Philodendron species have managed to gain traction in the world of home gardening, and today there is hardly a home that has not grown a philodendron as a houseplant.
And it is that there are more than 700 species described, although only a few reach the podium of home gardening. One of them is known as black gold philodendronscientific name Philodendronmelanochrysum.
Due to its appearance, it differs greatly from the rest of the philodendrons, which is why it is considered a “rarity” that many people want to achieve.
In this article, we tell you a bit about skin care. Philodendron melanochrysum as a houseplant.
Contents
Characteristics of black gold philodendron (Philodendron melanochrysum)
Philodendron melanochrysum is a species of the genus Philodendron tropical zones in the south of the American continent.
We are talking about regions high ambient humiditylightly shaded spaces (dappled light), very fertile soils and ease of finding quality water in the soil.
And since they come from jungle areas, over thousands of years they have adapted to grow with taller plants and trees, using them as supporting structuree to climb on it.
taxonomy
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Araceae |
| Genre | Philodendron |
| Species | Philodendron melanochrysum |
growth rate of Philodendron melanochrysum
How fast does Philodendron melanochrysum grow?
The general development of most philodendrons is moderate, especially when they find ideal conditions of ambient humidity above 85% and warm temperatures throughout their growth phase, reaching grow 30 cm each year.
Outdoors, it is a plant that develops giant leaves and several meters high. With us, it is extremely rare for it to reach these growing conditions.
Photos: Jessica.B (first image) and cherryred.horticulture (2nd image). care guide for Philodendron melanochrysum
abstract
A main summary of the main living conditions of our Black Gold Philodendron is as follows:
| type of plant | Perennial |
| Cut | 30-50cm tall |
| Temperature | 15-25 ºC with high humidity |
| exposure to light | Partial and medium light without direct sunlight |
| Substrate type | Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic |
| Irrigation | Frequent |
| Spread | Chopped off |
Location (light, temperature and humidity)
Flash
Philodendron melanochrysum it is genetically accustomed to growing in areas of shady light, protected by the leaves and branches of taller trees.
Grown at home, we will choose a medium area, with normal or dim lighting due to the use of curtains, and no sun exposure.
is preferable choose more humid environmentsit therefore tends to move away from windows in spring and summer and move closer to them in autumn and winter.
Temperature
At the national level, our Philodendron melanochrysum find something ideal temperature conditions. Although it requires slightly higher humidity than the home environment (indoors at least), regular spraying or use of humidifiers it also contributes to its optimal development, even if it is not essential.
Substrate selection and preparation
We are talking about a plant that thrives in very fertile environments, with a high presence of humidity and decaying organic matter in the soil.
Therefore, we will look for solutions based on earthworm humus, plant compost and universal substrate, which have a high content of organic components and a good nutrient load.
At the pH level, it prefers slightly acidic substratestherefore the mixture of equal parts of organic matter (compost, earthworm humus, etc.) with the normal and common substrate, is an optimal composition for Philodendron melanochrysum.
how to water Philodendron melanochrysum
Watering is an important part of proper care for this philodendron. It must maintain optimum humidity in the substrate, but never with excess humidity, the presence of standing water or conditions which, when introduced with the fingertips, leave it completely soaked.
With the latter, the only thing we will achieve is to provide ideal conditions for neck and root fungi, such as the dreaded Phytophthora.
In general, we water during the colder months 1 time every 5-7 daysand in spring and summer, 2 times per week. The amount of water in each irrigation is usually 1/6 of the volume of the pot.
The previous paragraph does not mean that the humidity of the substrate is not checked with our fingers and fingertips, the best tool available to control irrigation. If we notice a slight humidity, we can add a little water. If there is still enough moisture, it is better to do nothing.
What type of fertilizer to use
The philodendron is a great consumer of nutrients. The first months it will take advantage of the resources of the substrate, but gradually it will be exhausted.
For this reason, it is advisable at the beginning of spring, to provide a liquid or solid fertilizer (generally granulated) which will be given every 2 weeks if it is liquid and once a month if it is solid.
No need to go crazy with the composition of the fertilizer. A 2-1-3 NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) ratio is more than enough, and if accompanied by magnesium and micronutrients, ideal.
In Before All This Was Country, we generally recommend this composition, not because we are married to the brand, but because it is a very complete and easy to apply solution.
discounts
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- Contents: 1 x COMPO Novatec universal blue fertilizer, 5 kg
Propagate Black Gold Philodendron
Being able to generate more plants from a philodendron is a very interesting productive advantage, whether to renew or to have more than one plant and even give to friends and family.
In general, philodendrons are not complex to propagate, as it is usually done in a simple way by means of stem cuttings.
To multiply our philodendron Melanochrysum We will perform the following procedure.
- We will use sharp, clean scissors, cut a healthy stem with at least 2 knots along it.
- We will remove the lower leaves and leave the nodes free, keeping only the upper leaves of the stem (1, 2 or 3 leaves, depending on the size).
- We are going to introduce the stem into a water reservoir, looking for the nodes of the buds to be in contact with the water. We will place the container in an area with medium lighting.
- After 7-15 days (earlier if we used rooting products) we will already see a root system formed, at which time we can plant our philodendron in a pot with the substrate mentioned above and previously moistened.
- We water the pot every few days, frequently but with a small volume of water, placing it in an area with indirect light and never in the sun.
Photographs: Christiani.blooms Possible pests and diseases
Indoor plants like Philodendron melanochrysum They are generally pest-free, but not disease-free. In rare cases, it can be attacked by scale insects, mites or aphids, but they are easily removed with a damp cloth or even by spraying potassium soap or dishwashing liquid as an insecticide.
As far as diseases are concerned, if we control the humidity very well so that it is constant but never in excess, we will avoid major problems with crown and root fungi.
Most of them cause soft, brown rots on the stem and form soft, necrotic spots on the edges of the leaves.
How to solve some problems of our Philodendron melanochrysum
yellow-leaved philodendron
Excess water washes away nutrients and prevents oxygenation of the plant, so it loses the ability to form chlorophyll and turns yellow.
We will check the substrate and reduce watering and frequency until the philodendron returns to its original color.
Light or brown leaves
A symptom similar to the previous one, but brown spots are visible on the edges, with a dry and brittle appearance. In this case we are talking about a plant with low ambient humidity or, also related, that receives a lot of direct light.
Locate your Philodendron melanochrysum in a more shaded area and spray with distilled water 1 time every 2-3 days. Without overdoing it, preventing drops from falling to the ground.
Cover image: Vic Seoane