The Philodendron Mayoi is a highly sought plant by houseplant enthusiasts. This rare variant of Philodendron is a bit pricey due to the lack of supply and extraordinary demand. No plant collection is complete without the chic Philodendron Mayoi.
But what is it that gives this plant such clout?
The Philodendron Mayoi is characterized by large, palm-like leaves fashioned with a burgundy underbelly. These stunning and unique leaves are why this plant is so popular. It has the potential to elevate any space that it occupies.
Philodendrons have well over 450 varieties; today, we’ll be discussing the elegant Philodendron Mayoi.
Table of Contents
Meet the Philodendron Mayoi: Basic Knowledge and Origins
Philodendron is a large genus of tropical plants from the Araceae family. This hemi-epiphytic plant is native to Brazil and is found abundantly in the Tropical Rainforest.
Philodendron Mayoi was discovered in the 1940s and named after renowned botanist Dr. Simon Mayo. Much is still unknown about this rare and relatively new Philodendron species.
Philodendrons are known to be resilient plants, therefore, easy to care for. They are perfect for newbie plant collectors.
| Family Type | Araceae |
| Common Name | Philodendron Mayoi |
| Botanical Name | Philodendron Mayoi |
| Plant Type | Hemiepiphytic |
| Size | 100-120cm |
| Native Area | South America – Brazil |
| Sun Exposure | Bright indirect sunlight |
| Soil Consistency | Loose, well-draining soil |
| Soil pH | Mildly acidic |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and animals |
| Common Pests | Thrips, spider mites, and mealybugs |
Varieties of Philodendron
There are over 400 discovered species of the Philodendron plant. These varieties have their distinct features based on their origin, growing pattern, foliage, etcetera. We’re listing down some of the popular Philodendron species you can add to your collection.
Philodendron Lupinum
This popular variety is characterized by its velvety heart-shaped leaves that boast a rosy underbelly. This variety goes through a significant transformation as it matures. Its leaves grow to be 6-8 times their size as the plant fully matures.
Philodendron Imperial Green
As the name suggests, this variety has deep-green and glossy foliage. The leaves are initially light green, but as the plant matures, the leaves take on a sultrier, more melancholic shade of dark green. This plant serves as great eye candy for plant lovers.
Philodendron Xanadu
This is a small variety of the Philodendron characterized by its multi-lobed leaves and sturdy stems that keep the plant upright.
Philodendron Hastatum
This gorgeous variety is known for its distinct gray-green foliage and long pointed leaves. Vines from this plant can reach up to 10 feet in length.
Philodendron Tripartitum
This is one of the most popular types of the Philodendron. It gets its name from its unique tri-lobed leaves that look absolutely stunning. Its distinct leaves appear as if three leaves have been joined together to form one.
How to Care for the Philodendron Mayoi
Let us now look at how you can care for and nurture your leafy companion. We’ll be going over some of the main requirements of the Philodendron Mayoi.
Sunlight
Like many Philodendrons, the Mayoi too thrives in bright indirect sunlight. This resilient plant can also comfortably sit in direct sunlight for 2-3 hours.
But, care must be taken not to let your Mayoi sit in direct sunlight for too long as it can lead to scorching of leaves.
The Mayoi can also withstand low-light areas quite well. But if left in low-light for too long, you will start noticing stunted growth and legginess.
It is best to keep your Philodendron Mayoi near a window where there is bright indirect light for much of the day. This will ensure the optimal growth and health of your beloved plant.
Soil
The Philodendron Mayoi requires a loose, well-draining potting mix in order to thrive and remain healthy. You can add perlite to your potting mix to enhance the draining capacity of the soil.
A well-draining mix will ensure there is no stagnant water in the pot that may lead to water-logged roots.
Your soil needs to be nutrient-rich so that your plant can reach its full potential.
Water
The soil of your Philodendron Mayoi needs to be moist at all times.
It shouldn’t be too wet nor too dry. Overwatering will lead to root rot, while underwatering will lead to brown leaves.
Hence, it is essential to water your Mayoi whenever the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry to touch. You can check this by sticking your finger in the soil. It should feel moist to the touch. If not, it is time to give the Mayoi a drink.
Usually, Mayoi requires watering once every 8-10 days. Frequency might increase during the spring and summer seasons.
Temperature
Philodendrons love warm temperatures due to their tropical origin.
The optimal temperature for Mayoi is between 16 and 28 degrees celsius. This will ensure a healthy plant with optimal growth.
Make sure your Philodendron Mayoi isn’t exposed to temperatures below 13 degrees celsius. This will cause the foliage to frost resulting in irreversible damage to the plant.
Also, remember to protect your plant from any kind of cold wind or draft.
Fertilizer
You can fertilize your Philodendron Mayoi once a month during the spring and summer seasons. Dilute your fertilizer in water, and do not over-fertilize your plant as this can seriously harm the plant.
The Philodendron Mayoi is a resilient plant; hence, you can also do without fertilizing it.
Potting
Potting the Philodendron Mayoi is fairly simple. All you have to do is select a sturdy pot with adequate drainage holes.
