Of course Gene, That has to be the best philodendron growth I have seen. Makes me want to get another one. Merry Christmas indeed.

We have mentioned this more than once: Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera) first leaf will be a simple heart. Given good conditions, splits will appear in the leaves. Then holes. Then more holes, more splits, larger and larger leaves. I have a mixed bag of plants in my only south window. Different ages getting different amounts of light. Here's one that breaks the mold. Went from simple heart to a heart with a hole. (Wait a minute, wasn't that a 60's song by the Yardbirds?) One thing that makes growing plants interesting is that you just never really know what will happen next. Gene

The patterns of the perforations in young Monsteras is very unstable. You are right that they start out as a simple heart shape and will continue the development of the splits and holes as the plant matures, and particularly once it is allowed to attached to something and start growing vertically. I would suspect that your leaf with the hole is less an unusual circumstance and more just a case of the typical instability of the juvenile leaf shape.

In any event, Monstera deliciosa is one of my all time favorite plants. I have one growing up our large old oak tree that is probably at least 7 feet tall right now with leaves over 3 feet across. Just a spectacular plant! ...at least until tonight's freeze hits it...

Leaf size and shape is similar with Pothos/Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) too ... juvenile leaves are small, heart shaped but as the plant ages and climbs, the leaves grow huge and produce splits/slits:

Juvenile Plants/Leaves:


Older Plants/Leaves

Ya, many of the aroids go thru this type of change as they mature. Kind of fascinating to see how drastically some of them will change from juvenile to mature foliage.

It really is fascinating!

Lin, Wow, Never seen something like that. Thanks everyone for sharing all this info here. Our trouble here in the north is we can never hope to achieve this kind of growth while being a house plant in our cold windows. Heated greenhouse is out of the question (right now).

Stush, yeah ... some plants down here can get out of control! That Devil's Ivy is listed as a Category II non-native invasive here in Florida.

If I stand in the small space (about 4') between my desk and my TV looking S.W. Here's the view. Gene

That is very impressive. Shows many years of great gardening.

Thanks.

Just 2 Philo. in front of my fireplace. Gene

P. bipinnatifidum/selloum.

Outdoors in the ground. You are just no fun at all. Gene

Awww, it's a roller-coaster ride though. A harsh winter could knock it back to where it would have to start over again from the roots. ;)

Tiffany, That looks so much like my P. xanadu. I believe mine is a smaller grower.

Pot with Philodendron vine & arrowhead vine is back outside.

I got a beautiful arrowhead on sale yesterday at Lowe's for $3 marked down from $9. Nothing wrong with it that I can see. Just needs a bigger pot.

Arrowhead Vines ....

As pretty as they are, here in Florida they are weeds! It's an introduced invasive pest that is taking over parts of our backyard, trailing over the ground, climbing trees and even attaching and climbing the wood deck: