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Sep 30, 2022 5:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Mississippi
I inherited a very large Congo Rojo when I bought my house. It is growing in an atrium with lots of light. I have no idea how old the plant is but it looks amazing. It appears very healthy after 2 years of regular watering & fertilizer. I have to prop up the heavy growth (which just keeps coming) because hidden underneath all these leaves is a very long & thick leggy trunk/stem. I would love to propagate this plant & get this one under control. Everything I have read says to cut a stem to root. I do not have any "stem" except 2 very large woody center stems. I just don't know what to do with this massive ( but beautiful) plant. I will see if I can include photos.
Thank you.

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Oct 1, 2022 2:36 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Greenhouse Tropicals
For your meristem to look 'woody' your plant is most likely in excess of 10 years old. I have a 21 year old climbing 'painted lady' philo that has those meristems. I can see that your stems are curling around in the container.
You can do one of 2 things. You can take top cuttings and root those. Once the stem is cut, what remains on the 'bottom' will sprout new growth. You could probably take your top cuttings, then cut back an even further section of bare stem, section that into pieces, plant them and get even more plants. Probably not all would root and grow but some would.
The second thing you can do is air layer the trunks and once you have roots on the air layer, cut that off and simply replant in a new container. The bottom left will still grow.
Or you can do none of that and just repot into a larger container.
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Avatar for ckhomes
Oct 1, 2022 5:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Mississippi
Thank you so much for the response and advice. I didn't know if it would easily root & did not want to lose the plant by cutting it like that. I will certainly try both methods and start with air layering.
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Oct 1, 2022 6:17 PM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Greenhouse Tropicals
Its been my own experience that they do easily root (without the 'benefit' (and I say that loosely) or water rooting.). Given warmth and fertile rich media that like to propagate themselves. I am bout to cut down a 20 year old Philodendron 'Painted Lady' that has similar attributes to your Rojo. And last year I had to take 12 feet of Philo White Wizard off a totem for the same reason. I got 25 or more plants off that to sell and grow.
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Avatar for ckhomes
Oct 1, 2022 8:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Mississippi
That is amazing. Thank you again and good luck with your Painted Lady. It is hard to make yourself cut the top out of a beautiful plant, for its own good!
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