Philodendron Micans
The velvet version of the heartleaf philodendron: iridescent bronze-green leaves that flash rusty red underneath, on a vine that trails or climbs. Same forgiving care as its plain cousin, a little more sensitive to harsh sun.
Micans is the heartleaf philodendron that went to finishing school. The leaves are the same heart shape, but the surface is a fine velvet that shifts from deep green to bronze to burgundy as the light moves across it, and the undersides are a dusty red. New leaves unfurl pink-gold before they darken.
Underneath the glamour it is still a heartleaf, which means it forgives most things. It trails from a shelf, climbs a pole if you give it one, and roots in a glass of water in a couple of weeks. The one thing it will not forgive is direct afternoon sun, which bleaches the velvet.
Light
Bright, indirect light gives the best colour and the tightest growth. It tolerates a north window or a spot several feet back from an east or west one, though the vines stretch and the leaves come in smaller. Keep it out of direct sun; the velvet scorches faster than a glossy leaf would.
Water
Let the top two inches dry out, then water thoroughly and empty the saucer. Roughly weekly in summer and every ten to twelve days in winter. Micans tells you when it is thirsty: the leaves lose their crispness and hang a little. It bounces back within hours of a drink. Soggy soil, on the other hand, turns leaves yellow from the bottom up.
Soil and potting
A chunky aroid mix, roughly two parts potting mix to one part orchid bark and one part perlite. Repot every eighteen months or so, only one pot size up. It is happy slightly root-bound, and an oversized pot holds water it cannot use.
Feeding
A balanced liquid feed at half strength every four weeks from spring to early autumn. Nothing in winter. Overfeeding shows as brown leaf edges.
Propagation
The easiest aroid to propagate. Cut below a node, strip the lowest leaf, and put the cutting in water. Roots appear in two to three weeks; pot up when they are a couple of inches long. Six cuttings in one pot make a full plant fast.
In a hot, dry home
A good pick for a dry home. It sits happily at forty percent humidity and does not brown at the edges the way calatheas do. Keep it out of the direct stream of air conditioning, which dries the velvet, and water a little more often in the hottest weeks. The bronze colour actually deepens in the strong, filtered light a south-facing room throws around.
Problems and fixes
Leaves pale, velvet looks washed out
Likely cause: Too much direct sun
Fix: Move it back from the window or behind a sheer curtain.
Long bare stems, small leaves
Likely cause: Not enough light
Fix: Brighter spot, and trim the leggy vines back to a node; they will branch.
Yellow leaves near the soil
Likely cause: Overwatering
Fix: Let the top two inches dry before watering; check the pot drains.
Whole plant limp
Likely cause: Thirsty
Fix: Water thoroughly; it recovers within hours.
Philodendron Micans questions
Is Philodendron Micans safe for cats and dogs?
No. Like all philodendrons it contains calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mouth if chewed. Hang it out of reach.
Does Micans climb or trail?
Both. Left alone it trails; given a moss pole or a bit of bark it climbs, and the leaves get noticeably larger when it does.
Why are the new leaves pink?
That is normal. New growth on Micans opens pinkish gold and darkens to bronze-green over a week or two.
Plants with a similar rhythm
Heartleaf Philodendron
- Light
- Low to bright indirect
- Water
- Weekly
- Pets
- Toxic
Philodendron Birkin
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect
- Water
- Weekly
- Pets
- Toxic
