How to Grow & Care for Philodendron Melanochrysum ‘Melano’ (2023)
Hey folks! Welcome back!
I hope your garden is prospering and touching the sky with your efforts. Philodendron Melanochrysum is a tropical type of plant that is also known as black-gold philodendron and is considered one of the best philodendron species. While planting the Philodendron Melanochrysum I found them the most effective climbing plants and they are also known as the best conservatory climbing plants.
They are loved to grow in houses due to their lovely foliage and leaves Philodendron Melanochrysum has a crystalline sheen that looks like gold flecks. So to get good results you need to know how to grow and care for Philodendron Melanochrysum.
Key takeaways:
The following are some basic requirements that you need to provide:
- They do require bright, indirect light, or filtered light.
- You need to keep the potting mix moist.
- For holding some moisture you need to use a well-drained potting mix.
- the following image will explain to you in short what the plant need and to know more about it you need to read the article.
| Scientific Name | Philodendron melanochrysum |
| Common Name | Black Gold Philodendron, Melanochrysum Plant, Melano Philodendron |
| Light | Partial to moderate sunlight |
| Watering | Water if the top 2-3 inches of the soil is already dry to the touch |
| Temperature | 70 to 80°F (21-27°C) |
| Hardiness Zone | USDA Hardiness zones 9a to 11b |
| Humidity | >60% |
| Soil Type | Well-draining, high in OM |
| Soil pH | 5.5 to 6.0 (acidic) |
| Fertilizing | A balanced feed during the growing season |
| Repotting | When the plant becomes root bound |
| Pruning | Beginning of the growing season |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and pets |
| Mature Size | Can grow up to about 18 feet in height |
| Bloom Time | Rare; Early summer |
What’s Unique About Philodendron Melanochrysum?
This variety of philodendrons will grow amazingly in a home garden. This plant becomes unique as it produces an amazing set of dark green colored foliage in the plant that will have some specs of golden color that will look stunning.
Also, it is native to Columbia but is widespread in various regions where it is distributed like Peru, Costa Rica, etc. The meaning of this plant signifies the meaning of black gold.
So are you ready to grow this unique plant in your home garden that is famous for its pattern and attractiveness? It will be added as a great addition to your houseplants as it will add texture and vibrancy to your area.
How to Grow Philodendron Melanochrysum From Seeds?
Do you know how to grow Philodendron Melanochrysum with the help of seeds? If yes, then you’re doing great in your gardening field but if not then you should know about it. Below are the steps that you have to follow:
- At first, you have to harvest the seeds from the parent plant that looks small and brown colored.
- Then you have to fill a seed dish by putting a potting mix to it that will drain quickly.
- You have to spread the seeds properly and keep them apart from each other.
- Gently damp the seeds on the surface of the soil.
- Then you have to cover the seeds with the help of dirt but do not do it too deep as it will harm the seeds.
- Keep in mind to maintain a good level of moisture in the soil so that it does not become waterlogged.
- To increase the level of humidity in the plant, you can cover that tray with the help of a plastic sheet.
- Then you have to choose a location where the tray will receive a good amount of indirect sunlight for its growth.
- Then you have to wait for a few days till the process of germination begins.
When you observe, that the seedlings are grown a few inches long, then you can transfer them to a new location by fulfilling their basic requirements.
How to Care for Philodendron Melanochrysum ‘Melano’?
For caring for the Philodendron Melanochrysum plant, you need to use rich and draining soil that is high in organic matter. Also, there are many other things you need to take care of such as:
- Light
- Watering
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Soil
- Fertilizer
- Potting & Repotting
- Pruning
- Propagation
Light:
For indoor planting, you need to plant the plant some feet away from the window so that it gets the perfect amount of light. But if you are growing the plant outdoors then you need to show them some afternoon shade.
The full sun exposure to the Philodendron melanochrysum will hurt the foliage of the plant and that may also lead to unpleasant discoloration.
Watering:
To find if the plant needs water or not you need to check first the soil using your index finger and if you find that the above 2 to 3 inches of the soil are dry then you need to water the plant.
