Philodendron micans originates from the tropics of Mexico and the Caribbean. The plant rarely flowers in nature with spathes of white flowers.
Philodendron micans also called as Velvet Leaf Philodendron, Red Philodendron, Philodendron scandens micans, and its scientific name Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum, is a varieties of Philodendron hederaceum. Due to its unique foliar colors ranging from burgundy to bronze and copper, the plant is gaining popularity and offers consumers variety in foliage assortments as small containers or as climbers supported by totem poles, or as hanging baskets
IDENTIFY PHILODENDRON MICANS - VELVET LEAF PHILODENDRON
Philodendron micans originates from the tropics of Mexico and the Caribbean. The plant rarely flowers in nature with spathes of white flowers in mature plants.
Velvet Leaf Philodendron is a colorful and attractive evergreen climber. The leaves stay rather small in size, about 5-10cm in length. The heart-shaped leaves are velvety green on the upper leaf surface and a dark copper color on the lower leaf surface. Newly emerging leaves can have a wide variety of different shades of dark green to chartreuse colour, all depending on the light conditions they are exposed to.
Red Philodendron have a good capacity of purifying the air around them by removing toxins from the air. Parts of the plant are known to contain calcium oxalate crystals in varying concentrations. Although the plant is known to be toxic to mice and rats, the current literature is conflicting with regards to its toxicity in cats. Its possible toxic effects on humans are currently unknown although likely very mild if not harmless.
PHILODENDRON MICANS - VELVET LEAF PHILODENDRON CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Philodendron micans grows best in bright and indirect sunlight. It should be shaded from direct sun, although usually a little morning sun is fine. Exposure to the sunlight can causes a yellowish color in the leaves or a sunburn spot. Artificial light gives best results if natural light is not present.
Temperature:
Velvet Leaf Philodendron grows well in normal to warm indoor temperatures 24-27ºC (75-80ºF). They cannot tolerate temperatures which drop below about 13ºC (55ºF). In mild, frost-free climates, the plant can be grown outside in shady spots. If grown outside, night temperatures down to around 15°C and day temperatures around 30°C are ideal.
Substrate and growing media:
Philodendron micans grows best in a hanging basket, or allowed to climb up a totem pole with loose, well-drained soil which is rich high in organic matter. It also be grow in 100% sphagnum peat moss and mixtures such as peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite.
The plants benefit from repotting to a larger container when they become root bound and outgrow the original pot. A combination of half soil-based potting mixture and half leaf mould or coarse peat moss is used.
Move the plant into container one size larger only when their roots have completely filed the current one. This is done at any time of year except during the short rest period. After the long rest period the convenient pot size has been reach (probably about 25-30cm (10-12 inch)), an annual spring top-dressing with fresh potting mixture will help to keep the plat healthy. A container with drainage holes to prevent root rot is used. A cachepot is used if a decorative container is without drainage. It is necessary to cover the bottom of a cachepot with pebbles so as to keep the plant above the drainage water.
Watering:
The vital factors in keeping the plant growing evenly with large, uniform leaves is plentiful of water. Keep the potting mix consistently moist, but not wet. Make sure all excess water drains, since sitting in water or overwatering can cause root injury, which will cause leaves to turn yellow and drop. A high-humidity environment should be maintained with a pebble tray or by grouping plants will encourage larger leaves.
Newly potted plants need to be carefully watered. Allow the soil to become almost dry before watering. Follow this procedure until the roots have grown into the new soil, after which the soil can be kept more evenly moist. It's especially beneficial to newly planted Philodendrons to spray their leaves two or three times a day
Fertilizer:
Velvet Leaf Philodendron are considered heavy feeders. Regular feeding program with a nitrogen fertilizer will increase leaf size and produces a larger, healthier plant. Throughout the months while the plant is actively growing apply standard liquid fertiliser once every two weeks. It's a nice strategy to fertilize more frequently at half strength than to apply one strong dose. Plants which mainly grows in low-light conditions require less fertilization than actively-growing plants. Moist soil requires fertilizers to avoid injury to plant roots.
Pruning:
Use a sharp pruners or scissors to control the size and shape of the plant. You can remove entire leaves by cutting them off at the base of the leaf stem. You can also remove the lower leaves if you want to reveal the plant's stem. Always wear gloves when pruning and wash your hands and tools when finished. You don't want to get the sap in your eyes or mouth.
Propagation:
Cutting and layering are popular methods of Philodendron species propagation. Try propagating them during the growing season. A small brown nubs are formed where the leaves meet the stem. These nubs, when in contact with soil or water, will grow roots. There are many ways to propagate this plant, the easiest being to cut a branch just below a root-nub and place it in water with a few pieces of horticultural charcoal to reduce the likelihood of rot. As soon the growth of new leaf takes place it is potted in the rich soil. Similarly it can also be propagated within its own pot by pinning vines at the root-nub to the soil with hairpins or bent wire. The root nub in contact with the soil will sprout new roots in a very short time. When the different parts of Philodendron species are rooted, the plant will greatly profited from misting several times a day.
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