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. :)

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.

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

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

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)

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

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...

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)