Philodendron Mayoi
Philodendron Mayoi
Philodendron mayoi
❦ ❧ ❦
Difficulty — IntermediateA philodendron that fancies itself a fern. The Mayoi unfurls deeply cut, feather-like leaves on slender, red-blushed stems, each frond looking rather as though it means to wave in some far-off rainforest breeze. She is a climber at heart and a genuine showpiece — uncommon enough to turn a head, yet obliging enough to forgive a novice's wobbles.
Notes on Cultivation
☀Light
Bright, indirect light is her preference. She tolerates medium light but rewards a brighter station with fuller, more deeply divided leaves. Spare her the harsh midday sun, which scorches those fine fronds.
❦Water
Water when the top inch or two has dried. She likes even moisture through the growing season yet despises wet feet, so let her drain thoroughly and never leave her standing.
☁Humidity
She hails from humid forests and shows her gratitude for 60% and upward with larger, lacier leaves. Average rooms will do; a humidifier or the good company of other plants does better.
✵Temperature
A warm soul — 65 to 80 Fahrenheit suits her well. Keep her clear of cold draughts and anything below 55.
❧Soil
A chunky, free-draining aroid mix of bark, perlite, and coir keeps air about her roots, which is the whole secret to her contentment.
❀Fertilizing
Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser at half strength, then let her rest through the darker months.
✿Propagation
She roots readily from a stem cutting bearing at least one node, set in a clear cup of moist Fluval Stratum — our signature method. Read the full field method.
Field Observations
Give her something to climb — a moss pole or trellis — and her leaves grow larger and more dramatically divided as she ascends. Left to trail, she stays charming but a touch more modest.
Those feathered fronds are her glory, so dust them gently now and then to keep her photosynthesising and handsome.
— faithfully recorded by Mr. Phileas Plant
