Philodendron majesty also called philodendron black majesty is a rare variety of philodendron plants. It is a hybrid version created by American botanists.
A world-famous plant lover Neil craft named it philodendron majesty by seeing its characteristics.
It needs indirect bright light, medium moist soil, and occasional nutrient boost to grow healthy and produce large size leaves.
It is hard to find this plant in garden stores. But there are many online sites where you can order it for under $ 75.
Below is my experience with black majesty philodendron care and maintenance. I will also talk about its common problems, their solutions, and preventions.
What is Philodendron Majesty Plant?
Majesty is a combination of two philodendron genes. Philodendron Verrucosum and Philodendron Sodiroi.
This climber plant is a fast grower and needs some support to grow vertically.
Under general growing conditions, it grows dark black velvety thick leaves. The leaf size depends on light exposure and fertilizing.
Generally, it grows 10 to 15 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide leaves.
In the initial stage, it grows dark green shining leaves.
Then they turn purple color and as the plant reaches maturity the purple leaves turn metallic black.
Like other philodendrons, it also produces flowers but only when grown in its natural habitat (tropical rainforests).
So do not expect your back majesty to bloom indoors. I tried almost every method to encourage blooming but, in the end, nothing works.
I am happy with its rare and extraordinary leaves.
Use a moss pole to support it. It grows air roots for climbing the pole.
How to Grow, Care and Propagate Majesty Philodendron
Light Needs
The philodendron majesty needs bright but indirect light as it gets in the forests.
The question is how you can measure the intensity of coming light. It needs 300 to 450 Foot candles of light.
I use a light meter to measure the amount of light received by my plants. You can use the same light meter to measure the amount of receiving light for all your plants.
This means it is a one-time investment.
If your black majesty is enjoying a sunny window. Then keep eye on its leaves. Because if it is getting too much sunlight.
It will signal the situation by turning its leaves from dark black or green to yellow. Immediately move it to another location and save your plant from dying.
In low light, it grows small size leaves (7 to 8 inches long). Moreover, half of its leaves remain dark green and half-metallic black.
In this condition move it to a bright place. Your plant will turn all its green leaves into back leaves in a few days.
Potting Soil for Philodendron Majesty
Soil is an important part of Philodendron Majesty care. It needs organic rich soil that drains extra water in a few minutes.
Also, hold enough moisture for a long time.
Ready to use soil option is Fox Farms potting soil. It has all the essential ingredients that a plant needs to grow.
Moreover, it has well-draining and moisture-absorbing ingredients also.
The home-made formula is:
- 40% coco coir
- 20% perlite
- 40% general potting soil
Or
- 50% coco fiber
- 50% potting soil
Watering Philodendron Dark Majesty
Water Majesty Philodendrons once in 7 days. Actually, there is no watering rule for plants. You need to check the signs of thirst like Droopy leaves, dry soil, etc.
To water your philodendron, use clean and filtered water only. This way you can save your plant from root rot and other fungal diseases.
It needs more watering sessions in spring and summer.
These are the growing seasons and plants make lots of food to grow new leaves and stems. They need lots of water and light energy to make their food.
In the winter season check your plant soil once in 15 days. Due to slow respiration plants use less amount of water.
They also don’t need fertilizers because they are not making new growth in cold weather.
Temperature
60 to 85 Degrees F is the ideal temperature range for this plant. You can easily maintain the temperature in the summer season.
The problem starts in the winter season when the normal temperature stays below 0 degrees C.
Move your plant from the doors and large windows. This will protect them from cold winds.
In low temperatures, the moisture stored in its leaves starts freezing. The crystals of water damage the leaf tissues and you see dark spots on beautiful leaves.
Move your plant to a warm location but not near the heat vents.
If possible, buy a heat mat and place it under the plant pot. But if there is a budget issue then use any warm cloth or thick mat instead of a heating mat.
On summer days make sure your plant cannot come in contact with hot air. Hot air increases the use of water in plant stems and leaves.
The plant goes into heat stress and to keep its temperature cool, it starts using more water, and this shift its energy from growing mode to surviving mode.
Humidity
Keep it above 50% at any cost if you want your philodendron to have glossy leaves throughout the year.
In low humidity, it will lose the dark silvery color. Its leaves turn into brown and crispy leaves with burned edges.
Signs of low humidity:
- Brown leaf tips
- Small size leaves
- Dry soil
- Hard stems
It has the same humidity needs as the Philodendron dark lord.
How to improve humidity:
To improve your home humidity, the most effective way is to use a humidifier. But if you just want to increase humidity for your plants only.
Then use a pebble tray filled with small pebbles and water. Then place your plant pot over it. The evaporating water increases the humidity around the plant.
If you have some expensive plants growing with majesty. Then spend some money and buy a plant humidifier.
This single device can save your costly and beautiful plants on low-humid days.
I don’t think that misting water on majesty philodendron leaves will make any difference. It will only increase the chances of bacterial infection.
Fertilizing Majesty Philodendron
Moderate fertilization is best for Philodendron Majesty care. No need to buy any fancy fertilizer that most of the guides recommend.
