Hi! My grandma had to move in with my aunt and she blessed me with this giant delicious monster (which i'm naming Audrey 3). It has been on the porch, under a roof, all its life. I wanted to put it in the house at first but since its about the size of a room that didn't work so well. It's surrounded by three walls where it is now, so it does get direct sunlight (which it never got before) but only for a very short time of the day and we very seldom get frost (zone 9b), especially at that place in the yard. My problem is now that its just too big for the pot, i don't even think there's really any soil in there all I see is roots. Even if I can find a bigger pot, is that really the solution since the process will just keep repeating. So what I want to know is, can I trim the roots? And if so by how much? I'm sure the poor thing is already in shock from the move, i don't want to stress it too much. I'm very sentimental about it so I'm already worried it will pitch a fit (understandably since its only ever known my grandma's porch). Also, can you make cuttings from the roots or does it have to have green bits too? Any advice is welcome!!
Hi Waretrop its 9b (Gauteng, South Africa). I'm a bit further from the river and in the 10 years I've lived in my house I only saw frost maybe twice on the grass. I'll definitely keep an eye on the weather in winter and cover it if it gets too cold.
So 102christa, maybe you could just plant it in your garden??? That would be wonderful. I do believe you can take part of the main stem off and root that. The main part that remains will become stronger and sprout more leaves. Just leave a leaf or to on the mother plant if you can. It's a Split Leaf Philodendron Selloum or Philodendron bipinnatifidum same thing.
Agree, It's P. bipinnatifidum, not Monstera deliciosa. I've had mine outside for the past few yrs, evergreen to at least 23°F (for a few hours overnight, probably not for extended periods, but that would not be a concern in 9b.) Edited to clarify the dangling participle above, the plant of mine that has been outside is P. bipinnatifidum.
Honestly I am sure I haven't thought of the phrase "dangling participle" since the first day I heard it in english class. never ever again has it crossed my mind while writing anything on any forum or reply.
Agree, although they happen constantly, only a language nerd would usually remember the arcane term. IDK why, it's so mysterious & active sounding, with the dangling & all...! :+) Luckily there's no falling participles, so it's fine to let 'em dangle I guess.
One of the leaves is completely yellow and some of the others are turning Guess it didn't like the move too much. I'm trying not to overwater it, maybe the sun its gets is too much for it as well.
Yes, getting dry &/or too much sun could cause unhappiness. The frustrating thing I've found with this species is that when I've put them in various spots in my yard, they look the same in mostly shade & mostly sun (after adjusting from getting sunburned after the last move. That was a tense few months.) Plants in the ground are so much easier to keep happy though, once any adjustment is made. If that is an option for your plant, in a suitable spot, it would probably really like it, and could send up some new stems from the roots.