Philodendron Micans problems & how to fix them
Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum
Drooping, yellowing, brown tips, or a plant that just won’t thrive? Here are the most common Philodendron Micans problems, what usually causes them, and how to turn things around.
Common problems
Overwatering
Soft yellow leaves and rot follow a soil that never dries; err on the dry side. The soil is staying wet longer than the plant can handle, starving roots of oxygen. If caught before roots start rotting, the fix is simple - let the soil dry out and adjust the routine - and most plants bounce back within 2-3 weeks.
a yellowing lower leaf on a potted Chinese evergreen
Photo: Saurav9656 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Crispy tips (low humidity)
Velvety leaves crisp at the edges in very dry air or after hard underwatering. Brown, dry leaf tips caused by air that is too dry for the plant, common in heated or air-conditioned rooms. Existing crispy tips never turn green again, but with higher humidity new growth should come in clean within a few weeks.
Sunburn
Even an hour of hot direct sun can bleach patches on the velvet surface. Leaf tissue scorched by more direct sun than the plant was acclimated to, often after moving it to a brighter spot or outdoors. Burned patches are permanent, but the plant itself usually recovers fully once moved - new growth comes in healthy.
a sunburnt rubber plant leaf, bleached and browned where the sun hit
Photo: Secretlondon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Spider mites
Mites love the textured undersides in dry winter rooms. Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in warm, dry air and leave fine webbing and speckled leaves. Caught early they are very treatable; most plants recover fully within 3-4 weeks of consistent treatment.
a two-spotted spider mite among its silk threads
Photo: Gilles San Martin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The mistakes that most often kill it
- Overwatering a pot that gets little light.
- Placing it in direct afternoon sun.
- Sustained cold drafts that blacken the velvet leaves.
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