Need help with a leggy Philo, please

I just recently bought this Philo 'Pink Princess'. It is so leggy and appears generally unkempt. It's basically several long stems with a plant at the end of each. My first thought is to just cut off the plants and pot them up to root, but what to do with the stems that are left? Will they naturally leaf out if I cut off the plant at the end, or would I be left with a mess to throw in the trash?

I tried to arrange it and hold up one of the plants so you can see what I'm talking about. It just flops down out of the pot in a wad. LOL I hope this picture gives a good enough idea of what I'm asking, but I can take more if needed.

Thanks so much!

You could cut them like you say and the stems would resprout. Whatever you do, they also need something to cling to or grow upwards on. Some people use moss poles you can find at some garden stores (or Home Depot, Lowe's, etc...). I don't like those, though, because really, they are way to small for the plant. Other people make their own moss poles. Personally, I use the 6" wide cedar fence slats in 4' or 5' lengths (if you buy new ones, they carry 8' lengths, I just cut them in half). My philos have happily scampered up them. Plus, they are cheap - the slats new are only a couple dollars - and even cheaper if you find someone rebuilding their fence and can snag their old fence slats!

So the stems will leaf back out? Good! Is there a way to get them to resprout without cutting the plants off the end of the stems?

My husband may have some cedar slats in his shed. I'll have to ask him... Do you keep the slats moist?

I wonder if nicking the stems would trick it into thinking that the growing tips have been cut off and make it resprout? This is a trick that works on cattleyas and I recently got it to work on an aeschynanthus. For those, the idea is that instead of having to cut the tip to get two growing tips, you nick between nodes and get a total of 3 tips. Or 5 if you nick in two places. Perhaps a similar trick might work here? Or maybe not - I have no clue about philos as I can't seem to grow them. I just lurk here ....

Thanks, Ki. I'll give it a try. Can't hurt... I don't like those long, gangly legs hanging down. LOL Might try it on the A. 'Black Pagoda', too.

And I can't believe you can't grow Philos. I can grow them, and have some of the same issues you do. Mine don't have to have much light and tolerate underwatering pretty well. ;o) I've got a small 'Pink Princess' rooting now that might like to come live with you... :o)