Giant monstera leaf needs a cut

9 years ago

Hi guys,

When I bought this plant, it had this one stem broken but still attached and the leaf was still a vibrant green. Unfortunately where it is in my house, the cat brushes passed it constantly. So I'm sure it's being broken slightly over and over again at the seam. Should I cut it off to conserve energy for the plant? If so, where should I make the cut? At the break or closest to the base?

Featured Answer

tropicbreezent

9 years ago

Better to just cut it off close to the base of the stem. The plant has lots of healthy leaves so it won't be adversely affected by it.

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Comments (11)

Kate
Original Author
9 years ago
Ok, awesome. Thanks for the response!
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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous specimen! It's normal for the oldest leaf to be discarded by the plant occasionally. It looks like Philodendron bipinnatifidum, not Monstera.
Kate thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
Mentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
9 years ago
Definitely not a monstera.
Kate thanked Mentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
Alyssa (Zone 6)
9 years ago
agree--this is a very large (not to mention gorgeous) P. bipinnatifidum, a tree philodendron. Monstera is sold under "swiss cheese plant" and I've even seen it falsely labeled as "split leaf philodendron". they are often confused. your plant will be just fine with a little prune, help it conserve energy and give it a snip :)
Kate thanked Alyssa (Zone 6)
stewartsjon
9 years ago
Nerd alert: IIRC Monstera was classified as a Philodendron many years ago: Philodendron Pertusum. Indeed a Google search shows this to still be the case!
Kate thanked stewartsjon
tropicbreezent
9 years ago
Don't know what "IIRC Monstera" is but Monstera deliciosa was named back in the mid 1800's and had been that ever since. Some immature plants, which look quite different to the mature ones, were wrongly named Philodendron pertusum but that was quickly corrected. Since then the only use of the incorrect name has been by nurseries trying to sell the plant under another name to give the impression of exclusivity. It's a common marketing ploy.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Discussed in this article:
http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Monstera%20deliciosa%20large%20pc.html

The Plant List:
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-151827

EOL:
http://eol.org/pages/1138107/hierarchy_entries/61380792/names/synonyms

ITIS:
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=518914#null

USDA:
https://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=philodendron&mode=sciname&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

What did you find on google that leads you to believe otherwise, Jon?
stewartsjon
9 years ago
Sorry, I thought everyone on the internet knew IIRC means "if I recall correctly".
Mentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
9 years ago
Nomenclature aside, I am pretty sure, after looking at the plant again that is not a main stem but a leaf stem that is broken.
tropicbreezent
9 years ago
Stewartsjon, everyone -1, I'm a bit slow with these types of thing, LOL.