How to Grow a Philodendron Micans, a Beginner Care Guide

Philodendron micans has velvety, heart-shaped leaves that are nearly quilted in texture and iridescent. The foliage can appear deep green or rich purple depending on the light, with young leaves sprouting chartreuse with pink edges.

Philodendron micans is a climbing plant and can be trained to climb up a moss pole or cascade elegantly in a hanging planter. This easy-to-care-for plant is a great addition to your collection if you enjoy fascinating foliage.

In this beginner guide of philodendron micans care you will learn about this popular plant which has become a coveted houseplant for plant lovers, including;

• Is Philodendron Micans rare?
• How to care for Philodendron Micans
• How to propagate Philodendron Micans
• Common pests and diseases of the Philodendron Micans
• And a few Frequently asked questions.

Micans is a philodendron, a vast genus of plants belonging to the Araceae family, native to Central America. Philodendrons come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can all appear quite distinct.

Philodendron micans has a similar appearance to the common heartleaf philodendron found in local nurseries. The lovely velvet finish of the philodendron micans distinguishes it from the classic heart-leaf philodendron.

The velvet leaf philodendron is the popular name for the philodendron micans. The leaves have a greenish-purplish sheen with a hint of shine (but not as much as the silver satin pothos scindapsus pictus!).

For the past 15 years, this plant has remained largely unknown, until it gained notoriety as a result of numerous Instagram postings and flashy reels highlighting its unusual characteristics.

Is Philodendron Micans rare?

Philodendron Micans has become more widely available in the last year or so. You might have only obtained one before that if you had a pal who could give you a cutting! Still, I’ve never seen these for sale in garden centers or greenhouses, but it could be because of where you reside.

How to care for a Philodendron Mican

These tropical Aroids are simple to grow. Simply follow the specified instructions, and they will flourish without requiring much effort on your part.

Soil

Philodendrons do best in loose, well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. They will grow in 100 percent sphagnum peat moss. Peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite mixes, for example, are also suitable. You might want to inquire about the definition of well-drained soil. A soil that is well-drained allows water to flow in and out at a moderate rate.

When a plant’s soil is saturated with too much water, the plant’s oxygen absorption from the soil is reduced, which can lead to death.

If you want a nice result, you shouldn’t utilize garden soil for your indoor planting.

Garden soil may include disease organisms, weed seeds, and is not always well-drained. However, you might use a well-draining high-quality potting soil. Philodendrons require good drainage in order to thrive.

However, an ordinary potting mix will not suffice. You should include some other ingredients.

I recommend using about 30 to 50 percent potting mix and then adding perlite and orchid bark to the balance of the soil.

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Water

You’ll be alright if you don’t overwater your velvet leaf philodendron. When the top inch or two of soil dries out, you’ll need to water it again. Allowing the soil to dry out too much can cause it to shrink and draw inwards away from the sides of the planter, which is a sure symptom of this.

If this happens a few times, it won’t necessarily harm the plant. When the soil shrinks away from the sides of the planter, however, water might escape and go straight to the bottom, bypassing the roots! 

If you begin to see droopy leaves, the plant has likely been overwatered. Once the watering schedule is fixed, this will correct itself.

In the summer, I water more frequently, and in the winter, I let the soil dry out between waterings. Overall, they are a plant that is forgiving if the routine is disrupted.

In the winter, when the plant is not actively developing, you can water it less frequently—about once a month.

While velvet leaf philodendron is tolerant of a wide range of indoor humidity levels, you’ll notice that when humidity levels are a little higher, the leaves grow larger and healthier. In the winter, I keep mine in a small bathroom that gets midday light and all of the pleasant humidity that comes with showers!

Light

Velvet leaf philodendron plants, like many other philodendrons, prefer strong indirect light; too much direct light can burn the leaves. They can withstand slightly less light than houseplants, but their leaves will be smaller.

When the plant is not exposed to bright indirect light, it may grow stemmy or leggy. Stemmy/leggy simply implies that there is greater space between each leaf, resulting in sparse stems.

Temperature & Humidity

Temperatures of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and around 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night are ideal for Philodendron Micans.

Philodendron Micans are native to the Caribbean and Mexico and flourish in high humidity environments.

During the winter, the atmosphere is dry, meaning there is no water vapor present, implying a low humidity level. Plant development is extremely slow or non-existent throughout the winter.

There are several techniques to maintain a high humidity level at home, as listed below:

• Make use of a humidifier.
• Place your plant (complete with pot!) on a tray filled with damp pebbles.
• Place your plant in the bathroom (assuming it receives enough light!)
• Plants should be grouped together (if you have multiple tropical plants, position them next to each other) to improve humidity.

Fertilizing

Fertilizer is plant food. It aids in the replenishment of lost soil nutrients, supplies essential ingredients for plant growth, and aids in the maintenance of soil fertility.

Fertilizer comes in a variety of forms. We have the following:

• Liquid Fertilizer
• Granular Fertilizer
• Slow-Release fertilizers

How do you know which fertilizer is best for your needs?

As I explain, relax and make yourself a cup of coffee.

Liquid Fertilizer

Water-soluble plant food is another name for this. It’s combined with water before being used to water the plant. Liquid fertilizer promotes the growth of larger flower plants while also providing a simple and effective method of nourishing both the plant and the soil.

