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Posted 3w ago by @SpyderLily

Need to transition from water to soil

#Philodendron

I have a pitcher with Philodendron propogations that have been living in water for a year. I originally was just babysitting the props for my mom while she was out of state for a month last June but then I just never gave them back ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜… I've wanted to move them into a hanging basket for a long time but my boyfriend says it's really hard to switch from water to soil, especially after so long. I REALLY want to pot them but I'm afraid of killing them. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to accomplish a transplant safely?? ๐Ÿ™
10ft to light, indirect
6โ€ pot without drainage
Last watered 6 days ago
They have been living in this window between my kitchen and living room with that VERY bright hanging light. I turn it on first thing when I get up in the morning and turn it back off every night before I go to bed (it took me way too long, but I finally figured out about 6 or 7 years ago that plants have the same circadian rhythm that we do and also need a dark cycle ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜‚). They have done very well there and have crazy roots going on inside the pitchers.
I donโ€™t think youโ€™ll have any trouble moving them to soil. Iโ€™d suggest choosing a pot that comfortably holds the roots with just a little room to spare (and with drainage of course). I like to use clear nursery pots set inside cache pots (so I can peek at the roots from time to time ๐Ÿซฃ).

Hold the plant in the pot and add your soil a little at a time, gently tapping the pot on the table as you go (to make sure the soil is getting into all the roots).

Youโ€™ll want to use a soil that drains decently well. I like to water just a little at first and work up to regularly watering amount over a couple weeks. I feel like Iโ€™ve had less transplant shock that way. ๐ŸŒฑ

If the worse case were to happen and your plant goes into shock (which I wouldnโ€™t expect), you can snip off the healthy ends while they still have some life in them, put them back in water, and pot up when the roots are at least 2โ€ long or so.

Please keep us posted! ๐Ÿชด๐Ÿ’š
Philodendrons are one of the easiest plants to switch because they are so resilient. Debbie @debbiedo has said beautifully how to do it. (As well as Debbie, a wealth of great plant knowledge.) Just get a chunky plant mix and make sure to give it a decent pot. Avoid glazed pots if possible (personally, I use clear plastic pots on my philodendrons so I can watch the roots). I plant mine after soaking them, sometimes for even a week of soaking, and then change them into a good medium. Then I let them sit a day or two and then water them; just because their roots are already holding so much water. Do you know what kind of philodendron it is? Do you know if itโ€™s a climber or not?
@Idplantthat They are all Brasil. As far as I can tell they are trailing rather than climbing. But I honestly know nothing about them ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ
I know it's a little hard to see in the green pitcher but the roots reach clear to the bottom. But this is what I'm dealing with ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜‚
@pricklydude Are there any particular brands that you would recommend for the soil and orchid bark? My boyfriend has enough perlite to last us a decade ๐Ÿ˜‚ But I need to buy the soil and the bark. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿค”