If you’re already falling in love with the heart-shaped leaves of the Philodendron Mamei, you may be tempted to purchase one for yourself! In fact, you might also be curious about the many specifics of P. Mamei care.
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Luckily, we’ve researched enough to know what Philodendron Mamei is, its many features, and how to best care for your P. Mamei. We’ll even clue you in on a few places to purchase the plant online, too!
What is Philodendron Mamei?
The Philodendron Mamei is one of the plants in the genus Philodendron. Its home in the wild is in Ecuador, and its history of being grown by humans goes back to 1882, when people from Europe first decided to collect specimens!
The P. Mamei usually grows in high elevations, and unfortunately has become an invasive species for the Cook and Society Islands of Polynesia.
Luckily, though, this plant’s heart-shaped leaves and grand nature make it a beloved type of house plant!
Features of Philodendron Mamei
The features of the P. Mamei including how high it’s growth can go, the nature of it’s foliage, and how it responds to the changes in season are listed below:
- Height – The Philodendron Mamei is a horizontally growing plant but can climb more than three feet at full maturity and in good conditions.
- Flowers and Leaves – The leaves of the Philodendron Mamei are heart-shaped and large with a leather-like texture. They are often almost reflective and bright green with Philodendron Mamei of slightly more silver greens. The flowers of the Philodendron Mamei are sometimes red and white.
- Foliage and Stem – The foliage of the Philodendron Mamei is characterized by horizontal or prostrate stems. The leaves can get as large as 18 inches in diameter.
- Evergreen – Being a tropical variety of plant, the Philodendron Mamei is typically green throughout the year.
Basic Care of Philodendron Mamei
The components of basic care for the Philodendron Mamei are listed below:
- Size and Growth
- Light Requirements
- Water Requirements
- Soil Requirements
- Sunlight Requirements
- Temperature and Humidity
- Drought and Disease Resistance
- Toxicity
- Fertilizing
- Potting and Repotting
- Pruning Requirements
- Size and Growth
As stated above, the P. Mamei can grow up beyond 3 feet in height, but must begin by being planted near a moss pole if you want it to spread upwards instead of it’s natural ground-crawling posture. The plant loves to creep and often does not reach maturity until
1. Light Requirements
The P. Mamei is known to grow along riverbanks in Ecuador in full shade, so although it can survive without direct light, it does still require indirect or shaded sources of light.
2. Water Requirements
The Philodendron Mamei should be watered on a regular basis of about once a week. Make sure not to overwater the P. Mamei, which can occur if you’re adding water on top of soil that is already moist.
3. Soil Requirements
Standard potting soil is usually good enough for the Philodendron Mamei, but coconut husks and peat moss are great ingredients, too. Be sure the soil is capable of hanging on to some moisture, as the P. Mamei enjoys large amounts of water!
4. Sunlight Requirements
Philodendron Mamei does sunburn easily, and does not often require full or direct sunlight. Instead, give the P. Mamei about 75% shade as a ratio for the best growth and least damage to the plant.
Remember, in the wild, these plants thrive by growing along the ground beneath the shade of trees, not in full sunshine!
5. Temperature and Humidity
The Philodendron mamei should be kept in a temperature that is anywhere from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, loving the heat but hating the cold! It will not survive if grown anywhere below 55 degrees. As with most tropical plants, the P. Mamei loves humidity at 60%.
6. Drought and Disease Resistance
The Philodendron Mamei must be watered every week in order to survive, so it cannot be considered very drought-resistant. However, the only disease it can be said to suffer from easily is root rot.
This, again, is due to how much water the P. Mamei can handle; if the soil is left wet for too long, the plant’s roots can rot and the Philodendron Mamei will become mushy and may die.
Another disease that the P. Mamei can get is called the Erwinia blight disease, causing an unpleasant smell.
7. Toxicity
The Philodendron Mamei contains a type of chemical crystal that can cause digestive track issues and throat inflammation, making it difficult to breathe if any part of the plant is swallowed by animals or humans. This means the P. Mamei is highly toxic!
8. Fertilizing
The Philodendron Mamei should be given a slow-release fertilizer every three to six months.
9. Potting and Repotting
The P. Mamei should be repotted every year, especially since the plant grows to move across the ground by nature.
10. Pruning Requirements
The most important time to prune the Philodendron Mamei is when signs of foul-smelling Erwinia blight begin to show up. When this happens, cut away the infected leaves in addition to changing out the soil.
Additionally, cut away any yellowed or drooping leaves for the best growth.
Outro
In conclusion, the P. Mamei is a fantastically crawling, tropical plant beloved for its large heart-shaped leaves. Thanks to its tropical home in Ecuador, the plant enjoys warm temperatures and humidity at 60%, as well as being watered once a week to stay healthy.
If proper care is taken of the P. Mamei, it can grow or crawl at a length of to 3 feet and add a beautiful, lovely shape to any room or garden!
Buying Options
The P. Mamei can be purchased on Amazon and Etsy. The price for the plant varies so to get the cheapest price check both marketplaces. Click on the Links below to check the prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take care of a Philodendron Mamei?
A P. Mamei should be cared for by making sure it gets watered every week, is kept in indirect and moderate lighting conditions, and grown in a temperature of 75 degrees with humidity at 60%!
Does Philodendron Mamei climb or crawl?
The P. Mamei is typically a crawling plant, reaching across the ground horizontally, but with a moss pole placed near the plant it can be trained to climb, as well.
How big do Philodendron Mamei get?
Philodendron Mamei can get as large as three feet in total plant length, with leaves that get as big as 8 inches in diameter!
Hey, I’m Lisa and I’ve been an avid gardener for over 30 years. I love writing, talking and living in the garden! Feel free to connect with me on my socials below
