Velvet Leaf Philodendron Care

As the Sweetheart Plant is a water-loving species, it's recommended to keep the ground consistently moist. Give your greenie a drink when the top inch (2 cm) of soil feels dry to the touch. Make sure not to waterlog the plant, as it can cause root issues. It's also recommended to mist the Philodendron daily or introduce a humidifier close to the plant to make the growing conditions as close to the natural habitat as possible.

As a trailing plant, Philodendron Micans has very low pruning needs. However, it's recommended to practice trimming to keep the plant in good health and maintain its shape. Trim the vines that have become leggy with sterile sharp scissors. Also, it's important to remove any yellowing or damaged foliage. Remember to cut under the node.

Nourish Velvet Leaf Philodendron with well-balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer once a month during the spring-summer growing season. Dilute fertilizer for foliage plants to the half-recommended dose and feed the greenie. Alternatively, use a slow-release fertilizer in spring, and avoid feeding the plant in fall and winter.

This greenie thrives under the combination of sun and shade. It's recommended to expose it to 3-4 hours of direct sunlight in the morning and protect the plant with shade during the hottest hours of the day. An east-facing window would be the best for this greenie.

Well-draining, nutrient-rich soil would be the most beneficial for this plant. Choose a mildly acidic potting mix with a 5-6.5 pH level. It's also recommended to mix in some sand or perlite to improve drainage.

Stem cutting is the quickest and most popular way of propagating the Velvet Leaf Philodendron. Prune a healthy 6-8 in (15-20 cm) long stem under the node. Dip it in the rooting hormone powder and place the cutting in a well-draining potting mix. Keep the stem under indirect light and moisten the ground regularly until the cutting enroots.

A mild to warm temperature of 65-85°F (18-29°C) would be the most comfortable for this plant.

Growing Velvet Leaf Philodendron in a pot, it's recommended to choose a 2-3 times bigger container than the plant's roots ball to allow some room for growth. Choose a pot with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging issues. As the plant is a water-loving species, it's recommended to opt for a pot made of plastic or glazed ceramic not to let the moisture evaporate too quickly.

Being a tropical plant, Hederaceum Micans is cherished for its air-purifying properties. It does really well at filtering out pollutants such as formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene.