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Hailing from Ecuador , the perennialPhilodendron mamei(fil - oh - DEN - dron mah - MAY - eye ) was first discovered in 1883 and has since become one of themost pop Philodendron species .
The works has throw style to several cultivars , and , as is often the case with member of the Araceae family , it ’s often confused with its cultivars .
The most infamous of these mixups isPhilodendron mamei‘Silver Cloud ’ .
Despite several key differences , most website lay claim the two plants are the same ( and we ’re not talking about genetic science ) .
As a result , most of the common names for this species actually belong to to the cultivars , and it ’s high-risk to purchase one from an online seller if you ca n’t see pictures first .
Mamei Philodendron Care
Size and Growth
While philodendron are best known for their epiphytes , mamei is a tight - growing crawler .
Support is n’t necessary , although it has been know to wax on uncommon occasions if sufficient financial support is cater .
As a creeper , the plant ’s base will commonly only get to around 3 ’ metrical foot in length .
Meanwhile , the leaf are affirm on partially erect , reddish - touch , olive greenish petioles and can grow to between 10″ and 18 ” inches long with proper care .
These leaves are elongate and heart - regulate with a semi - gloss upper control surface .
A cherry-red - brown cataphyll surrounds new leaves , and ripe leaves are a portmanteau of average unripe , obscure green , and speech pattern of near - white-hot or pick .
This is in stark line to ‘ Silver Cloud , which tends to be primarily silver - white .
Flowering and Fragrance
Philodendron mamei produces an olive green spadix that rests on a pick - colored spathe that darkens to dark violet once it passes intimate adulthood .
Of of course , it ’s almost impossible to get this plant to bloom domestically , and it takes more than a decade to get hold of due date in its own aboriginal home ground .
As the flora is grown for its foliage , you are n’t lack out on much if yours never flowers .
Light and Temperature
Bright , indirect sunlight is the name of the proverbial game for this plant life .
Too much lineal sun , especially in the good afternoon , can sear the leaf .
Meanwhile , the flora can survive in the shade but will be stunt and lose its variegation .
Some secure examples of proper kindling for this works include :
Being a indigen of tropical forests , mamei loves a moderate to high humidness level .
50 % to 70 % pct humidity tends to form best , as high levels increase the risk of fungal infections .
However , the higher the humidity , the bigger the leaves will get , so you ’ll need to guarantee it have enough .
you could augment the humidness level using a humidifier , pebble tray , or aggroup it with other plants .
you may acquire mamei alfresco in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11 , although this means less control over such factors as humidity .
idealistic temperature lay out from 65 ° to 80 ° degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 ° to 75 ° degrees Fahrenheit at night .
temperature above 80 ° degrees Fahrenheit can result in stressing the industrial plant .
Try not to break the plant to temperatures below 55 ° degrees Fahrenheit , as this will sternly stunt the plant ’s growth .
Anything below 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit can cause lasting damage or even death .
Watering and Feeding
Use the soak - and - juiceless method on this plant life to ensure it always find the right amount .
Begin by lodge your finger in the soil , and if it ’s dry 2 ” in down ( approximately the second knuckle joint ) , it ’s time to water .
Always apply room temperature rainwater or distilled water for the best results .
Here ’s what you call for to do :
Because it ’s such a sluggish agriculturist , this amount will assist bolster up its emergence rate without becoming toxic to the plant .
Soil and Transplanting
You ’ll want a well - draining potting commixture with a soil pH between 6.1 and 7.4 ( slimly acidulous to neutral ) .
While some sources exact it can also handle acidic soil ( 5.6 to 6.0 ) , it ’s always best to take for somewhere around 6.5 if potential since most plant can handle this floor of acidulousness .
Any standard potting mix with 20 % to 30 % percent perlite will put to work , although African reddish blue mixes tend to be much closer to the stain philodendrons have adapted to .
Alternatively , you could make your own land - free mix by combine :
Due to it being a firm grower , it ’s good to repot this plant annually , as the solution are susceptible to being pot - bond and lean to grow faster than the respite of the plant .
practice this sentence to replace your potting mass medium , which absent any toxic buildup and provide more alimentation for your industrial plant .
Grooming and Maintenance
Very little pruning is necessary outside of take discredited or diseased leaves and occasionally polish off leggy stems .
As the leaves are more than 6 ” inches long , they will benefit from being wipe down at least once per workweek to dispatch any dust accumulation .
How To Propagate Mamei Philodendron?
As with other Philos , it ’s difficult to get this plant to blossom , leading botanists to propagate the plant through tissue civilisation far more often than by cum .
However , you may easily create more at home through :
MameiPhilodendron Pests Or Diseases
Mamei has the same general resistance to pests and disease as other Philos , although too much humidity can lead to fungous infections , Erwinia blight , and source rot .
Likewise , they can become infested if the flora is exposed to :
Please remember that philodendron contain high level of calcium oxalate , considered an irritant in many cases and mildly toxic to mankind and pets .
Philodendron MameiUses
As a tree creeper , this works works best in hanging basket .
out of doors , it works well in perimeter and mix with low - lying groundcovers .
It ’s also considered a fair air industrial plant , intend it hit harmful toxin from the air .
