This cat is living the life. Has an exotic jungle, regular food and water, comfy beds and boxes, no predators/enemies, its own human servant. I don't think our species even has an equivalent of this level of winning at life. lol

Jan, what I appreciate most about you - in addition to the wealth and clarity of information you share in each of your clips- is your enthusiasm! It is contagious! There are times when I question my sanity for investing so much time, effort and money into my plants, and then I watch you and I get inspired all over again to keep going. In fact, I do have a small melano that I will put on a moss pole and see what happens. I, too, like a good challenge…😊 Thanks again.

The melano has become my favorite philodendron. It’s so heavenly.

Nice to find a plant video on KZfaq with some real long-term progress pictures and good advice. I just bought a small one of these the other day and I think it will make a great addition to our collection, I've always been so jealous of the ones in the botanical gardens!

I bought a 10cm tall melano a month ago, after 1 month its double in height with 3 new leaves. I grow it indoor with basically 16 hours under grow light every day. Only turn it off when I go to bed. I just moved it to my bathroom with the hope that it will be happier with high humidity in the bathroom. What I love about it is it’s shooting new leaves constantly, even the new leave is not fully uncurled, another one is already sneaking out.

I’ve had this plant on my wish-list but I’ve decided that until I’ve had more experience, I will just pop in to “visit” and enjoy yours. I must say that Brad is obviously living his best life and I enjoy visiting him in this particular video as well…what a happy little guy!

Plants are so time consuming without videos, so thank YOU for taking the time to share with us!!

Jan, this plant is BEAUTIFUL. I really appreciate that you share all your knowledge in such depth! Thank you!

Nice work, Jan! Yeah, this plant gave me it's own crisis too. Initially, my cutting refused to grow! Can you believe that? And then, I learnt that Melanochrysum is heat-sensitive. So, I sent mine on a little "vacation" in a shady, cool jungle (secret location... 🤫) & after 3 months, when I came to pick it up? Boom! It took off with 3 new leaves! Yeah, that's my whacky journey with any touchy Philodendron... jungle rehab! 🤣

I agree, I am finding it hard to size up my melanochrysum especially when I live in a very cold climate so getting the right humidity, warmth and light for getting bigger leaves takes a bit of extra effort and new leaves sometimes get stuck in the sheath. Other than that, I am impressed with how hardy this plant is. I once left it in soggy soil and it just grew no problem. I don't have any pests issues with this plant so far. This is generally a very healthy and robust plant. I can see why they use it to produce hybrids. It is hard to kill, but it takes a lot of time and effort to make it look nice.

I bought a very small melanochrysum the same size as you in May 2022. 11cm diameter moss pole was used, Six months later, the top leaf size is 50 cm. (Not cut yet) Large moss poles and dyna-gro foliage pro (npk 3:1:2) were of great help. and 150w samsung led grow light

Another stunning video from you, thank you! I recently bought a Melanochrysum in a more mature form with 4 big leaves so I hope I can maintain the progress! Kisses from Spain ❤

Thanks so much Jan for yet another great video! So interesting to hear about the different journey this plant has had in your care, definitely a lot for others to learn here

Thank you for sharing. I have been struggling with my Melano

I got these at my local plant rescue for €3 each, the foliage is so incredibly pretty. Thanks for the video!

Thank You again for another excellent video. Even though I would never grow the plants you have in the way that you do (UK weather life) I always find them really interesting to watch. And... all the Brad content today 🥰.

interesting your experience with this plant. I bought this one, gloriosum and verrucosum all at the same time and all three were roughly the same size young plants. The gloriosum and verrucosum have put out four leaves in the time the melano has put out one and a half, I thought I was doing something wrong but I guess not. Being in south Florida, my plan is to plant this outside under the oak tree, along with the verrucosum, and just let them scramble up. Hopefully it will have put on some size by spring to where I feel comfortable planting it out.

Excellent! Melano is almost like the final chapter of Philo. Finally I can even see Brad is smiling haha...