Liquid fertilizer gives you a lot of control over the amount you apply and ensures a uniform application. My favorite organic liquid fertilizer that I use on my houseplants is LiquiDirt.

Liquid fertilizer, on the other hand, is susceptible to volatilization, especially when used on outdoor plants.

Granular Fertilizer

This fertilizer is strewn across the soil. It’s more efficient for pre-plant application and easier to store.

When overfed into the soil, however, it will burn the plant’s leaves off.

Unlike liquid fertilizer, immobile nutrients like iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) may not be able to reach the plant’s root.

Slow Release Fertilizer

Slow-release fertilizers are available in a variety of forms, including shell, piton, and capsules. It gently releases nutrients into the soil. It’s a resin-coated fertilizer that gradually adds nutrients to the soil by breaking down naturally due to water, sunlight, and soil bacteria.

Because there are fewer spaces to cover, this form of fertilizer works well in small pots. Slow-release compost relieves the stress of adding fertilizer to the soil on a regular basis.

So, what should you feed your Philodendron White Knight in terms of fertilizer? Most houseplants do OK with liquid fertilizer when grown inside as houseplants. This is also true of our White Knight Philodendron.

That being said, get yourself a balanced liquid fertilizer, follow the instructions on the fertilizer, and maybe apply half of what is recommended.

Because it’s always preferable to err on the side of caution when it comes to feeding your plants. Also note that with fertilizer you get what you pay for and that the heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers may harm the plant’s root systems and may even kill it.

Toxicity

All Philodendrons have a lot of calcium oxalate crystals in them. The foliage causes an allergic reaction on the lips, mouth, and esophagus when eaten.

Furthermore, they can have serious consequences for animals. As a result, keep children and pets away from these lovely plants.

Potting and Repotting

I always use a pot that drains quickly and is of good quality for my Philodendron Micas. A hanging basket or a ceramic pot are my favorites.

You must repot your Philodendron Micans if the roots become coiled in a tight ball.

It’s preferable to pick a pot that’s just a smidgeon bigger than the root ball. I use one that is 2-3 inches larger than the root ball, and I do it in the winter before the new leaves appear.

Otherwise, the plant may get root rot as a result of sitting in too much damp soil. You want to allow the plant enough space to grow and flourish without drowning it! For me, this seemed to produce the finest outcomes.

How to propagate a Philodendron Micans

As part of the pant genre’s survival strategy, most (but not all) Philodendrons are for the most part easy to propagate.

Imagine if an animal breaks a portion of a plant growing and living in the canopy of a tree, another one will start growing from the broken cutting on the forest floor.

Most philodendron species can be propagated rather easily thanks to this survival characteristic.

Growth

If you take good care of your Philodendron Micas, it will reach a mature size of 8 to 12 inches tall and 24 inches broad. Due to their compact size they are the perfect small space plant.They are regarded as a plant with a rapid growth rate.

Growing Zone

The plants can be grown outside in USDA zones 9b to 11. However, they are suitable for indoor plantation in a wide range of zones from 4 to 11.

Common pests and diseases

Aphids, spider mites and mealybugs are the most prevalent pests of the Philodendron Micans

While pest control can be difficult at times, most plants can still be rescued with effective pest control.

When it comes to aphids and mealybugs, we have some helpful guidelines that will help you get rid of these bothersome pests!

Read an in-depth guide to houseplant pests here.

Frequently asked questions

Common Problems with Philodendron Micans

This section will provide you with some insights as to what might be causing the plant’s physical malformation.

Yellow leaves are the first issue.

Excess wetness, which leads to over-saturation of the plant-soil by water or exposure to too much sunlight, could be the cause of yellow leaves on your Philodendron Micans. It’s also worth noting that too much sunshine causes leaves to burn.

How do you look after your yellow-leaved Philodendron Micans? It’s easy to understand.

As previously indicated, make sure it’s in a filtered sunlight atmosphere.

Using sanitized scissors, snip off all yellow and burnt leaves.

Alter the plant’s soil. Keep an eye out for decaying roots when changing the plant soil. If there are any, use a sterile pair of scissors to cut them out. Also, make sure the pot has adequate drainage. Only water your Philodendron when the earth is dry, which you can tell by touching the dirt.

Bacterial leaf spot

When the plant leaves are frequently wet, germs can easily infect it. To avoid this, make sure you’re not watering the leaves while they’re wet.

How do you deal with a bacterial leaf spot on your plant?

This is a little more complicated, and it all depends on how diseased your plant is. If there are only two infected leaves, you should clip them off before others become sick. Using a fungicide produces no noticeable results.

Summary

The Aroid vine Philodendron hederaceum var Micans is native to the Caribbean and Mexico. This is a low-maintenance vine with compact leaves that is perfect for small spaces. In 5 years, the plant can reach a height of 2 to 4 meters.

The leaves have a velvety texture and are heart-shaped with pointy points. Furthermore, depending on the quantity of light available, they can develop in a variety of colors, including dark green, purplish brown, and brown.

Get some for your pole-supported hanging baskets, pots, or containers. You must provide these plants with moderate watering, indirect light, and humidity. While summarizing, we must not overlook the issue of toxicity.