When you live in a small area, you need to be pickier about the types of plants that you introduce. You do not have the space for some of the bigger options out there and you need something that can easily fit and not take over half your living area. When this sounds like something you want to work with, then the Philodendron Micans can be the perfect plant for you.
This type of plant is found all over the Caribbean, America, and Mexico. The leaves are in a heart shape and kind of velvety to enjoy. But the best part is that these leaves are not going to grow more than 3 inches wide. The nodes are also spaced closely to get the compact appearance that you want. The exact coloring that you will get depends on the light they are in. Some are deep green and even purple or rusty in color. A few will even turn pink.
The best place to put the Micans is in a hanging planter so you can watch the elegant vines trail all the way down. Another option to have them in your home is to have a trellis or burlap wrapped pole that the Micans can travel up.
Image Credit : Terrariumtribe
Philodendron Micans Plant Care Guide
Philodendron plants are awesome options for those who are beginners and do not know a lot about planting any type of plant. Some of the plant care that you need to consider for this option include:
1. Potting mix
These plants are going to do the best when they are in loose soil that can drain well. High organic matter will be a great option too. Peat moss works, but find a type that is mixed with perlite or vermiculite as well.
2. Water
When you grow Philodendron Micans, you do not want to overdo it. Allow at least the top inch of soil to dry out before you water. This helps to avoid overwatering so that the plant will do its very best along the way. Look for droopy leaves to see if the plant is getting in too much water.
3. Sunlight
You need to give this plant a bright spot to spend its time, but keep it out of the way of direct light. A position near a window where the rays of the sun will never touch the leaves is the best. While older leaves can get yellow, if this starts to happen to several leaves at the same time, the plant is getting too much sun. if the plant starts to look leggy and long, then it needs more sun.
4. Fertilizer
You should add some liquid fertilizer to the soil once each month to give the plant a few more nutrients along the way. In the winter, you can spread this out once every two months since the plant is not doing as much growth. When the leaves get pale, it shows that the plant is not getting calcium and magnesium.
5. Temperature
The best temperature for this type of plant is somewhere between 65 to 78 degrees during the daytime. They like it a little warmer but not as bad as some other plants. They do like you to cool it down a bit in the evening though and would prefer the temperature drops down to 60 degrees.
Philodendron Micans is a fun one to keep around the home. It will take care of itself in many instances as long as you make sure that it gets just enough sunlight and not too much water. And since it is smaller than some of the other Philodendron plants you can choose, it allows you to get some of the beauty into your home, without all the wasted space.
Philodendron Micans Propagation
Many plant owners like to propagate their plants to help them stay healthy and to ensure that they can get more of them, without having to make another purchase. The Philodendron Micans is an easy one that you can use if you would like for this process. The steps that you can utilize to propagate the Philodendron Micans includes:
Leaf and Node Cuttings
The first option is the leaf and node cuttings. This allows you to just cut down the length of the vine, which will cut between the nodes. You would then take both of those and plant the cuttings under some well-nourished soil.
Two-Node Cuttings
For most planters, it is best to do the two-node cutting. This means that you will take the leaf off the lower node and then leave a leaf on the upper part. This one will help the plant have a higher chance of survival. When doing the first method, it is more common for the attached leave to rot and kill off the cutting. The rot does not happen with the two-node cutting as much.
Growing in Water
You can also choose to grow the Micans in water and then move it to the soil later, which makes this type of plant a bit different than some of the other types of Philodendrons that are out there. You would just move the cutting into some water and wait for it to take root. When it is ready, you would move it over to the soil of your choice.
Types and Varieties of Philodendron Micans Plant
The Philodendron plant comes in two main types that you are able to use. These include the bush and the vining. The type that you will use depends on how much space that you have for it and which type you would like. Your own personal preference and space in the room will help with this.
The vining options are good when you want to keep them going up or down, from a hanging basket or using a pole to help, to take up vertical rather than horizontal kind of space in the room. These are great for apartments or to add some height to the home. You can then choose to work with the bushy kind as well. These take up more of the horizontal space and can be a bigger and fuller plant compared to some of the others. These often have more flowers as well, giving some beautiful color there as well.
