I have a lonely philodendron leaf that someone gave me in a little cup of water. Will it root? Or do I need a larger cutting?
I also have another one that turned yellow. Why did it do that? Is there anything I can do to save it?
2007-10-16 16:34:07 · 8 answers · asked by Raeyn 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
If you literally mean just a "leaf", it won't root. It has to have some stem on it -- and that stem has to have a "node" on it -- meaning, a connecting spot where roots can grow out of it. Just a leaf by itself won't root because it doesn't have a stem for roots to sprout out of. So -- I guess your answer is that, yes, you need a larger cutting.
2007-10-16 16:42:12 · answer #1 · answered by Rhoda 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If it's just a leaf, without a leaf node at the base, it probably cannot root. The leaf of a philodendron is specialized tissue, and you'll almost certainly need a leaf node to get a viable plant.
If you DO have a leaf node (it doesn't really sound like it, so I don't want to get your hopes up), you should be able to simply put it in some moist soil and keep watering it; in time, it will develop roots and start to produce a new leaf.
The other one probably turned yellow because it was sitting in water. Vascular plants need a bit of air as well as water to stay healthy for very long. Without roots to take up both (or, again, the kind of tissue that can differentiate to BECOME a root), it just couldn't get what it needed, and its vascular system (analogous to the arteries and veins in a person) collapsed.
2007-10-16 21:52:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They root in water IF you have a portion of the stem where the leaves were growing. Nodes form at leaf junctions. Without a node, no roots.
2007-10-16 22:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A leaf by itself will not root. You need a section of stem with nodules on it to root. Then it will root well in a glass of water. I have started many this way.
2007-10-16 16:56:52 · answer #4 · answered by JAN 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You need a larger cutting and you should wait til the sap is down like in fall or spring.Place it into a pot with good potting soil and keep it moist , not wet, let sunshine on it and soon it will bear roots and you can plant it outside.
2007-10-16 16:44:06 · answer #5 · answered by low_hd_rider 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You need part of the stem for a good cutting. Leaves don't have much of a chance without the stem attached.
2007-10-16 16:42:10 · answer #6 · answered by Teacher 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You need part of the stem to get it to root.
2007-10-16 17:06:19 · answer #7 · answered by Judy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get some rooting hormone and plant it in potting soil. You actually need at least some stem.
2007-10-16 16:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by fair2midlynn 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