never have had much luck with propagating philos!

Okay Mentha, you go girl! I don't recall if the Thai seller has it for bid or if the $39 was a flat price. In either case, I hope you get it. Have you ordered from Thai sources before? I Googled 'ebay raresans' and got this page on ebay on Juan's feedback profile for the past year. On the far right there is a link for 'Contact Seller'. You have to sign in on Ebay to respond but you might try sending him a note about the Crested Hahnii. Getting one from him would be easier than from faraway Thailand, even though the price might be the same. Here's the link... http://feedback.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=raresans&ftab=AllFeedback Russ

Are the white spots translucent areas that go through the whole leaf, so you see them underneath too? If that's the case check for pests eg.spider mites, that damage the leaves when they suck (chew?) on them from underneath. If it's powdery and wipes off, how about powdery mildew? Or could the spots be from something sprayed on or near the plant? Just thinking aloud here, hopefully someone who has seen this problem will be able to help :)