How to Grow and Care for Philodendron Micans

Native to the tropical regions of Mexico and the Caribbean, philodendron micans is a stunning philodendron valued for its velvety, heart-shaped leaves and trailing growth habit. It has become extremely popular as a houseplant that looks great in hanging planters or climbs moss poles or trellises. Similar to other philodendron varieties, it is a low-maintenance plant and easy to grow. While it produces flowers in the wild, it is extremely rare for it to flower indoors, and compared to the eye-catching foliage, the flowers are insignificant.

Like all philodendrons, the plant is toxic to humans and pets.

Common Name	Philodendron micans, velvet-leaf philodendron
Botanical Name	Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum
Family	Araceae
Plant Type	Perennial
Mature Size	8 in. tall, 24 in. long
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Loamy, moist but well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic
Bloom Time	Spring, summer
Flower Color	Green, white
Hardiness Zones	10-11 (USDA)
Native Area	North America, Central America
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and pets

Philodendron Micans Care

This philodendron is easy to care for as a houseplant. All it needs is bright, indirect light, well-draining peat-based soil, and regular watering.

Light

The philodendron micans enjoys bright to medium indirect light. Avoid prolonged periods of direct sunlight as it burns the delicate leaves, causing discoloration and crispy edges.

The amount of light that your philodendron micans is exposed to will ultimately influence the color of the leaves. Increased light will cause the leaves to stay red/maroon, while lower light will result in leaves that are a deeper green color.

Soil

This tropical aroid requires a peat-based, airy, moist, well-draining soil mixture rich in organic matter. While it technically survives in standard potting soil, the plant will thrive in a custom soil mix designed to meet its needs. Mix 1 part potting soil, 1 part orchid bark, 1 part perlite, and 1 part peat moss or coco coir to create the ideal potting mix for your philodendron micans.

Water

Water your philodendron micans once the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil have dried out, usually once a week. The frequency may vary depending on the room temperature, humidity level, and sun exposure.

To check if your plant needs water, take a look at the leaves. It's a sign of underwatering when the leaves start to droop and slightly curl inwards. Mushy stems, on the other hand, indicate overwatering. These philodendrons are sensitive to overwatering so ensure that you are never letting the roots sit in water.

Temperature and Humidity

Native to tropical climates, philodendron micans thrives in warm temperatures and humid conditions. Typical household temperature levels between 65 and 75°F are adequate for the plant, just ensure that you keep your plant away from any cold, drafty windows or air vents. Indoor humidity at the upper range, between 50 and 60%, is ideal and helps boost plant growth.

Fertilizer

As long as your philodendron micans is planted in a potting medium that is rich in organic matter, it will not require any heavy fertilization. However, it benefits from some light fertilization with a balanced all-purpose fertilizer throughout the spring and summer to help boost growth.

Pruning

Regular pruning will help to ensure that your philodendron micans does not become leggy as pruning encourages the stems to branch. The spring and summer are the best times to prune your philodendron micans as it is in its active growing period. Using a pair of sterilized pruning shears, prune any stems that are particularly long. Save any stem trimmings as they can be used for propagation.

Propagating Philodendron Micans

The best way to propagate philodendron micans is to root stem cuttings in water.

1. Take stem cuttings with four to five leaf nodes (where a leaf attaches to the stem).
2. Remove the bottom leaves on each stem cutting to expose the nodes along the stem.
3. Place the stem cuttings in water, ensuring just the bare stem is submerged, and place the cuttings in a location that receives medium to bright indirect light.
4. Regularly check the water level to ensure that the nodes on the bare stem are submerged at all times.
5. Plant the cuttings in the same light, well-drained potting mix as the original plant. Before planting the cuttings, pre-moisten the soil and fully bury the roots.
6. Keep the soil consistently moist for the first one to two weeks but never soaking.
7. Slowly reduce the watering to about once a week, or whenever the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil have dried out.

Common Pests

Philodendron micans is susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests including scale, aphids, fungus gnats, and mealybugs. Ensure that you check the plant frequently for signs of an infestation so that you can catch it early—you don’t want pests spreading to your other houseplants too.

Common Problems With Philodendron Micans

Similar to many other philodendron varieties, the philodendron micans is relatively problem-free and easy to care for. Any issues that may arise are usually a result of improper watering, drainage, or lighting.

Yellowing Leaves

There are several potential causes for yellowing leaves: overwatering or underwatering, nutrient deficiency, or pests.

Curling Leaves

Curling leaves are usually an indication that your micans needs more moisture. Sometimes this is easily fixed with a quick watering, but other times it may mean that your plant has insufficient roots (either from rotting or being dried out too much) and cannot absorb the moisture in the soil properly. If watering doesn’t fix the issue, check your plant’s roots. If there are issues with the roots, cut off all the affected dead parts and transfer the plant to water to help regrow the roots. Follow the propagation instructions above.

Leaves Falling Off

Sometimes leaves falling off is just a natural part of the plant maturing. If you are noticing older leaves falling off every once and a while, you likely don’t have anything to worry about. However, if you are noticing lots of leaves suddenly dropping or new leaves falling off then you may have an issue with under watering. Ensure that you don’t let your plant dry out too much between waterings.

Mushy Stems

Mushy stems are likely a sign that you are overwatering your plant, or that it does not have sufficient drainage. Ensure that your plant is in a container with drainage holes, and allow the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil to dry out between waterings.

Leggy Growth

Leaves that are spaced out along the stem, otherwise known as leggy growth, indicate that your plant needs more light. This will also help the leaves to grow larger, although small leaves can also indicate that your plant requires fertilization. If you find that your plant is looking long but a bit sparse, pruning the vines will help to encourage thicker growth.

From: thespruce