Hi there!

I just got my first split-leaf philodendron and I am loving it!! I've got a question regarding dead/yellow leaves...

Where do I make the cut? OR do I just let the plant do its thing and leave it? If I cut right below the leaf, will a new one grow or will I just be left with a long, strong stem?

I've read a few posts suggesting I cut where the stem meets the petiole but I cannot identify where that is.

PLEASE HELP! A photo would be greatly appreciated if you can! *I've attached a photo of my plant as well as a close up of the leaf in question! Thank you<3

Hi Vee, Your Split-Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) is very pretty. I'd cut that leaf off as far down the stem as possible to the base of the plant, otherwise you will have a bare stem and no new leaf will grow at the tip.

Thank you for the advice Lin! I think I will do just that. Do you know if a new stem and leaf eventually grow from where I make the cut?

Nice looking plant!! No, new leaves come from the growth tip.

Gotcha! Thanks Tiffany.

No new leaves will appear except (usually) at the growing tip. It is a vine after all. But, if and when it gets "leggy" you can cut off the top which forces the plant to put out a new growing tip where you cut it. Then you'll have 2 plants since you potted up the part you cut off. I usually start it off in a jar of water for a while. Split Leaf is on of the easiest plants to grow, IMO. It gives you feedback on how it is doing. If happy and given enough light first leaves are just plain hearts. The as the plant ages new leaves will develop a split in the leaf. Then more splits. Then holes as well as splits. Not to mention the leaves get larger. If you were to move it to a place without enough light, the next new leaf shows you its displeasure by going back down that list. I have one that I grew from seed collected in the wild in S. America (very rare) some 40 years ago. I also have 4 different versions of variegated Split Leaves. Nice. Gene

Just to clarify the plant anatomy, the petiole is the botanical term for what most folks call a leaf stem. The leaf stem is what connects the leaf itself to the main vertical growing stem that is rooted in the soil.

When a leaf dies, so does its petiole or leaf stem, so it is best aesthetically to remove both the leaf and the leaf stem as soon as they start to discolor. Cut it right where the leaf stem attaches to the main cervical stem. There is no harm in leaving the dying leaf in place, except that it is not very pretty!

Will, you explained this perfectly for me to understand. Thank you for answering my question!!

I think this is a good example of what happens when you move a Split Leaf into less light. Bottom right is oldest leaf, larger, splits, more variegation. Next leaf was left side, less splits, smaller, less variegation. Newest leaf is top right. Only 1 split, smaller , weak variegation. It will soon be on the road back to full health as it will be moved outdoors. Gene

Poor guy! I'm sure you'll be able to bring him back to great health, Gene!

Extremely educational, Gene! TY for sharing it!

When I went to associate your pic with the M. deliciosa entry in the database here, it didn't offer me a chance to paste your informative comment so I didn't finish the process. Not that a comment is required but it's such a particularly excellent and valuable one. Adding the pic with the accompanying comment to the database here would help and inform countless people, if you are amenable to the idea.
Split-Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)

Won't juvenile leaves of Monstera show more splits as the plant ages? I grow the green M. deliosa and my plant has gotten more and more splits as the plant has matured.

Exactly. As the plant grows (in great conditions) it develops splits, then more splits, then holes, then more holes. Plain or variegated. Gene

purpleinopp - I'm not sure what you want me to do. Gene

I've only had my spilt leaf philodendron for a few weeks so we are just getting to know each other so pardon my ignorance. The new leaves are unravelling from stems that already have a leaf. When they emerge, they already have holes in them. If it is the light that supposedly causes the splits, why are my new leaves already holy? I also have some small leaves at the bottom of my plant that are quite small with no holes - this is how I thought the plant would produce new leaves. I'm assuming all of this is normal just wondered if anyone had an explanation.

hi herekity!

Your monstera will produce leaves from stems as well as from the bottom of plant (just as you described). If the conditions are great, the leaves on the plant will produce slits and holes as mentioned above. This will not occur to existing leaves, just leaves that appear from here on out (I BELIEVE "/). The more mature the plant is (the longer you've had it), the more you'll see these slits and holes. When speaking of the maturity of a plant, at least in this case, it's referred to the maturity of the plant as a whole. So yes, there may be a fresh new leaf, but if your plant has matured, the leaf probably will unravel with slits and holes. I hope this helps and I hope my information given is accurate. It is all based on my personal experience.

I am not as experienced with plants as most here so if anyone reads this, please correct me if I am wrong! [=

Yes! You are correct. I have a split leaf, and when I bought it about two months ago it was under duress. Now it seems happy.

The most mature leaf (top), has always had only one split, and the rest had none. It has not changed since I bought it except for growing larger in width. But the new leaf unrolling has 3! This plant was not marked when I bought it, so I do not know if I have a standard split leaf or a monstera yet.

All Split Leaf Philodendrons are Monstera, as far as I know. Monstera is an interesting (but hard to find) plant, IMO. I have 8 species. Gene

Gene- that's what I thought but someone at a garden center (she propagates them) told me the monstera is a different plant than split leaf. The way you tell the difference is by the extra split down the middle of the leaves. That smaller split does not extend to the edge of the leaf. The only way to confirm it is to wait until the plant matures enough to see if the middle split develops.

http://houseplants.wikia.com/w...

I still think all the plants that are called split Leaf Philo are Monsteras. But hey, doe sit matter? Just enjoy your plant. Gene