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Hi, I purchased an enormous Imperial Red Philodendron at a reputable nursery last spring. I have kept it indoors and up-sized the pot/fertilized once since then. It has really taken off - a new leaf every other week or so - but my main concern is the "stalkiness" of it. The leaves are 16" long by 10" wide and the stems are 18" long. It looks nothing like the full-bodied pictures of this plant type that I've seen on-line. Rather, it has an ungracefully leggy appearance and the large leaves just make it look even more awkward.
I separated it today into two plants, and now they each look even less dense. They're each tied to a stake. Neither trunk is growing straight, in fact they both look more like the plumbing under my sink.
I figure I should have been pruning it regularly over the past 6 months instead of letting it go wild.
Any advice on how to manage this sort of plant? Should I be cutting the trunks down from the top?
I don't know a lot about Philodendron's but do have a few and a couple of them are the large self heading type. Are you certain your plant is Philodendron 'Imperial Red'? The photos in Plant Files do show a more compact plant: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55370/ The growth habit on your plant looks more like 'Rojo Congo': http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/103899/ but I guess the long leaves vs shorter could have something to do with different cultural conditions.
What zone do you live in, maybe you could plant your big guy in the ground? You could chop the top off and try to root it for another plant, and the base of the mother plant should eventually sprout new growth ... but then again you will still have large Philodendrons!
I have a large one that was identified here a few years ago as 'Rojo Congo' and I moved the pot out to the backyard a few weeks ago with the idea of planting it in the ground ... just haven't gotten around to it yet. I have one that was identified as Congo Green that is getting big too.
thanks plantladylin! you're right, it's a Rojo Congo!
How do I need to maintain this, assuming I don't chop off the top? I don't have any idea of what shape it's supposed to take...yours looks dense and lower to the ground. I"m tempted to just chop the trunk right off and start a new plant..
I really don't have any advice on how you can maintain your plant. I think the growth habit of your plant being different than mine may have something to do with location. Mine has been outside since I bought it about 7 or 8 years ago as a small plant. It has gotten a lot of filtered sunlight on my pool deck. I've heard folks say plants grow tall and lanky when they are reaching for the light so maybe your plant needs more sunlight? (Not direct sun because it would burn the foliage, but maybe brighter light if possible.) Your plant looks good, but it is big for an indoor plant! I have hundreds of plants and a small house with no room for big plants inside, but I'm lucky to live in an area with a mild climate so that my plants can stay outside year round. I do have orchids and a couple of other tender plants that I bring in if we are predicted to get real cold during the winter but thankfully our cold doesn't last long.
