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chris_e_uk

Philodendron Melanochrysum growth rate.

chris_e_uk
15 years ago

I have purchased a mature specimen of a Philo. Melaochrysum but since i have had it, it doesnt seem to be happy and has stopped growing. I have put it in a warm heated greenhouse with numerous other tender aroids such as Anthuriums, Alocasias and about a dozen other different Philodendrons and everything else is growing great with big leaves and rapid lush growth so much that the greenhouse is almost completely over-grown with tropical aroids every since i got the heat/light/humidity right except for this Melanochrysum that just sits on the bench doing nothing. Is it a particularly difficult Philo to grow or what, any tips please.

Chris.......UK.

Comments (13)

  • bihai
    15 years ago

    It needs a totem, they like to climb

  • chris_e_uk
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    It is on a totem, it was on a totem when i bought it and i have left on the same one, literally took it out of the box and just let it carry on. It immediately put out a brand new big leaf but hasnt put another one out since in the 6 months i've had it, miserable grumpy plant that is beginning to wind me up!!

  • bihai
    15 years ago

    Have you fertilized it?

  • chris_e_uk
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Yes, I forgot to mention that the plant keeps trying to send up new shoots from the base of the stem instead of growing from the top of the plant where the next big leaf should come from, as it produces these new shoots at the base I remove them to encourage the main plant to grow but nothing from the top, just more shoots from the bottom.

  • aroideana
    15 years ago

    Let the base shoots grow , maybe more foliage will help the top take off . THis is not an easy species to grow , I have finally got a top to grab onto a tree on my garden . Now to just get a P.gigas to start climbing .

  • bihai
    15 years ago

    Why on earth would you take off shoots?
    Leave them ON, man! Don't ever remove new growth from a plant that's obviously struggling. That's like taking food out of the mouth of a baby

  • chris_e_uk
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    You dont think removing the new shoots will encourage the main stem to continue growing?

  • chris_e_uk
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    I think you might be right bihai, I think i DO meddle too much, and worry too much about the darn plant. hoe-hum!!!

  • bihai
    15 years ago

    I used to do that too. Then I got smart and let Chaos Theory take over. The plants all do a lot better now, LOL.
    I tried in vain to train a small Philodendron "Strawberry Shortcake" up a totem. It just wouldn't do it. Finally, I just gave up. I left the totem in place, and forgot about it. Then one thing or another happened, and for some reason the philo got covered up from casual site and I forgot about it. Months later, I noticed an "unknown" philo climbing up the wall. It was the SB Shortcake, now really big, doing its thing. Chaos Theory of Gardening.

  • chris_e_uk
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Funny thing that, all of the plants that i never pay any attention to except watering ocassionally are thriving and taking over he greenhouse but the ones i keep fussing over just want to be left alone i think, like the song goes "too much love will kill you!"...LOL

    Thanks for the tips.

  • bountyhunter_grower
    15 years ago

    Hey, has anybody ever heard of Philodendron "miniature selloum"? Photo in Graff's Exotica. Am I the only person that has one? Looks like a regular selloum with every leaf curled under 'like a dead spider'. But it is by NO means....... a miniature plant. chumleyrobert@html.c

  • chris_e_uk
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    What has this above post/reply got to do with the growth rate of a Philo. Melanochrysum ?

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