If the drainage seems insufficient, you can quickly drill more holes at the bottom. Make sure the pot you select is of sufficient size to house your plant and its roots.
Fill your pot with a well-draining potting mix and ensure the root ball is fully submerged in the soil.
Proceed to water your plant until drainage is established from the bottom.
It is advised to pot your Mayoi during the spring season to ensure adequate growth and health.
Re-potting
It is time to re-pot when you start to notice that your plant has filled up most of the pot, and the roots start to protrude out of the drainage holes.
Re-potting is a fairly simple procedure. You’ll have to select a bigger pot and fill it up with a fresh potting mix.
Clean off the old soil from the root ball and check for any damaged roots.
After snipping off any damaged parts place your plant into the new pot and submerge the root ball completely.
Proceed to water your Mayoi until drainage is established.
If you’re not keen on re-potting your plant, just make sure to replace the soil annually.
The best time to re-pot your Philodendron is late spring or early summer for the best results. On average, your Mayoi will need re-potting once every year, depending upon its growth rate.
Pruning
Pruning is an extremely important step in any plant’s lifecycle. It’s like visiting the doctor’s office for a routine check-up.
Pruning will help promote the plant’s growth and health. Use a sterile scissor while pruning to prevent any unwanted infections.
Snip away the visibly damaged portions and yellowing leaves of the plant. This will help redirect nutrients to the healthy portions of the plant.
Pruning will improve your plant’s health and give it a clean look.
It is best to prune your Philodendron during late spring or early summer for the best results.
This video is a fantastic guide if you’re new to pruning and re-potting.
Propagation
Philodendrons are some of the easiest plants to propagate.
If done properly the results are fantastic, and you’ll end up with a whole collection of baby Philodendrons.
Propagation should be carried out in late spring or early summer for the best results.
Philodendron Mayoi can be propagated through stem-cuttings in two ways that we’ll be discussing below.
Propagation through Soil
Propagation through soil can be carried out in a few simple steps.
Take your Philodendron Mayoi and make sure the plant is healthy.
Select a few good-looking stems and cut them just under the nodes with a sterile scissor. Cut no more than 30% of the plant and ensure each cutting has at least one leaf and one node for successful propagation.
Place your stem in a small pot with adequate potting mix and water it like you would any Philodendron.
Place your pot in bright indirect light for optimal growth. In about 4-5 weeks baby roots will start growing.
At this point, you can take out your cutting and transfer it to a full-sized pot. Your plant will bloom into a full-sized plant in due time.
Propagation through Water
Propagation in water follows the same principle as soil propagation.
Just take your stem-cuttings cuttings and place them in a glass of water.
In a few days or weeks the cutting with start to develop roots. You can transfer your shoot into a pot when the roots reach 2-3 inches in length.
Keep the pot in an area with abundant bright indirect light and water the plant until drainage is established.
Problems & Challenges
Brown and Dry Leaf Tips
Brown tips can be due to overexposure to direct sunlight or excessive watering. You can easily prevent this by shifting your plant into a shady area.
Also, check the soil of your plant; only water it when the top 2-3 inches are dry to touch. Other than that, Philodendron Mayoi doesn’t need much watering.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellow leaves can be due to the natural process of aging. As the leaves start to age, they start to become yellow before shedding to give way for new leaves to sprout.
You can address this issue by pruning off the yellow leaves.
Yellow leaves can also be due to stagnant water in the pot due to blocked drainage holes. This leads to water-logging and root rot that might eventually lead to the plant dying.
Bacterial Blight
Bacterial infections are fairly common in Philodendrons.
Bacterial blight manifests in the form of dark, foul-smelling patches on the leaves that are soft and mushy to touch.
To control this disease, you need to isolate your plant and prune off the affected parts of the plant. Change the potting mix and make sure to keep the plant dry.
Leggy stems
Leggy stems occur due to insufficient light. If you notice your plant getting leggy, it might be good to shift it to a brighter spot.
Black Spots on Leaves
Black spots of patches on leaves usually occur due to exposure to cold wind or draft. If your plant sits in a place where it’s constantly exposed to air from the air conditioner, it might develop black patches.
You can prune off the affected leaves and shift your plant to a location that isn’t exposed to the cold air.
Thrip
Thrips are pesky pests that infest the Philodendron Mayoi. They feed on the plant’s sap and damage the foliage. They’re very well hidden, and you may unknowingly bring them into your home.
To counter these pests, you can spray your plant with diluted neem oil.
Ask Away: the FAQ Section
The Philodendron Mayoi is considered a rare specie. This is due to its immense popularity and limited supply.
It is completely normal for a few leaves to turn yellow as the plant ages. The old leaves start turning yellow and should be pruned to make way for new growth.
If the yellowing of leaves is generalized, this may be due to insufficient drainage or overwatering.
Depending upon the environment, the watering schedule will vary for each household. On average, Philodendron Mayoi will need watering every 7-10 days.
A good way to gauge this is by checking the soil with your finger. If the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry to touch, this means your plant needs to be hydrated.