The watering requirements also depend on the amount of sunlight the plant is getting and in summer due to increasing heat you need to increase the watering and during winter you can decrease the watering.
Note:
If you want to prevent plant by root rot you need to use a pot that is good for drainage and use a preferred potting mix.
Temperature:
For planting Philodendron melanochrysum you need to plant them in a temperature that ranges between 70 to 80°F (21-27°C). So I would prefer you not to plant them below 60°F as it can damage the foliage formation and the growth of Philodendron melanochrysum.
The hardiness zone preferred for the plant is from 9a to 11b. You need to protect them from cold drafts if grown indoors because they will harm the plant causing injuries.
Humidity:
The humidity requirements for the Philodendron melanochrysum are high such as the humidity level should be above 60%.
But you need to make sure to not provide the plant with much higher humidity that tends to increase the incidence of pests and diseases.
Note:
You can easily get to an appropriate humidity level but setting the pebble tray that is more efficient and practical and then placing the plant on the tray that is filled with the pebbles and water.Soil:
The soil required for the Philodendron melanochrysum consists of an airy mix of fresh garden soil, peat moss or sphagnum moss, perlite, and charcoal. Soil mixing is added to improve the texture and drainage of the soil.
To avoid the conditions of overwatering you need to use a well-draining soil mix. A good type of solution will help to prevent damage to the root system. You can also check the pH level of the soil and the preferred oh level for the Philodendron Melanochrysum plant is between 5.5 to 6.0.
Fertilizer:
The fertilizer needed by the Philodendron melanochrysum is mainly in the first growth stage or during the active growth period. But you need to use a balanced fertilizer ratio such as 20-20-20.
Do remember not to use any cheap fertilizer that will cause toxic accumulation of minerals like iron and aluminum. Using natural amendments like biochar and vermicasts will also help in boosting the plant’s growth.
Potting & Repotting
In case of any signs of rootbound like any root coming out of the base of the plant then it’s high time for repotting. In a year the growth rate and growing environment depend on repotting Philodendron Melanochrysum.
Note:
You should do the repotting in spring or summer so that the plant adapts to the new environment. A few steps you need to follow for repotting are:
- Firstly you need to prepare a potting mix.
- Need a container that should be twice the size of the container in which the plant is placed.
- Now fill the container with half the soil then slowly place the root ball of the plant in the center of the pot.
- At the end fill the remaining space with soil and water it.
Pruning:
You need to trim off the spent foliage and decaying plants of plants. You need to use sterile pruning shears or knives for cutting Philodendron Melanochrysum and to cut the plant check which stems are about 25% that are starting from the older leaver and stem and cut them.
By pruning the plant you help the plant to cut the infected parts and help them not to spread all over the plant.
Propagation:
Through Stem cuttings
- You can easily propagate the Philodendron melanochrysum using stem cutting.
- For that, you need to first choose a healthy stem with at least having 2 to 3 small leaves and a leaf node on it.
- The next is to cut the stem from the mother plant with the use of sterile scissors or a grafting knife and in case you want to propagate the plant in water to have to first remove some leaves from the bottom of the cutting.
Through division
Another way to propagate Philodendron Melanochrysum is the division method. It becomes easier to multiply your coneflowers using this method.
So, let’s throw some light on the steps to know how to propagate Philodendron Melanochrysum through the division method:
- You have to dig around the base of the mother plant to lose the root system.
- It should be deep so that the spade reaches there and then takes off the root ball from that hole.
- Then make use of a sterilized and clean large knife to cut the root ball in two halves including sprouts in both areas.
- Now, you have to transplant the plant in the garden in the new location and plant it like earlier.
- At the beginning of growing, feed them with good care as water is needed by them to grow well.
- Unless and until they get fully established you have to provide them with care.
Conclusion
The common problem you can find in Philodendron melanochrysum is dealing with pests, diseases, curling, drooping, and discoloration of the leaves. And you need to protect them by using the above-mentioned ways.
The last thing to have to explain is that for proper growth and care for Philodendron Melanochrysum, you need to provide the plant with the proper amount of water, voiding overfertilization, and plant in the right temperature and humidity. So, read the whole guide to understand it properly.
Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening!