Brad is sitting there watching you ,wondering who your talking too….lol

your philodendron melanocrhrysum is so beautiful ! mine is in my home for 24 hours but I hope it will thrive like yours, I live in Paris the climate and light are not as optimal as yours in Sydney but I will do my best. I don't like moss poles but maybe I will give it a go !

Thank you for sharing beautiful and amazing plants lovely collection beautiful

So happy you made this! I've struggled with this one, it's very cool to see your big one. I recently bought a really nice big one and immediately popped it on a pole. I have it in a prop box now (put on the side to make it fit) so that it could settle into my house, but hearing your tips I might keep it in there for longer. Thank you Jan!

I really really love my melano. Even though she´s groing slowly I´m happy over every new leaf I get :) Since I live in germany winter is quite dark and cloudy here so I´m not sure if it´s comparable to your winter. I´m still experimenting with giving it more light over the winter months since atm. it only gets around 1 hour of direct light (if the sun is showing). :)

That is an amazing specimen. Nice work!

Wow!! You did amazing! So inspiring. Thank you

Sorry Jan but Brad has laid claim to these plants. But he really does appreciate the way you look after them for him. 😻😻

Braddles is a bonified jungle kitty! And he has eyes on the back of his little head! Love your videos, your plants, and your kitty cat. Cheers from Austin Texas!

I just ordered one of these I cannot wait to go through this process 😂 Your content is my favorite, thank you !

Thanks for sharing Jan. I think I will eventually try one of the hybrids simply because I haven't got the ideal growing conditions. Our weather here in the UK isn't as glorious as yours, although we enjoyed a record breaking summer in 2022. I'm not holding my breath for a repeat in 2023. I love this series because it helps me make up my mind about which aroid plants I can realistically attempt, and saves me wasting money at the very least. (Although not an aroid, I've started my oxalis from corms which was as a result of watching your spotlight, so thank you 😊) Very much appreciated.

He’s such an adorable kitty!

Holy crapoli, is that a gorgeous vittarifolium hanging behind you?! I’d LOVE for you to share anything you can about your personal experience with caring for it. I’ll scour your videos to see if you’ve already done so just in case you’ve already covered it and I’ve missed it. It looks SO happy just there in an open room without a humidifier near by. I’m pretty much generally obsessed with stappy leaved anthurium and philodendron so even if it’s not a vittarifolium, I’d love to hear from you about it. I’ll be receiving my first Philodendron Melanochrysum later today, so this video was extremely helpful. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience in a clear and thorough way 🤗

Your Cat is absolutely wonderful

Hi, im from Costa Rica and I bought my first Philodendron and it was a Melano, so I will try to keep it save as much as I can, also will try to reproduce your substratum with what I have here, but the fertilizer will be impossible to get here, thanks for your videos are just amazing and hope mine will grown at least half of yours.

It’s gorgeous 👌🍃🤍

I can't believe you grew this big ass' plant from this little cutting😱 really good video, i hope mine will also look like this some day😊

Ah Melano💚💚😍

Sailing through another well-crafted exposition, we see you do the impossible! You have TWO growing points on a climber? I didn't know it could be done. The quality of your plants is astronomical; I've never been in a plant shop, or even a public conservatory for that matter, that can boast of such superb plants!

Such a beautiful velvet philodendron! It's been a dream plant for me for some time now. Living in the cooler part of the States the velvet leafed philos dont appreciate my home's situation. If and when I can have a happy micans...(3+ years deep now and micans still struggles in my winter) I'll definitely try its larger cousin, until then I'll live vicariously through you! Btw Brad's schananagins were awesome today 😸

I love anything with velvet leaves, I have melano and splendid but they are still small. I have plenty of time though so I’m not giving up til I get even half the size of yours, then I’ll be happy🤣. Another fantastic, inspiring video, Thankyou 🌿💚

I waited so long for this video. I loooove the melanochrysum & mine is growing very well at the time 🥰

Brad decided he was far more important than the melanchrysum today bless him he knew you were coming to the end and left 😂

Parts of the video I had to rewind. Too much cuteness distraction. Haha!

