Philodendron Melinonii is a rare plant suitable for your office and home. It grows beautiful oblong-shaped bright green leaves with reddish undersides veins and petioles.
This evergreen low-maintenance climber needs less attention. This makes it easy for growers to grow it indoors.
Melinonii can grow up to 7 feet tall with 25 to 27 inches long and 15 to 18 inches wide leaves.
Keep in mind that this moderate grower can grow at a faster rate. Only when you keep the light in the grow room above 250 FC.
Melinonii stays short in height when we grow it indoors in plant pots.
Good healthy leaves need plenty of organic nutrients. You can use vermiculite or compost in your potting soil.
Or
Simply use liquid fertilizer supplements to full fill its nutritional needs.
What are the Care Needs of Philodendron Melinonii?
Like every philodendron, it needs light, water, humidity, and fertilizers to grow. All care techniques and precautions are discussed below.
Keep reading to know more about this plant. So, that you can grow it without facing problems.
Light Needs of Philodendron Melinonii
The light needs of Philodendron Melinonii are different from other philos. Most of the philodendrons need filtered light.
But Melinonii can tolerate direct sunlight.
The red color that it develops underside its leaves is a result of direct sunshine. Keep your plant in a place where it can get at least 1 hour of direct sun.
In case you see wilted and yellow leaves. This means your plant is getting too much sunlight. Move it to a less bright place and see the difference in its overall health.
The minimum light requirement is 200 Fc. For better health of your plant keep the light above 250 Fc and below 400 Fc.
Potting Soil
Melinonii needs well-draining and good-aerated potting soil. This is the reason I use Organic soil mix.
It is lightweight and contains high organic matter. If you are a new grower, it will be best for you to buy a bag of aroid soil mix.
If you know about different soil ingredients then mix coco coir 50% + perlite 20% + 10% orchid bark + 20 % Vermiculite or compost.
Do not mix your garden soil in the formula. Because garden soil becomes waterlogged after watering.
Waterlogged potting mix is the cause of root rot. By using the right potting mix you can prevent root fungus and other issues.
Watering Philodendron Melinonii
Don’t make any watering schedule for your plant. Always check the moisture in the soil before watering. This way you can easily prevent overwatering the plant.
To do so poke your finger into the soil and if the top 2 inches are dried out. Immediately water your plant with clean filtered water.
Because filtered water does not contain chlorine and other unwanted substances. Roots can easily absorb it from the soil and transport it to all parts of the plant.
The next thing that can help you to prevent root rot is drainage pots. Choose plant pots with holes in their bottom plate.
These holes allow extra water to drain out of the pot and hence prevent root rot.
Temperature
Keep the temperature between 55 to 85 degrees F. If you want your Philodendron Melinonii to grow freely without any temperature stress.
Don’t let the temperature drop below 50 degrees F. Because in cold temperatures melinonii stops growing its leaves and stems.
To avoid temperature stress, do not place your plant in front of heat vents or ac vents.
Remember that hot and cold temperature fluctuations result in temperature stress.
Humidity
General home humidity is sufficient to grow this philodendron and Philodendron Moonlight (similar plant). For better safety, you should use a hygrometer to measure humidity.
The ideal humidity range for this particular plant is 45% to 60 %.
Air moisture directly affects the health of philodendron leaves. Leaves absorb some amount of moisture from the air at the time of photosynthesis.
This is their natural behavior.
Lack of sufficient moisture results in brown leaves.
In case you find the humidity is on the lower side. Move your plant to high humid place or use a plant humidifier to deal with low humidity.
Fertilizing Philodendron Melinonii
For the best leaves and good overall health of your plant. You must fertilize it in the spring and summer seasons.
This is the growing time of this plant. Supplying nutrients in this time frame results in healthy shining long leaves.
Nitrogen is the main element that it needs to grow its green parts. I am using a balanced fertilizer. Because the balanced ratio of NPK helps it to easily develop a reddish hue.
To prevent fertilizer burn you must stop feeding your plant in the cold season. Also, use a limited amount of nutrient solution.
