The Philodendron Micans is a beautiful, cascading vining plant that looks amazing hanging or climbing. It’s best known, however, for its velvety-textured, heart-shaped dark green leaves that can appear burgundy, copper, or bronze depending on how the light falls on them.
Philodendron Micans can add an exotic yet glamorous vibe to any room. As this Philodendron Micans enjoys social media popularity though, it’s becoming more difficult to find.
So, once you get your hands on one of these beautiful Philodendron varieties, you should be ready with the tips and tricks to ensure that it thrives and lives long.
That being said, this article is a complete, easy-to-use guide on how to provide Philodendron Micans with the most optimal conditions to thrive, so stick around.
Growing Philodendron Micans
You’ll be glad to know that these stunning velvety, heart-shaped houseplants aren’t fussy and can adapt well to most environments. Nonetheless, if you provide a Philodendron Micans with ideal conditions, it can grow vigorously and produce brilliantly vibrant foliage.
Light
The Philodendron Micans thrives in bright, indirect light. If you place your Micans near a window with blinds for 4–6 hours daily, it should grow faster and produce larger leaves.
Your Micans can also tolerate low and medium indirect light. However, these lighting conditions will slow the plant’s growth rate, causing it to produce smaller leaves and become leggy.
One lighting condition that Philodendron Micans can’t tolerate is direct sunlight because it can scorch their leaves.
Temperature and Humidity
Philodendron Micans, as tropical plants, thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity levels. Their ideal temperature ranges between 65°F and 85°F with a humidity level of at least 60%.
Since average indoor temperatures are usually within that range, your Micans will be able to grow all year. However, you may need to increase humidity levels, as high humidity is vital to Philodendron Micans’ growth.
Philodendron Micans are also sensitive to the cold. That’s why, in the winter, you should keep your Micans away from frost and cold drafts. You should also use a humidifier or a pebble tray to increase humidity for your Micans.
In addition, both direct heat and cooling sources can make the air too dry for your Micans. That’s why you should avoid exposing your plant to direct heat sources indoors, such as vents, fireplaces, and heaters.
Water
Philodendron Micans are sensitive to both overwatering and underwatering. Ideally, you want to keep the soil slightly moist during the growing season. So, water your Micans at least once every 1–2 weeks, using enough water to moisten the soil.
In the winter, you should water your Micans less frequently, allowing the top 2–3 inches of the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
One way to ensure you’re watering your plant enough is to check its leaf color. Yellow leaves indicate overwatering, while brown leaves indicate underwatering.
Soil
A well-aerated, well-draining, moisture-retaining soil that’s rich in organic matter is what your Philodendron Micans is looking for. You can make your custom soil mix to ensure that it meets your plant’s needs.
Mix standard potting soil with loam soil. To increase the soil’s moisture retention, add coco coir or peat moss. Then, add perlite, orchid bark, or lava rocks to improve the soil’s draining.
Fertilizer
Philodendron Micans are light feeders, so they don’t need added fertilizer to thrive. Still, if you want to give your Micans a boost, apply a balanced all-purpose fertilizer once a month throughout its growing season.
Pruning
Philodendron Micans are prolific growers, which can cause them to become leggy. That’s why you’ll need to prune your Micans regularly to keep its size and appearance under control.
During the growing season, prune any long leggy stalks using a pair of sterilized pruning shears. You should also prune any yellow or brown leaves to make room for new, healthy growth.
Philodendron Micans Propagation
You can propagate new plants by using stem cuttings, which you can easily obtain when pruning.
Here’s how to propagate Philodendron Micans:
- Grab a stem that has 4–5 leaves and cut a 1/4 inch below its node using sterilized scissors or pruning shears
- Put the stem cutting in room-temperature water, submerging the node underwater while keeping any leaves above the water surface
- Move it somewhere that receives bright, indirect light, changing the water when it becomes murky
- Transfer the cutting to the soil once the roots have reached 1–3 inches long
- Water the new Micans and provide it with the same conditions as the original plant
Philodendron Micans Common Pests and Diseases
Philodendron Micans, like most houseplants, are susceptible to pest infestations. Improper plant care can also foster an environment that invites diseases.
Pests
Aphids, mealybugs, fungus gnats, spider mites, and plant scales are among some of the pests that can attack Philodendron Micans.
So, it’s crucial to check your plant regularly in between crevices and under the leaves. If you find any pests, you can get rid of them by using insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Diseases
Diseases are uncommon in Philodendron Micans. However, if a Micans is overwatered and its soil doesn’t drain moisture well, it can suffer from root rot.
Unfortunately, root rot isn’t treatable. You’ll have to remove the rotting parts to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the plant. That’s why the best treatment is to prevent root rot from the get-go. Plant it in well-draining soil and give it time to dry between waterings.
Philodendron Micans Common Problems
Philodendron Micans aren’t particularly prone to many problems. Nevertheless, improper plant care can result in leaf and stem problems.
Leaf Curling
If the leaves on your Micans are curling, it’s most likely due to either receiving too much light or not enough water. Either case can dehydrate your Philodendron Micans. As a result, they curl their leaves in an attempt to conserve moisture.
You can help your Micans unfurl by placing it somewhere that doesn’t get too much light. You should also water your plant until the soil is moist all the way through.
Leaf Drop
It’s common for Philodendron Micans to lose leaves as they mature. However, if your plant starts to drop a lot of leaves or new leaves, you may not be watering your plant enough. You can tell that your Micans isn’t getting enough water when its leaves turn brown before they drop.
To prevent this from happening, don’t let your Micans’ soil dry out too much between waterings.
Mushy Foliage
Overwatering is one of the most common causes of mushy foliage in Philodendron Micans. Poor watering techniques, poorly draining soil, and clogged drainage holes can all contribute to overwatering.
So, ensure your plant has an efficient drainage system and that you let the top layer of the soil dry out between waterings.
FAQs
Do Philodendron Micans like to climb or hang?
Philodendron Micans can climb as well as hang. However, these trailing plants love climbing and will grow bigger, healthier leaves if given a pole-like structure to climb on. Keeping the structure moist can also help the plant cling faster.
Why do Philodendron Micans leaves turn red?
The amount of light Philodendron Micans receive influences the color of their leaves. As a result, exposing your Micans to too much bright light can cause their leaves to turn red, orange, or maroon.
Can you darken the leaves of Philodendron Micans?
As they mature, Philodendron Micans gradually darken to a rich shade of green. Still, you can achieve a deeper dark green by exposing your Micans to the right amount of low light. Simply keep your Micans away from windows and grow lights that expose it to bright light.
Remember to water and fertilize less in low light conditions since your plant will use less water and energy to grow.
