Know in one minute about the velvet leaf plant
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Introduction
The velvet leaf plant (Philodendron hederaceum ‘Micans’ or Philodendron Micans) is a popular houseplant belonging to the Araceae family. They have heart-shaped, velvety leaves, long trailing vines, and golden-toned stems. It grows naturally in the humidity-rich forest and non-parasitically on other plants. This plant also grew up on a moss pole or in a hanging basket as an ornamental plant at home.
It is one of the best houseplants that clean the indoor air by removing harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and improving mental health (1). The leaves absorb formaldehyde in water-based paint, glues in fitted carpets, or even laminated wooden floors. This pollutant may irritate the nose, throat, skin, eyes, and lungs (2).
Common name
This plant is also known as Heart-leaf philodendron, Sweetheart plant, Rare velvet leaf bronze micans vine, Heart-Leaf, Velvet Leaf Philodendron, Vilevine.
The geographical distribution
It is native to Central America, and Caribbean islands and is now grown in many places, like the UK, Bangladesh, and Seychelles.
Botanical description of Philodendron Micans
1. Height
It is an evergreen fast grown climber that can reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) in height in the wild. The plant can climb from 1.2 m to 1.8 m (4 to 6 feet) at home given ideal growing conditions.
2. Leaves
The leaves are deep green on the upper side and reddish-purple or burgundy on the back side with pink edges. They have a velvety feel, when the light shines they appear like shades of bronze to rusty orange. Mature leaves that grow to about 3 inches across and are green in color.
3. Stems
It has a round, smooth, medium green stem with a reddish or golden hue.
4. Flowers
Mature plants may produce green and white flowers any time of the year but mainly in summer. However, it is hard for them to have flowers indoors.
Care of Velvet leaf plant
The velvet leaf plant is easy to care for and maintain. It doesn’t need significant attention to grow indoors as a houseplant.
1. Sunlight
These plants require bright to moderate indirect light or morning sunlight for at least 4-6 hours.
Direct sunlight may cause browning, burn, discoloration, crispy edges, and curl or dropping of the leaves.
On the other hand, too low light may slow growth, be leggy (more space between the leaves), and produce paler or yellow smaller leaves.
Adequate light may stay the leaves red/purple, while lower light will cause deeper green color in the leaves.
2. Water
Water thoroughly the plant when the top or 2 inches of soil is dry and allow drying out between the watering.
Avoid overwatering because it may cause lower leaves to turn yellow, wilting, a moldy potting mix, and a mushy stem base.
It also causes brown splotches on leaves and root rotting.
Be careful because underwatering may result in crispy brown edges, curling leaves, and stunted growth.
Reduce watering about once a month during the fall and winter months.
3. Soil
This plant grows best in a well-draining airy and organic-rich potting mix.
The blend of garden soil, coco coir or peat moss, perlite, and bark chips is an ideal potting mix.
It holds moisture increasing aeration and drainage in the soil.
4. Temperature
Philodendron Micans grows well in warm temperatures 65°F- 80°F (19°C-27°C) temperatures but doesn’t remain in good health at lower than 55°F (13°C).
Furthermore, it handles a slight dip in nighttime temperatures but avoids sudden temperature drops because it damages leaves.
5. Humidity
This plant likes humidity and thrives well when provided with high levels (50% or more) of humidity.
Also, tolerate low humidity but high humidity boosts their growth.
Low humidity may cause brown tips, drooping, curling, yellowing the leaves, and stunted growth.
Humidity can also be increased by placing the pot on a pebble tray, misting the leaves, or by a humidifier.
6. Fertilizer
Fertilize the plant with balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer. Suspend the fertilizer in the fall or winter.
7. Repotting
This plant is slightly pot-bound and does not need to be repotting that frequently. Repotting should be done every 2-3 years and during the growing months.
Replace the old soil with fresh soil and go one size up to the current pot to prevent root rot from sitting in excess moisture.
When to repot the plant Philodendron Micans?
