A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum philodendron selloum

Hi, I'm new and I have a question. We have a very large philodendron selloum in the back yard. Last year my sister cut so many of the above ground roots, (I guess they are roots) anchors, . Anyway we had to prop the poor plant up and it began to send out more anchors. It took a big hit and it looks really bad. The stalk is long and naked near the bottom. Would it be okay to lop off a portion of the top? Its about two and a half feet tall and the new growth looks weak. Marie

I'm told pruning should only be done sparingly, but it can be done. I had one as a houseplant that I cut completely back to about 6 inches. I thought I had killed it for sure, but about a month later it sent out new shoots. I would recommend only cutting one or two stems and see if they grow back. If so, then do the rest.

The Phiodendron selloum is a very large variety. It would not make a good houseplant. If I cut off the top of it would it be able to grow back? It's about nine feet tall now. Marie

marie, they do grow them as house plants. without the light from outside, they are much smaller. i would say that you could top it off and it would come back. it may just take a while.