okay so philodendron micans isnt gonna survive total neglect but compared to most trailing plants its pretty forgiving. the leaves are what hooked me first time i saw one – deep velvety burgundy-green that shimmers when light hits it right and the undersides are straight up purple-pink.
theyre actually soft and velvety, not waxy or smooth like most philodendrons. its almost like touching suede or velvet fabric which sounds weird for a plant but its true.
technically this plant got renamed to philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum which is a mouthful so everyone still just calls it micans or velvet leaf philodendron. its related to the basic heartleaf philodendron you see everywhere but way more interesting looking.
in the wild these grow in mexico central america and the caribbean where they climb up trees using aerial roots. theyre epiphytes which means they dont need much soil to be happy they just kinda attach themselves to whatever and go.
light requirements (easier than you think)
heres where people overthink things. micans wants bright indirect light which translates to an east or north window. if you only have west or south facing windows just set it back a few feet from the glass or hang a sheer curtain.
direct sun will burn the leaves and turn them crispy but this plant is pretty forgiving about lower light too, itll just grow slower. i had one in a bathroom with one small north window for like six months and it was fine just leggy.
if you take it outside in summer keep it under a porch or tree where its getting bright shade. full outdoor sun will absolutely fry it.
temperature and humidity
ideal range is 65-75°F which is just normal room temperature so your probably already good. just keep it away from cold drafts by windows or AC vents, and dont put it right next to heating vents either.
when summer gets really hot its actually better to keep it indoors cause it can wilt in extreme heat. and below 60°F it basically stops growing and gets unhappy.
humidity is where it gets slightly more demanding – it wants 40-60% which is higher than most houses. but before you panic, theres easy fixes. you can set it on a pebble tray with water (just make sure the pot isnt sitting in the water) or group it with other plants to create a little humidity zone.
honestly though ive seen these survive in regular household humidity just fine, they just grow slower and the leaves might not be quite as lush.
watering schedule (stop overthinking it)
forget setting a watering schedule cause it changes with seasons and your homes conditions. the finger test is your friend here – stick your finger 2-3 inches into the soil and if it comes out dry its time to water, if its still moist wait.
micans likes soil thats partially moist not soaking wet and not bone dry. when the soil dries out too much the leaves get droopy and soft which is actually helpful cause the plant literally tells you when it needs water.
when you do water run it through thoroughly until water drains out the bottom then let it drain completely. never let it sit in standing water or youll get root rot.
soil and pot requirements
you need light well draining soil that lets water move through fast and provides air pockets for the roots. regular potting mix works okay but its better to amend it with stuff like coco coir, orchid bark, peat moss and perlite.
the pot needs drainage holes this is non negotiable. i dont care how pretty that ceramic pot without holes is, your plant will die in it eventually.
fertilizer (less is more)
if your soil has good organic matter you barely need to fertilize. but if you want faster growth use a balanced all purpose fertilizer once a month during spring and summer.
you can use liquid fertilizer mixed with water or just top dress with a little granular fertilizer or worm castings in spring. dont overdo it though cause too much fertilizer burns the roots.
one cool trick – since these climb using aerial roots you can use foliar spray fertilizer to encourage more aerial root growth if your training it up a moss pole.
pruning and training
these grow fast under good conditions, like 10 feet or more indoors which sounds insane but ive seen it. you can prune it back anytime by cutting stems between the nodes (where leaf meets stem).
you can let it trail from a hanging basket or train it up a moss pole or trellis. personally i think they look best climbing cause the leaves get bigger when the plant is vertical, but trailing works too if thats your vibe.
how to propagate micans (literally so easy)
after pruning you have free plants just sitting there so why not propagate. both water and soil propagation work great.
water method: cut stems with 4-5 leaves, remove leaves below the waterline but keep aerial roots attached. stick in a jar of fresh water in a warm bright spot, change water every few days. youll see new roots in about 2 weeks.
soil method: cut stems about 1/4 inch below the bottom node, remove leaves on bottom 2-3 nodes. stick directly into moist loose soil, keep it moist and youll have roots in 3-4 weeks.
pro tip – let your cuttings sit out for a day or two before propagating so the cut end forms a callus. this prevents rot but honestly ive skipped this step plenty of times and its been fine.
common problems and pests
pests: aphids spider mites mealybugs and scale can show up but theyre not super common on these. neem oil or insecticidal soap handles the soft bodied bugs.
scale is annoying cause its hard bodied so you need to knock them off with water spray then wipe down the plant with rubbing alcohol to get the rest.
root rot: this is the main thing that kills philodendrons and its from overwatering. if your plant starts looking sad and the soil smells funky you probably have root rot.
take it out of the pot shake off the soil and look at the roots. healthy roots are firm and white, rotten ones are black mushy and smell terrible. cut off any rotten parts with clean scissors treat remaining roots with neem oil or weak hydrogen peroxide solution, then repot in fresh soil.
going forward only water when soil is dry 2-3 inches down and make sure your pot drains well.
toxicity warning
all philodendrons are toxic to people and pets cause they contain calcium oxalate crystals. if ingested it causes swelling and burning in the mouth throat and tongue which sounds awful.
keep this plant away from kids and pets by putting it on a high shelf or in a hanging basket they cant reach.
why micans is better than other trailing plants
compared to pothos (which everyone has) micans is just more interesting to look at with those velvety burgundy leaves. compared to string of hearts or pearls its way more forgiving about watering and light.
the growth rate is fast enough that you see progress but not so fast that your constantly pruning. and propagation is so easy you can share it with friends or just fill your house with more of them.
honestly if your looking for a trailing plant that looks expensive but acts like a weed this is it.
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.