The Philodendron hederaceum ‘Micans Aurea’ is a popular houseplant known for its unique foliage. This cultivar adds natural beauty to indoor spaces with its striking appearance and manageable care requirements, making it a rewarding addition for many growers.
Understanding Micans Aurea
Philodendron hederaceum ‘Micans Aurea’ stands out from the common ‘Micans’ due to its unique leaf coloration. While standard ‘Micans’ has deep green, velvety leaves with a reddish-bronze underside, ‘Micans Aurea’ displays vibrant golden, chartreuse, and lime green hues, often with subtle bronze undertones. Increased light exposure can also bring out shades of pink, orange, and cream in its striking variegation.
‘Micans Aurea’ retains the velvety texture of its heart-shaped leaves. The plant exhibits a vining growth habit, making it suitable for hanging baskets or training to climb supports. This cultivar originates from the tropical rainforests of South America.
Micans Aurea Care Guide
Light
‘Micans Aurea’ thrives in bright, indirect light. An east or north-facing window provides suitable illumination, avoiding direct sun exposure that can scorch delicate variegated leaves, causing discoloration and crispy edges.
Insufficient light leads to leggy growth with elongated stems and smaller leaves, diminishing the vibrancy of its golden and chartreuse variegation. Brighter conditions enhance leaf color, often bringing out golden and pinkish hues. If growth is stunted or leaves lose brightness, move the plant to a brighter spot or use a grow light.
Watering
Water ‘Micans Aurea’ once the top one to two inches of soil have dried. Watering frequency depends on room temperature, humidity, and light.
Yellowing leaves and mushy stems indicate overwatering, potentially leading to root rot. Droopy or crispy leaves with dry soil suggest underwatering. When watering, saturate the soil until water drains from the pot’s bottom, ensuring good drainage.
Soil
‘Micans Aurea’ needs a well-draining, airy potting mix that mimics its natural habitat. The mix should be rich in organic matter and allow for aeration around the roots. Standard potting soil can be used, but amendments improve it.
An ideal blend includes peat moss or coco coir for moisture retention, combined with perlite, orchid bark, or pumice for drainage and aeration. A common mix is one part potting soil, one part orchid bark, one part perlite, and one part peat moss or coco coir. This chunky mix prevents compaction and root rot.
Temperature and Humidity
As a tropical plant, ‘Micans Aurea’ thrives in warm temperatures and high humidity, ideally between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C). Protect it from cold drafts or sudden temperature drops, which can cause stress.
Maintain humidity levels above 50% for robust growth and to preserve the velvety leaf texture. In dry indoor environments, increase humidity by using a humidifier, placing the plant on a pebble tray, or grouping plants to create a microclimate.
Fertilizing
‘Micans Aurea’ benefits from light fertilization during its active growing season (spring and summer). If the potting medium is rich in organic matter, heavy fertilization may not be needed. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to half strength, every two to four weeks.
During fall and winter, reduce or stop fertilization as the plant’s growth slows. Over-fertilization can cause nutrient burn and damage the plant.
Propagating Micans Aurea
Propagating ‘Micans Aurea’ is simple using stem cuttings. Select a healthy stem with at least two to three nodes. Make a cut below a node, ensuring each cutting has at least one node submerged.
Remove any leaves that would be submerged to prevent rotting. Cuttings can be placed in water, where roots form within weeks; change the water every few days. Alternatively, root cuttings directly in a moist, airy substrate like sphagnum moss, perlite, or a well-draining soil mix. Plant cuttings into potting mix once roots are established.
Common Problems and Solutions
‘Micans Aurea’ is a resilient houseplant, but issues can arise from improper environmental conditions or pest infestations. Leaf discoloration, such as yellowing, often indicates overwatering, underwatering, or nutrient deficiencies. Adjusting watering habits to allow the topsoil to dry between waterings can resolve this.
Leggy growth, with long, sparse stems, points to insufficient light. Moving the plant to a brighter location with indirect light encourages compact, bushier growth. Common pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids can affect ‘Micans Aurea’. Regularly inspect the plant and promptly treat infestations with insecticidal soap or neem oil.