Caring for my philodendron

11 years ago

Hello,

I posted a couple weeks ago about rescuing my philodendron. I just took the posters' advice and clipped off a few pieces with about 4-9 nodes per piece. I put them in clear containers of water and put them in a place where they will get some good sun during a lot of the day. My question now is how on earth did it get so bad? Several months ago (probably 7 months or so) my ferret got into the plant and dug it up. It seemed to never be the same after that. Could it be due to the disturbance that caused?

Or could it be because I never use fertilizer on it? I read a few places that these types of plants like fertilizer occasionally but I've had the plant for about 3 years and never once gave it fertilizer.

Or could it be because I tend to water it (and other plants) with left over filtered water I don't drink? Like if I don't finish the glass and it sits on my night stand or dresser for a few nights, I usually dump that in. Is that a no-no? I've never had any other plants go kaput on me (ok that's a lie, I seem to kill aloes too) so I'm wondering what I might be doing wrong :( This plant is important to me as it's been around a long time and belonged to a relative I was very close to and I don't want to let her down :(

thanks!

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Comments (2)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
Your other discussion:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3274613/please-help-me-resuce-my-philodendron

I think it's a Pothos. Yes, being dug up would have surely been damaging. Looking at the pic in the other discussion, I'd suspect the soil was the most significant factor affecting the plants' health. Every few yrs, it's best to replace it. Was it growing out of the water, into the pot, and back out again? That spot looks like a very dim one, nowhere near a window. Being in insufficient light for a long time can cause plants to die, ever so slowly.
ajohnson215 thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
ajohnson215
Original Author
11 years ago
So it isn't a philodendron?

There was no growth on the stems that were in the glass of water. The leaves were slowly browning and falling off one by one. I think that was before it was dug up though. I can't quite remember the timeline of things.......The browning may have happened after the digging, I'm sorry, I just can't quite remember when I started becoming concerned about it. When they started browning, I remember thinking I maybe shouldn't burn incense by it anymore because maybe that was affecting it.

The plant is directly to the left of a south facing patio door but the shades are drawn a lot of the day to conserve energy. You're saying I should probably move it to a more lit place assuming it comes back to life?

Also, I should re-pot the plant in new soil? Any particular soil I should use?
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