Another stunner! Love these spotlights and following your journey. You are an inspiration! #Plantgoals 💚

Just leaving a nice comment as you asked! 😊 Thanks for sharing your journey. It looks amazing! 😍

What a lovely plant! Thank you for sharing!

Jan, love the video! ♥️

Awesome video thanks Jan melano is definitely on my wish list and Brad is just adorable

Your melano gives me all the envy. My ultimate plant goal has been to get these size leaves ever since I first saw yours. Trying out all your tips, recently chopped it and it's pushing out a bigger leaf so fingers crossed!

thats so cool keep up the great work

Hey Jan, I can 100% confirm the situation. Thank you so much for this quality contend. For me in germany the melano struggle starts in summer, when the temps go up and the humidity down. The leaves get stuck and nearly each of them has to be freed with a tooth pick from its shell :P The Melano also seems to store its leaved a bit more special than other. There is always a kink, where the petiole connects with the leave. Often this is very sensitive and can result in snapping the leave off while freeing it. No other of my philodendron has such issues. My largest head cutting has a similar size than yours, but need very long time to start its grows. Unfortunately the first leave rotted inside the cataphyll. Luckily an new one was present nearby. I do not use moss poles just the grow sticks to let them climb. I know moss will work way better but I think I'm to lazy to set these up.

Awesome, thank you for your video! Such a beautiful plant!

I am absolutely obsessed with your channel. I put your videos on as I do my own plants chores. You’ve taught me a lot about aroids, thank you! I was looking through your comments to see if I could find the answer but I didn’t. What is that plant you have on the table Braddles is sitting on?

That's stunning. Thank you for the knowledge.

I just impulse bought this plant so I am so thankful you did a video on it lol

Thank you for this vidéo 💚🇫🇷🙏

Your plants are so beautiful I just ordered a smaller M. Less expensive and I need to do the work myself! TFS

Loving plant spotlights!! ❤ have my baby melo on a prop stick mini and it is about twice as tall as the prop-stick coz I haven’t gotten around to getting another.

I just got a starter - I can wait until it fills a moss pole! I appreciate your style of growing Aroids, it’s so clean & neat. I love the plant on your wall between your paintings - what is it? I thought it might be a Staghorn Fern, but I’m not 100% sure. I’m new to growing plants & really enjoy your videos- they are very informative & easy to watch. Thank you 🙏!

Amazing journey! Thank you so much!

Omg! I was so distracted with the cat (cute Brad) playing with that poor Alocasia (Wentii I think...) and bitting that leaf...😱

Great job getting it this far Jan..it's beautiful 😍. I wouldn't even attempt to grow that here in Tassie..I think the hybrids do better in the cooler climate. Splendid has been a trooper all through winter with constant growth, and now really sizing up, but Glorious went into full dormancy! She is now just growing a second leaf since I bought her in Autumn, but I can tell its going to be double the size of her others, so I'm expecting big things over Spring/summer..I'd have no hope sizing up a Melano, lol

I think I have an unhealthy attachment to difficult plants. I love my Melano. Thankyou for this video I will be patient for mine to reach her full potential.

Hi Jan, I love how honest you are with the information you give on your channel. I just bought my first melano today!!!!!🥰 It is such a beautiful plant. I just have a quick question. Would I be able to use neem oil to treat any pest on the velvet leaves. I would hate to do anything to hurt her. lol

Hiii, the botanist where i bought this plants told me that to get a bigger leaf you need less leaf in one stem so the nutrients and the growth will go to that one leaf particularly... Cause she had a really big leaf but only one leaf in one stem, hopefully this will help !

Jan, I love your videos, and I have started making my own moss poles from your instructions. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! Can you tell me the plant that you have hanging on the wall with the pendulous leaves? P.S. Brad is adorable, and I always love when he makes an appearance.

Thanks for the info. I got it a month ago but I chopped already.

