For starters, it's good to be a member again! Now down to business. I'm new to LV and not used to having to over winter Philos inside. And with my xanadu it started right when we got here. Anyway, the leaves keep getting smaller and smaller.
I brought the xanadu inside right when we got here (nervous about the hot dry weather). The next set of leaves were smaller but stuck out half again as long as existing growth. After that the leaves were even smaller but this time the stems were shorter than the original (before moving to LV). Now the leaves and stems are both about an inch long.
I've got it upstaires, southeast corner brightest room in the house. I've potted up(roots looked healthy). Fertilized(it had been a long time). I don"t want to loose it. What can I do? Even if it does come back will the stems always be pinched to a small diameter in this small growth period.
I'd post some pics but I'm on my DGF's mac and I'm not familier with it. I'll see what I can do tomarrow. Any pointers/help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
This message was edited Jan 20, 2011 1:19 PM
Need help with philodendrons indoors!
I am fortunate to know two of the three scientific authors of this species, Tom Croat and Julius Boos. Regrettably, Julius Boos died in August, 2010. Before his death Julius gave me one of the two plants used in the original scientific studies and it growing nicely in our atrium.
The plant is a member of a group of plants known as Meconostigma which is a unique group of Philodendron that are known to be arborescent since they look somewhat like trees. Almost every species in that group is a native of Brazil. The first thing I am going to recommend is you read both of these articles but pay special attention to the sections of soil, light and water.
http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Philodendron%20xanadu%20pc.html
http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Grow%20or%20Growing%20Philodendrons.html
There has been a great deal of speculation Philodendron xanadu is just a sport of Philodendron bipinnatifidum but when the inflorescences are dissected there is more than enough information to suggest they are re totally different species. Also of interest, even though this plant can no longer be found in Brazil, there are photos and evidence this plant is just a smaller version of an extinct plant found in southeastern Brazil. I am aware of some research being done to try to verify all of this now but the results are yet to be known. Since almost all the plants sold today are chemically created in a tissue culture lab it is known their DNA can easily be altered and their growth stunted.
If after reading the articles and you don't find an answer please make another post.
Steve
Thanks for the leads. I'll read the links and post pics as soon as I figure out how this mac works. It shouldn't take too long. Thanks again.
David
After reading the first link about xanadu's, I found out that the plants species has nothing to do with Olevia Newton John being an Australian. I also found out that the stunted growth is probably from over crowding. There are many stems in one pot. I'll need to divide the plant. Should I wait till spring? I still need to read the second link, so that may shed more light on the subject. That being the second ingredient, I should probably get some shop lights with Day light 6500 CFL's.
If stunted growth from cloning was the issue, I suspect the small growth would have been an issue from the beginning.
I'll work on it more tomorrow. Pic's too, I swear. For now I'm putting on my leg warmers and getting into bed.
Thanks again, David
David, wait until spring. Read the info in the second link on how plants like this grow in the wild and then you can decide on the best potting mix. I am now beginning to add far more compost to my plants since that is the way Mother Nature grows them. If there are a bunch of plants in the pot they certainly need more space.
As for the tissue culture chemistry, Julius Boos studied this for a long time and learned that in time they will eventually outgrow the chemicals and begin to return to their normal size. The leaves on my plant do become larger each year. Somewhere on my computer I have a photo taken in Brazil of the plant that is suspected to be the wild Philodendron xanadu but it is much larger than the plant we know. I also have a friend in Mexico that collected his own seeds over 20 years ago in Brazil when the plant could still be found and his plants are still roughly the same size now as the ones we grow. Go figure! However, he has at least 20 plants in one large pot so it could easily be they are just root bound and need more room.
Steve
Ok, I like the idea about orchid bark and charcoal. And more compost in the potting mix. I supplement palm mix with pearlite regularly, so I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty mixing soil.
MG which is also Scotts, has an inexpensive line of potting material called Earthgro which is sold at Home Depot, at least in LV and SD. Their small ground cover bark has no mention of any chemicals added to the bark. If you ask an HD employe they will tell you that you have to buy the more expensive orchid bark, which is the same price for one eight the size. Is their really some thing special about orchid bark? Is it because there is some wood mixed with the Earthgro bark? Is it the type of bark? Is chopped coconut husk ok? I know lots of ?'s. I promise I won't ask if kingsford charcoal is ok(it's been asked before).
Now to my real worry and question. Now I'm worried that my roots are rotten because I have stagnate water in my pots. If Philos will root easily enough in water, could I pull them out of their pots, separate into healthier sized clumps, cut off any rotten roots, rinse the soil off, then root them in clean water till spring comes? (or any variation there of) I just feel like I gotta do something. What should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DOOOOO? Whoa sorry bout that, I should probably try decaf. Seriously, any suggestions, even if its patients. Thanks
David
Hi everyone. I tried to edit my original post to add a picture and was unsuccessful.
So here are a couple of pictures of my xanadu.
Note the long petials with light green, smallish leaves. Moving from the outside in, next there are large, dark green leaves on medium length petials. The dark green leaves remaining were grown outside in San Diego, almost full sun. The lighter leaves with longer petials were the next set to grow, after moving to Las Vegas. Full shade outside, north side of house.
These are the leaves growing now. They keep getting smaller and smaller.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks David.
A lot of these types of plants like to grow in a high organic, light, free draining soil. When it comes to bark, it'll have different characteristics coming from different trees. For example, bark and leaves from Eucalyptus give off compounds which suppress growth of other plants. Mind you, some plants have evolved to over come this. Getting the right tree bark would be important.
Rotting roots aren't good for anything. I'd cut all rotted matter off and repot in fresh soil.
I've only got the one xanadu, had it for a few years. It's out in the garden and hasn't grown large at all. Put in as a small plant it's only ever produced small leaves. It has a dense mat of tree roots to contend with but that shouldn't worry rainforest plants. I've just come to the conclusion it's genetically a small plant and without the root competition it wouldn't get significantly bigger.
Since yours was larger previously it's probably just a matter of cleaning up the roots, better soil and, as you mentioned, patience.
Thanks Steve, and tropicbreeze. I appreciate the help. I'll try to wait till the end of February. That's all the patience I think I have. Light, rich, well draining.
I'll keep you posted.