I am using general-purpose liquid houseplant fertilizer. And it is best for my dark majesty philodendron.
NPK are the 3 essential ingredients that it needs to grow. There is a requirement for magnesium but it is very limited.
My Miracle-Gro all houseplant food has calcium and magnesium in appropriate quantities.
Do not waste your money on buying so-called special high-grade fertilizers. Buy any liquid fertilizer that you can easily afford and use for a long time.
If you are using good organic substances in your potting soil. Then spend less money on fertilizers.
Because the soil already has many nutrients and doesn’t do it over.
Pruning
Pruning is not required as long as you see some damaged leaves on your plant. Philodendron Dark majesty leaves are hard and strong.
They can handle a little bit of dryness and harsh conditions. So, you will hardly see damaged leaves.
The old leaves turn yellow and brown due to the age factor. Just remove them from your plant. To trim old parts, use a sterilized knife.
General maintenance is highly recommended. Therefore, once a week take a damp cloth and wipe its leaves.
Also, lift the pot to clean the floor and saucer tray.
Do not prune your plant in the winter season. Trim it right before the winter season starts. Winter pruning is damaging and it is hard for plants to heal due to cold.
Repotting
Repot it in at the end of the winter season. Before repotting identify whether it is ready for repotting or not.
If you see your plant outgrows this indicates repotting time.
- First, buy a 2-inch large pot than the current one and some fresh potting soil. Gently take your philodendron out of its old pot.
- Remove the old soil and plant it in the new pot by using the new soil.
- Give some water and place it back in its final place. You are done with repotting your majesty dark philodendron.
- To play smart you must inspect its roots at the time of repotting. You are allowed to cut the damaged roots.
- Do not try to untangle them this is their natural growth pattern.
Toxicity
Now, this is the sad part when we see our philodendron dark majesty is toxic to our pets and kids.
But if you keep it away from your kids and pets. It will not harm them, actually, the sap of this plant is toxic.
Only ingestion results in toxicity.
Call the doctor if you are sure that your kids ingest its parts. Take your pet to the vet.
Propagating Philodendron Majesty
Propagation sounds difficult if you never did it in your life. Today I will make it simple for you. Just follow the below steps exactly as listed.
Stem Cutting Propagation Process:
- Take a damp cloth and clean your plant.
- Now take sharp shears and cut the 2 to 3 stems each 6-inch-long.
- Make a cut 1 inch below the leaf node, we need nodes for propagation.
- Dip the cutting in the rooting hormone.
- Take a glass of clean water and dip stem cutting in it.
- Make sure the leaves stay above the water and that at least one node is always submerged.
- Place it in a warm place and away from direct sunlight.
- Change the water regularly, once in 3 days.
- Transfer the stem to potting soil when the new roots grow at least 1 inch long.
Troubleshooting
Pest Infestations
Mealybugs, Thrips, and aphids are common enemies of majesty philodendron. They drink all the glucose and make tiny holes in the plant leaves.
They lay their eggs in the leaf tissues and damage the cell walls of leaves. This way these pests damage the internal structure of leaves.
Once their larvae become 7 days old, they start eating the soft foliage tissues. Hence your plant becomes close to dying.
To fix this problem use insecticidal soap and rinse your plant. Use normal tap water at room temperature.
After finishing the treatment use neem oil spray for future protection.
For prevention, you should also keep the plant dust free and keep the surroundings clean.
Bacterial Leaf Spot
This is a disease that is a result of wet leaves and warm weather. Brown spots, yellow spots, and rusty spots all come under this disease.
To treat bacterial leaf spots on philodendrons, use a copper-based fungicide.
To prevent it, always water the plant soil. Makes sure while watering the leaves remain dry and dust-free.
Root Rot
Overwatering is the main cause of this root rot disease. You must use well-draining soil and plant pots with drainage holes for protection.
But in case your plant is infected with root rot. Then simply repot it in the new pot and use new fresh potting soil.
Before repotting you must cut the infected parts of the roots. Do not try to untangle them just use a sharp knife or shears and cut damaged parts.
At a single time, you can cut 50% of the root ball.
If more than 50% of the roots are damaged then you cannot save your plant. Propagation is the only way to grow healthy majesty plants.
Brown and Burned Leaves
Burned leaves indicate too much exposure to bright light and over-fertilization. If the leaves are burned and soil is also dry then too bright light is the cause.
But if leaves are burned and the soil has a good amount of moisture. Then in this case over use of fertilizers is the cause.
Sometimes using highly concerted nutrient supplements can also burn the leaves and roots.
Move your plant to a less bright place or dilute the fertilizer properly as per the instructions before use.
Note: Flush the soil with clean water if overuse of nutrients is the cause behind burned leaves. This will help the plant to heal itself in 15 to 20 days.
Conclusion
It is a very beautiful foliage plant and needs less care and maintenance. Black silvery leaves need general houseplant fertilizer and moderate bright light.
Over-exposure to light is damaging and also limits the use of fertilizers.
Keep the room temperature below 75 degrees F for best growth and shining leaves. Use neem oil for pest prevention.
