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So (not to be excessively idiotic in the houseplant world, but ...) why can't the main plant live in soaked soil if cuttings are commonly grown with their roots in the water 24/7?

I'm pretty sure the danger is mainly so the plant doesn't mold, fungus, or rot. A cutting is a cutting, and if it dies, no big deal.:%)

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

So (not to be excessively idiotic in the houseplant world, but ...) why can't the main plant live in soaked soil if cuttings are commonly grown with their roots in the water 24/7?
I have noticed that the new leaves have a lot more yellow - not bad, nitrogen-deficiency (um, maybe that's just aquatics!) yellow, but a heavier patterning to the leaves, where the old leaves are mostly plain green with hints of yellow. Is this a bad sign? Or do all new leaves get this? I have pictures if that would help.
I've been letting it dry out for a couple of days once a week - does it need to be dry more than this? There's a root poking out the bottom that seems quite healthy, but that might not be indicative of the whole root system (although it probably is indicative of "they sold it to me in too small a pot").
Thanks for your help!

-Molly
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Please take it out of the water straight away if you haven't already!!

Allow it to dry out between watering. Constant wet soggy compost in the pot will result very quickly in root rot. Usually the symptoms of root rot don't show on the plant until there has been too much damage done to save it.

Some yellowing and dying off of the lower leaves is completely normal as the plant grows, just cut them off.

Philodendrons are related to the Monstera Cheese Plant, and can grow very big. In their native environment they would grow along the ground, extending root tendrils to pick up extra moisture as the plant gets bigger/longer/further from the orginal root system. You can push (gently) these roots into the compost to help, also you can get a moss pole as support, keep it damp, and train the roots to grow into this by pushing them in when they are long enough.

x

Don't water too often... terrestrials need to dry out... my mom only waters her plants (and she has a ton...) with the exception of the african violets once a week.

Of course, if you're getting lots of new leaves (as long as you're not losing all the old ones) you must be doing something right. Just keep in mind it needs to have a chance to dry out.

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