Philodendron melinonii

Natural range and habitat of Philodendron melinonii

Philodendron melinonii is native to Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and northern Brazil. It grows as an epiphyte in wet tropical forest.

How to care for Philodendron melinonii

• Pot stability: Use a stable container that can support the weight and spread of the large leaves and long leaf stalks.
• Roots and potting mix: Grow it in an airy, coarse mix. Let the upper part begin to dry before watering evenly, then allow the pot to drain.
• Light: Keep it in bright indirect light, protected from intense direct sun.
• Temperature and humidity: Maintain a steady 18–29 °C range, with extra protection when temperatures threaten to stay below 15 °C. Keep the surrounding air in the 50–60% range.
• Feeding: During fresh leaf development, use a light-to-moderate dose of complete fertiliser; then taper applications as the plant becomes less active.
• Repotting: Give the roots a little more room once they have filled the pot, using only a slightly larger container. Change broken-down mix as needed; only increase the pot size when the roots are crowded as well. Stabilise a leaning plant without enlarging the pot unless the roots also need more room.
• Propagation: Take a rooted basal shoot when available, or root a healthy section of stem with a node.

Problems and solutions for Philodendron melinonii

• The pot becomes unstable as the crown gains width: Move the plant into a heavier, stable container before the long petioles pull it off balance.
• Widespread yellowing develops while the mix stays wet: Inspect the roots and the structure of the substrate. Remove decayed roots and repot if the mix has broken down and drainage has slowed.

Philodendron melinonii 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.

Who first published the name Philodendron melinonii?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.”

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Philodendron in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.

Eduard August von Regel first described Philodendron melinonii in 1874 in Gartenflora, volume 23, page 67; Adolphe Théodore Brongniart had proposed the name.