In-depth plant care articles on more Philodendron varieties – Philodendron Birkin |Philodendron Brasil
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Common Problems with Philodendron Micans
There are a few problems that can show up when. You work with the Philodendron Micans for your home. Some of the most common problems that show up with this plant include:
Yellow leaves
This is a sign that the plant is either getting too much water or too much sun. If you notice that leaves all around the plant are turning yellow, then this is a sign that you are overwatering and you need to use some more caution. If it seems to be just on one side, particularly the side nearest to the light source, then the plant gets too much light.
Long and leggy
When the plant gets long and leggy, especially if several inches are appearing between the leaves, this is a sign that the plant is not getting enough sun. This can be a balancing act with this plant. You do not want to give it too much light, but not enough can be hard too.
Pale new leaves
This is a sign of a nutrient imbalance within the plant. When the newer leaves come in kind of pale, the plant is not getting enough of the magnesium and calcium that they need. Add some more of these into the soil and you will see a difference.
Root Rot
This can technically happen with any plant that you try to grow but seems to be of special concern with the Philodendron. These plants do not need a ton of water to do well. Just a little bit will do. If you give them too much water and do not provide them with porous soil and a good drainage system, they will get too wet and the roots can rot out before the plant dies.
Tips to healing the problems of Philodendron Micans plant
As a new owner of the Philodendron Micans, you need to take the right steps to help the plant grow. The right environment will make a big difference, but some of the other tips that you can use to help this flower grow include:
The best thing that you can do for this plant makes sure that it does not get too much water along the way. Quite a bit of the water should come from the humidity in the area that is around it. You should always check the soil to make sure that it is actually dry below the surface before you try to give it any more water.
Keep this plant off the ground too. It is toxic to animals and humans should not eat it either. Keeping it off the ground will ensure that your pets will not get ahold of it and get sick. Plus, it can look really nice from a hanging pot in some area of the home, especially by a window that does not get too much light.
Propagating the plant on occasion will help keep it healthy. This allows you to thin out some of the bad parts of the plant at the same time, such as the older or dead leaves that are taking up nutrients, even though they are not flourishing along the way. This can also help you to keep getting more of the plant for less money.
This plant can flower, but it is not going to happen that often. And the plant needs to reach maturity before this happens. Prepare for more than ten years of growing Philodendron Micans before you get some of the blooms. The good news is that the leaves are really pretty and unique so this should not be too much of a problem.
You may also want to read: Anthurium Crystallinum Plant Care | Neon Pothos Plant Care
Philodendron Micans – Pests, disease, and toxicity
This is a plant that you should not consume and you need to keep away from your pants. The lacy tree variety of the Philodendron will be toxic to both dogs and cats. Keep it up out of the way and do not try to eat it at all.
Philodendron Micans are not usually prone to insects. However, it is a plant and some insects may find themselves running right to this one if you allow them. A good pesticide will do wonders for keeping the plant safe. You may find that mealybugs and aphids will try to take over. Shower the plant with some water and insecticidal soap and see if that can do the trick.
Brown and crispy leaves can be a problem. This is often from too little water (like you haven’t been watering the plant at all), or you keep it in too much direct sunlight and the leaves are getting burnt. It could also be an issue with too little humidity or excess fertilizer. Some of the things that you should check out include:
Look at the light situation around the plant. If you worry that it is in direct sunlight, you need to move it.
Check out the moisture levels in the soil and see if the plant is getting too much water or not. Adjust the humidity if you have the ability to do so.
Make sure that you are doing the right type and amount of fertilization as well.
Conclusion
The Philodendron Micans is a great plant for many people to add to their homes. It does not take up as much space as some of the other tropical plants but is still a beautiful option to keep around the house. For someone who has not had a lot of experience with plants or who has found other tropical plants too hard to work with, this is the perfect addition to your home and it can flourish even in less than ideal situations.
