Question
I have a small philodendron I received from my mother-in-law about 2 years ago.  It was outgrowing it's little pot so I replanted it in a bigger pot.  It was doing well for about 2 weeks and now it's leaves are starting to turn brown/black.  What can I do to save this plant?

Answer
Hi Patrice,

Unnecessary repotting is the most common cause of plant problems. Philodendrons almost never outgrow their pots, so I am quite sure that is where you went wrong, even though your intentions were good.

In a larger pot the added soil acts like a sponge and retains water around the roots for too long. This causes the roots to rot and then the rest of the plant fails. Philodendrons have rather fragile root systems so I am not confident that your plant can be salvaged.

You can try unpotting the plant and gently removing the excess soil that you added. Look for healthy (firm, light-colored) roots. If you find some, then repot into the smallest pot that will accommodate the roots and a minimum amount of soil. If there are no healthy roots remaining, then discard the plant or take some cuttings to root and then discard the plant.

For anyone who is interested, I have written an article on repotting that I will send to anyone who sends a request to me at my address below.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.