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- Leggy plants
- Drooping
- Wilting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Stunted growth
- Roots growing from drainage holes
- Roots heavily coiled around the outside of the soil
Staking or support
Stacking is necessary to get the plant to hang on by its aerial roots. Moss-covered polls, trellis, and stakes set into the middle of the pot will provide extra support for climbing.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary to control the length of the vines and remove damaged, dead or diseased leaves. It also encourages branching, promotes fuller growth, and keeps it looking attractive. The best time for pruning is spring and summer.
Propagation of velvet leaf plant
Propagation of velvet leaf plants can be done at the time of pruning or in winter or early spring.
This plant can be propagated using stem cuttings with at least some leaves and nodes in water or soil.
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Propagation in water
Place the stem is cut into water, in a warm location with at least one node under the surface. Make sure that any leaves should not remain under the water’s surface because it obstructs root growth.
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Propagation in the soil
This plant can also be propagated faster in moist potting mix soil because it gets nutrients present in the soil. Moreover, the plants will suffer less transplant shock but it did not give a chance to see roots growing.
In both methods, keep the cutting under bright, indirect light to hustle free sprouting of nodes within a few weeks. Moreover, this plant also produces aerial roots at the nodes which can easily be cut and planted to produce a new plant.
Diseases or problems
1. Pest
Velvet leaf plants can be affected by insects like fungus grants, spider mites, scale, sap-sucking aphids, and mealy bugs.
2. Overwatering
This plant doesn’t require a lot of watering because it can promote fungal growth. Overwatering may kill the plant by root rotting, mushy stems, wilting, yellowing, leaves falling off, and stunted growth.
3. Brown, crispy leaf tips
Crispy brown edges, curling leaves, and stunted growth may occur due to underwatering or low humidity. These brown tips and edges are also caused by fertilizer burns, sunburns, transplant shock, and heat stress.
4. Falling off leaves
Too little watering may rapidly drop off the leaves. Thus, water thoroughly the plant but don’t let the soil dry too much between watering.
5. Leaf spot disease
Black and brown spot on leaves is due to the pest, cold damage, improper watering, and water quality.
6. Small and high-spaced leaves
Low light may cause the plant to grow long, and generate small and more space between the leaves. Thus, this plant needs brighter, indirect light for growth.
7. Insufficient drainage
Improper draining may cause swelling in the stem (mushy stems) and root rot. Thus, make sure that the plant container has proper holes and do not let the soil saggy. Moreover, cover the bottom of the pot with pebbles to keep the plant above the drainage water.
Pets friendly or not?
The velvet leaf plant contains oxalate that is toxic to pets when accidentally ingested in large quantities. After intake, it is absorbed into the blood, combined with calcium, and forms sharp, needle crystals of calcium oxalate.
These crystals may cause oral irritation of the mouth, lips, tongue, and swallowing difficulty. It may also cause skin irritation, drooling, diarrhea, and vomiting
Q&A
1. What is velvet leaf?
The velvety leaves plant is one of the fast-growing indoor air purifier plants. This climber plant is easy to care for and beautifies the home as a tabletop or hanging basket.
2. What does a velvet leaf look like?
The velvet leaf plant has heart-shaped leaves, colors from bronze to light, and dark green and reddish brown or burgundy undersides. They have a velvety feel with pink and purple highlights on the new growth.
3. How to care for the velvet leaf plant?
This plant performs well in bright, indirect light with high humidity and . maintains temperatures between 65 and 80℉. Use a well-draining potting mix and water when the top few inches of soil are dry. Fertilize once a month during the growing season and repot it every 2-3 years.
4. How to get rid of velvet leaves?
Generally, the velvet leaf plant has no serious insect or disease problems. It is affected by improper watering, drainage, or lighting.
5. How to water velvet leaf bronze micans vine care?
The velvet leaf plant requires water in moderate amounts and allows the soil to dry out between watering.
Do not overwater the plant may cause root rot, but do not allow the soil to dry out totally. In the fall and winter, keep the soil drier before watering