Genius video. Thank you Thank you. X

Great video 😊 I would love to know any advice on stopping the new leaves getting stuck 😒 I have had my Melano for a couple of years and it’s still a baby as the leaves keep getting stuck. Do you think a moss pole helps? Great video and came at the right time, I’ve spent SO much money on this plant and all its bought is heartache. 😢 if it doesn’t behave before Xmas it’s in compost! P.S I’m in Melbourne

BEAUTIFUL 💚🌴🪴😻😻

Hi, thanks for this Great Video, this Plant looks so awesome. What is this Plant hanging behind you on the Picture with these Long Leaves? Best

thanks for another great spotlight. I have a tiny Melanochrysum and it always gets some spots on leaves even the new ones due to extrafloral nectaries(I guess that's the case because I can't find any pests on it.the exact same thing happens to my Micans too). does this happen to your Melanochrysum too? because your plant's leaves look so spotless and perfect

Wow! Inspirational and thank you! Questions: How many individual plants in total are planted in the soil and growing up the moss pole? Are they positioned around the pole and must be rotated?

Great video and info. As always, I appreciate you going over your whole journey…the good and the difficult. I love the mirror❤. Just curious, does it help add reflective light into that darker corner"?

In summary, if my plant is still with me in three years, ill get big leaves like Jan 🤣 It's taken a while for prices to come down enough for me to get a small plant. Will def be coming back to this vid to remind myself patience is a virtue.

💚🌿

What is the plant behind on the wall near the painting? It’s awesome

OMG!!!!!

Jan - i love your videos, they have really inspired me to follow your moss pole chop and extend method. Occasionally i have an issue (with velvets) where their leaves get damaged on the plastic covered metal mesh of the moss pole, do you ever get this and how do you get round it ?

Hi, I am a big fan of youtube channels. Can you tell me how you make all of your plants leaves growing on moss poles so sympatric & in order please 🤔🤔

Jan rządzisz !!!

do you use a half moon moss pole or circular?

I love my melano as well and am trying every trick I can find to size up the leaves. I am wondering what you feed it with where it isn't growing in soil and also how often you have to water the moss pole?

Is it just the camera placement or is the Epipremnum pinnatum starting to push out rounder shaped leafs?

Can u talk about the plant hanging by your picture on the wall?

I adore your vids xx. Where do you swap and sell your plants?

nice smile

Mine is still a baby 👶 and since the last 2 curls didnt uncurl properly, I snipped the top out and its propagating. Did you also have issues when yours was small with the curls being finicky?

May I ask what that plant is hanging on the wall halfway to the left of the screen? 😅

Help! My Melano is growing stem but not putting out any leaves. Any idea why?

Beautiful plant ❤️. Do you have heather on all the time day and night in winter?

Question here, so I know you’ve said it’s easier to put a cutting on a moss pole than it is with a well established plant, would it work the same way if you cut your mother plant all the way down as if it were the size of a cutting basically? Like would it attach to the pole easier?

My monstera is dying help me 😢

What is that hanging plant?!😍 Also love your videos Jan 🙌🏻❤️

Just got a cutting in a 4” pot. At what point did you repot your P. Melanochrysum? What pot size did you use?

wondering how can i set the philo leaf facing one direction.. i have philo but the leaf growth facing to the right side and left side ;( need advise please.. thanks a lot

I have a question: is it a good idea to repot the melanochrysum in a self watering pot? Or will it lead to overhydration ? I was thinking the a self watering pot will protect the plant from overyhydration as it will absorb only the amount of.water it needs. Whats your opinion?

I came here to get educated before impulsively ordering a Melanochrysum. However, if the Sydney Plant Guy calls it ''Melanocsis' I think a different Philodendron would be a wise choice for me...

Thanks for all the info, great video. The new leaves on my Melano keep getting stuck, damaging the leaves and petiole as they emerge. Is this common with this plant?

So !, should I use 2 plants when putting a baby on a moss pole,mine has will reach top of moss pole or as u just suggested " cut off the top leaf "

My PM is very leggy, do you have videos showing how best to prop these?