Why Won’t My Philedendron Plant Grow New Vine Leaves?

Question

I was given a philedendron plant about 6 months ago and it was like a “Charlie Brown” plant – very dry, leaves falling off at the touch. First, I named her Sarah so she would feel special and I think she did. I watered it real good and took all the other dead leaves off. She started to come around and look alive again but the past 2 months the hanging vines never grew. All of its leaves back and the leaves started to get little whole on them so I got some spray for bugs and repotted her because she had out grown her previous pot. I put her where she can get in direct sunlight but she still seems unhappy. What can I do for Sarah? Please help!!!

Answer 1

This article has good information about caring for philodendron: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/philodendron/caring-for-philodendrons.htm

Once a leaf has fallen off, it will not grow back. If you were to pinch the growing tip out of the vine, new growth will start at each node…in theory. If you were to wind the vine, in a spiral fashion, on top of a container of moist potting soil, and “pin” it to the soil between the nodes, roots should form at each node. After rooting, you can cut the vine between the nodes, causing the new growing tips to emerge from the node. This will rejuvenate a long, leggy, barren vine into a phat, full plant.

Have you been using a well balanced plant food according to package directions? Plants need food too!

Answer 2

I was told that the miracle grow potting soil has food in it already should I buy additional food? If so what kind should I buy?

When you say “PIN” the node in the potting soil do you mean to put the potting soil
on top of the node in the same plant pot?

I was told to cut the vines back(it had start to turn yellow) to the green part of the vine, did I do somethng wrong when I cut it?

I really appreciate you assistance.

Answer 3

I’m not familiar with Miracle Gro potting soil other than the fact it exists. If it has time release “prills”, you do not need plant food fork 3-4 months. If it doesn’t have time release, the “starter fertilizer” is leached out after 2-3 watering’s. the bag should tell you if it’s time release or not. Most plants will do fine with a well-balanced all purpose fertilizer,, used according to package directions. (20-20-20, 14-14-14 or 10-10-10) We use “Jack’s Classic” 20-20-20, available at independent garden centers. Key word, well-balanced…key phrase, according to package directions.
Pin. Using heavy florist wire or part of a wire coat hanger, bend a 6” length into a U. Insert this pin into the soil between nodes of vine to hold the nodes securely to the soil. After rooting occurs, cut the vine between the nodes, and you should see new growth in 2-4 weeks. Keep the soil barely moist, you don’t want to encourage fungus gnats or root rot.
You didn’t do anything wrong. Once a green vine turns yellow, it probably will not turn green again unless it’s lack of fertilizer.
You should notice new growth at the nodes (some, not all) of the vines you cut.
Hope this helps and doesn’t confuse you! 🙂

Answer 4

Excellent advice. I’m just wondering how you knew the plant had outgrown its pot. Philodendron can stay in the same pot without repotting for a long time if other needs are met. If it was suffering from underwatering, which it sound like, and you watered it well, it had a lot of root regeneration to do under the soil. I think I would have cut back those long bare stems, and if there were leaves on the end of them, I would have stuck them in some water for rooting. Then I would just have let the plant sit in its nice indirect light, and waited for the magic to happen. It could easily take 3 – 6 months to start healthy growth. Repotting – or more accurately up-potting, because I assume you put it into a larger pot – was probably not necessary in this case. But just sit tight, philos are pretty tough. Don’t worry about fertilizing for at least 6 months.