Homalomena sp. ‘Platinum Black’

Origin and identity of Homalomena sp. ‘Platinum Black’

This dark-leaved collector Homalomena is grown as ‘Platinum Black’. Its exact species and precise wild location are still uncertain.

Growing Homalomena sp. ‘Platinum Black’ indoors

• Warmth: Keep the plant in a consistently warm room and away from cold windowsills, draughts and surfaces that chill the pot.
• Humidity: Keep humidity moderate to high. If the room air is dry, raise humidity around the plant and provide gentle airflow around the dense foliage.
• Light: Give medium to bright filtered light and protect the leaves from strong direct sun.
• Water: Water when the surface begins to lose moisture, then let the pot drain freely. Keep a little moisture deeper around the roots.
• Potting mix: Use a fine, airy mix that holds some moisture and stays loose around the roots.
• Repotting and propagation: The compact clump is naturally self-supporting. Repot into a slightly larger container once roots fill the pot, and propagate from well-rooted shoots from the base.
• Feeding: Use a complete houseplant fertiliser lightly while the plant is producing new leaves. Feed less often when growth slows.

Keeping Homalomena sp. ‘Platinum Black’ healthy

• The bases of the leaf stalks soften while the potting mix stays wet: The base of the plant or roots may be rotting. Remove soft tissue back to firm healthy growth with a clean tool, discard the damaged material and repot in fresh, airy potting mix.
• Dry edges develop across several leaves: Check for repeated drying of the potting mix, warm dry airflow or low humidity. Correct whichever condition applies.
• Tiny pale dots or fine webbing appear on the dark foliage: Check the leaf undersides for spider mites. Isolate the plant and use a treatment labelled for mites at the stated repeat interval.
• Sticky residue, hard bumps or cottony patches appear: Check for scale or mealybugs. If you find them, isolate the plant, remove visible pests and use a treatment labelled for the pest, repeating it at the interval stated on the label.

Homalomena sp. ‘Platinum Black’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

The meaning and history of Homalomena

Homalomena combines Greek homalos, meaning flat, with mene, meaning moon.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Homalomena in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 20.