--- title: "**For starters, I am still a novice plant parent** So, I take care of…" description: "**For starters, I am still a novice plant parent** So, I take care of an elderly woman who is unable to care for her plants, and she had this massive (and…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/65b06a9f7a52805a3e591b5e" community: "Anything about plants" author: "em-milleranglin" published: "2024-01-24T01:40:47.098Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/_I5jvcVxqCyRgUer-zgA-DnrMbJeSTJ1wzUbn5chT9k/1d8334cf64d043a48663e0442927ce27.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md) # \*\*For starters, I am still a novice plant parent\*\* So, I take care of… _Posted by em-milleranglin on 2024-01-24_ \*\*For starters, I am still a novice plant parent\*\* So, I take care of an elderly woman who is unable to care for her plants, and she had this massive (and overgrown) I believe split leaf philodendron? I want to be able to clean it up for her and getting back to looking neat, and wanted some advice on what the best way to do this is! It branches off into two different directions, and she let me take a cutting of what was the third branch home with me! So, now is my next question — how should I properly propagate this guy? Should I let it callous over for a day, should I leave it in water for a bit, should I plant it? Should I cut the stem from the base of the new growth entirely? It has very long aerial roots hanging off, only one of which actually found its way into the dirt. I was going to trim the ends which seemed a bit too soft and try placing the tips in water, but I didnt want to do anything that would mess it up. Thanks in advance for any advice! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/_I5jvcVxqCyRgUer-zgA-DnrMbJeSTJ1wzUbn5chT9k/1d8334cf64d043a48663e0442927ce27.webp?size=large) ## 4 comments ### Lindsey commented on 2024-01-24 I’ve had good luck propagating mine in water. I’d put the one you have in your hand in water all the way up to its neck, wait for an inch or two of roots, then plant. The ones ive propagated from water don’t love to be in water for prolonged periods (versus other philos that dont seem to mind), so I’d take it out and plant it once it gets some roots on it. I’m sure there are other ways, but this has worked for me! #### em-milleranglin replied on 2024-01-24 okay thank you! do you think I should chop it up to where Im holding it? I just wasn’t sure if it would rot in water, and im thinking when I eventually plant it, it should maybe be with a shorter stem? I did cut the aerial roots and they are green inside, so i gave them some shallow water in attempt to keep it healthy while I figure out my best plan 😂 ### Lindsey commented on 2024-01-24 The more I think about it, your cutting is much more woody of a stem (more mature) than what I’ve propagated. So, im not totally confident. My gut tells me you could do either way and it’ll probably work. I’d put the whole thing in water and watch it closely, and as soon as you see where the roots are starting to develop, you could chop the rest if they end up developing up top. Here’s one of mine that I did recently… ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/M8-KNZUl6sORS7QRjRAUh4Qlx3qxOBPAVcVq-j4ESqw/09859fb7c5844d8aa29012a7857db797.webp?size=large) #### em-milleranglin replied on 2024-01-25 okay thanks so much! how long did you wait for roots like that? they look great!! --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_