She (philodendron Brasil) was beautiful when I got her and put off amazing growth but my depression got bad, I stopped watering, and she lost most of her leaves. Gave her a haircut or two as she lost more to encourage growth and started watering her regularly again around 2-3 months ago. She is still dreadful and losing leaves but also has so much new growth on top. Repotted ~2 weeks ago, roots were still healthy and only broke a few in the process. Sometimes new growth opens, sometimes it turns mushy, but the leaves are always very small. I have a grow light shining on her that’s about 4-5 feet away. Not sure what to do at this point.
by TinySenpai
11 Comments
This comment won’t be helpful in the way of instructions, but I’m going to kindly push you to keep nursing her back to a healthier place. Whatever the remedy may be, you’ll be happy in the long run that you didn’t give up on her. Just like you, this plant will learn that eventually things get better. New growth comes. New beauty appears. Best of luck! Rooting for you…pun intended 🫶
Never give up on one of these! If you need to you can chop way back and start over. If she’s growing though I think she will fight through 🌿
Just in case , treat for pests . Thrips can be the cause . Mine was the same way until I sprayed it down with soap alcohol and washed it every 3 days . It lost leaves. Gave it a hair cut. Now bouncing back.
Keep on fighting! I also have a philodendron brasil and mine loves light. Sometimes I put it in the window for what I call “sun therapy”.
You got this! 🙂
Quitters NEVER win, winners NEVER quit!
You can do it!✌️
Well I just had rubbing alcohol mixed with a little bit of water and hand soap. Spray all over the leaves. Wash it off after 10 minutes or so. Make sure you don’t get the plant overwatered in this process. You can cover the soil pot with a plastic wrap or bag then wash the leaves carefully …making sure the soil is not getting too much water .I did this every 3 to 4 days for about two weeks. Good luck 🙂
Smaller leaves happen when you cut back and when the plant is getting enough light, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have smaller leaves.
The decision to fight is a personal one depending on how it makes you feel to care for her. If it’s an exhausting chore, let her go. If you love checking on her and giving her what she needs and seeing her bounce back, she doesn’t appear so sick that she cannot be saved.
If her roots are healthy, try diluted (by half) liquid fertilizer (indoor plants miracle gro or the like). My sad bathroom philo perked up for me when I did that. They also like high humidity, so a humidifier may help.
Keep fighting because that plant is not dead. You got this.
Chop and prop
Or
Air layer a
Then chop and prop
A tip I learned about plants in general: if there is green, there is hope. This baby has so much green! Also, as others have stated, this Philo is pretty hearty and can withstand some neglect. You can try propagating some cuttings, rooting them, and then putting them back in the soil to fill her out. The New growth is promising! Be careful not to over water and you should be okay. Good luck!
Is there a hole in this plant pot? If not please put this plant in a plastic pot that has holes in the bottom. Get a pot that will fit inside this nice decorative pot that you have.
It appears to me that this plant has been at least previously over watered. Water only when the plant is completely dry 2” down. Put your finger in the soil to test for dryness. Remember there is a difference between how often you water (when totally dry 2” down) and how much you water when you do water (remove from decorative pot. let water run through the pot and out the holes. Allow to drain and put back in the decorative pot). This assumes that you have well draining soil. Many soils you purchase retain water. That is not what you want for this plant. Purchase indoor houseplant soil that does not say it retains soil. Also purchase perlite and mix them together in 1:1 ratio. This can be used for the majority of plants.
Also most people do t realize that a grow light needs to be no more than 12” above the leaves to be effective. Your light is way too far away. Your plant is surviving not thriving. But you can change that.
You just need a few tweaks. You are almost there!