Read the instruction before diluting the nutrient solution.
Repotting Philodendron Melinonii
The general repotting rule applies to this philodendron. Repot it once a year to put new life in your plant.
Because after some time the potting soil loses all its nutrients – it becomes infertile.
Such soil becomes useless and adding fertilizer to it does not make any difference in nutritional profile.
Change the soil and replant your plant, place it back in its place.
Gently lose the soil and unpot your plant. Cut the damaged roots if any and plant them in a new pot. Use fresh soil.
After repotting add some water to add moisture. Place it back in indirect bright light and follow the regular care.
Pruning
Keep your plant active and healthy by trimming its yellow and dead leaves. Do not prune your plant in the winter season.
Spring and summer are the best seasons for trimming plants.
This technique helps growers to keep their plants in controlled size and shape.
At the time of pruning make sure you only cut the damaged parts. It will be best to sterilize your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol before use.
After pruning sprays neem oil to heal the cuts.
Toxicity
Philodendron Melinonii is moderately toxic to humans and pets. Its sap contains crystals of calcium oxalate.
This substance is toxic and ingestion of melinonii leaves and stems results in toxicity.
Immediately seek medical help.
Philodendron Melinonii Propagation
Stem-cutting propagation is the best method for this plant. In this technique, we use stem cutting to propagate plants.
Step-by-Step process:
- Cut a healthy 4 to 5 inches long stem.
- Remove the bottom leaves and apply rooting hormone at the cut.
- Take a small pot, add potting soil to it and plant stem cutting in the pot.
- Mist some water on the soil mix to add moisture.
- Place stem cutting in warm and indirect bright light.
- Give regular care and within a few days, the stem cutting will develop new roots.
- Once you see new leaves transfer the cutting to a new pot and regular potting soil.
Troubleshooting P. Melinonii
Black Spots on Leaves
If you see black spots on your plant leaves. This means your plant leaves are infected by the bacterial leaf spot.
It is a disease that can kill your plant. If you do not take proper steps on time.
The main cause of this disease is warm weather and unhygienic surroundings and dusty plant. Immediately remove the infected leaves.
Spray copper fungicide on the infected plant. It will heal in a few days.
Yellow Leaves
Yellow turning leaves and wet soil means there is a major problem underneath the soil. In this condition, unpot your plant and cut the infected roots.
Apply cinnamon powder on treated roots and place your philodendron in the new pot and fresh soil.
Add some water to add moisture. Place the treated plant in bright light and follow regular care.
Overuse of water is the main cause of this problem. Learn the soil check watering technique and prevent root rot.
Losing Leaves
It is normal to see some leaf loss over the time period. Because the older leaves naturally turn yellow and fall off the plant.
In case the young leaves are falling off the plant. This means your plant is under stress. It can be temperature stress or light stress.
Sometimes plants go under stress when we sift them to new places. Use a light meter to check the light condition.
If everything is fine then your plant will become back on track in a few days.
Dry Brown Leaves and Dry Leaf Tips
Both cases are linked to soil moisture. When the soil goes out of moisture the plant uses stored water for daily functions.
After some time leaves also go out of moisture and this turns them brown and crispy.
The early warning signs of dehydration are brown leaf tips with a crack on the top soil surface. Check the soil moisture and water your plant immediately.
Pest Infestations
Small tiny insects on Melinonii leaves mean your plant life is in danger. It is under a pest attack and you need to act fast to save its life.
Use rubbing alcohol and wipe each leaf- If the pests are present in small numbers.
In case they are present in colonies. Use the pest-killing spray and rinse your plant. Then allow it to drain extra water and keep it separate until you see new healthy growth.
To prevent pests, keep your plant and its surroundings neat and clean.
Conclusion
Philodendron Melinonii is a perfect plant for beginners. You can grow it in any part of your home as long as the light conditions are excellent.
Learn the right watering technique to prevent root rot and other water-related problems. Fertilize with liquid organic or synthetic fertilizer.
Pruning is a must to keep it disease-free and healthy.
