Question
I have a large outdoor philodendron selloum about 7 years old. healthy large leaves some are frost bitten. how do I prune this large plant? it has 3 thick trunks. the leaves only come out of the tops of the trunk now from cutting it back every year.

Answer
Hi Cindy, Selloums are the type of Philodendron that develop a large tangle of surface roots and really are not a good subject for pruning; You can remove extraneous stems that impede into a space they are not welcomed, but other then that, it would involve cutting away portions of the roots themselves, which could have a detrimental result on the plant in general. I have heard of people who have cut it back to the ground in the hope of eliminating it, only to have it begin new growth, but this new growth can be haphazard and it would take quite awhile to establish a new desirable crown (if at all..). My suggestion to you is to fertilize, to encourage newer growth, and maybe cut away "some" of the surface roots for aesthetics. Nick