Caring for this rare and beautiful hybrid might seem super difficult, but I promise it’s incredibly easy! As a fully qualified Horticulturist, I’ve cared for many myself. With this complete Philodendron Majesty care guide, you’ll have everything you need to keep your beauties happy and healthy!
Philodendron Majesty Quick Factfile
Goes by: Philodendron Majesty, Philodendron Black Majesty, Flamingo Plant (all the same plant in case you have a different tag name!)
Origin: Grows in humid climates in South America and the West Indies. But, this plant wasn’t found or discovered! The Philodendron Majesty is a hybrid of Philodendron Verrucosum and Philodendron Sodiroi.
Appearance: The Philodendron Majesty has shiny, dark purple and green leaves that can grow to be 3-4 inches wide and 8-18 inches long. The leaves have straight edges and an almost arrowhead shape to them.
Growth: The Philodendron Majesty is a fast-growing, climbing plant. They frequently grow to be 6-15 feet tall and 1-15 feet wide. So be sure you have plenty of space for them to spread out, or plan on frequent pruning.
Flowering?: Yes! They can produce small, white, or green flowers, but it is infrequent when grown indoors.
Toxicity: The Philodendron Majesty is toxic to children and pets, but only when ingested.
Rareness: Philodendron Majesty is considered fairly rare, but can be found on Etsy and in some specialist plant stores.
Difficulty Care Level: Easy, low maintenance, good for beginners!
How to Care For a Philodendron Majesty
Let’s run through the basics first, then we’ll get into more detail.
- Light: medium to bright, indirect light.
- Water: generally keep top levels of soil moist
- Temperature: ideally between 65-85°F (18-30°C)
- Soil: best in rich soil high in organic matter
- Humidity: 60-80% is ideal.
- Fertilize: 1-2 times a month in Summer, cut back in Autumn & Winter
In-Depth Care Guide
1. Light
The Philodendron Majesty thrives in medium to bright, indirect light. But that’s so vague, right?
Try thinking of the forest floor in a rainforest, the philodendron’s natural environment. There is frequent sunshine. However, they rarely receive direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Measuring light by eye is tricky, that’s why I measure what my plants receive with a light meter! Super simple. I personally use this one (it’s cheap, accurate & measures in Foot Candles).
Pro Tip: Ideal light range for Philodendron Majesty is 250-400FC
This plant can also receive between 1-2 hours of cool direct sunlight too (emphasis on cool though!). That morning sun is ideal.
If your leaves start yellowing, it could mean your majesty is receiving too much sun and needs to be moved to another location.
2. Water
With the Philodendron Majesty, only water when the top layers of soil (1-2 inches) feel dry to touch.
New to this? This typically means you’ll need to water every seven to ten days.
You don’t need to water your plant as much in the Winter as in the Summer as transpiration, humidity, and light levels are much lower. Usually once every 10-20 days is best.
Signs the Philodendron Majesty Plant Might Need a Drink:
- Drooping of leaves (this is usually a pattern with this plant, if it bounces back after watering, it’s likely to do this in the future too!)
- Browning tips and edges
- Serious wilting and leaves dropping
3. Temperature
The Philodendron Majesty thrives in warm, tropical climates, and it’s best to mirror that as much as possible. Anywhere between 55-64°F (12-18°C) is generally ok, but to get that lovely growth the best temperature range falls between 65-90°F (18-32°C).
Ideally don’t drop below 50°F (12°C). It’s just too cold for any kind of growth.
Growing Outside: Is it Possible?
If you are wanting to grow these beauties outside, the ideal USDA hardiness zone is 9b-11. It functions as a perennial, where it loses its leaves in the winter and comes back in Spring.
Other zones are just way too cold and damage the plant’s cells and pathways. Ideally, you’ll be able to bring your plant inside as soon as temps drop below 50°F (12°C).
4. Soil
Philodendron Majesty loves well-drained, nutrient-rich soil! If your potting mix doesn’t have much organic matter in it, you can create your own philodendron potting mixture with the following recipe:
- 40% coco coir (or potting soil)
- 20% perlite (drainage)
- 10% orchid bark (philos LOVE this, acts as a hotspot for roots to attach)
- 10% coarse pumice (drainage)
- 10% activated charcoal (purifies soil and helps beneficial bacteria)
This is the recipe I personally use, and I’ve had great success with it over the years! Great leaf & overall growth.
If I’m not in the mood to make my own mix, I’ll either use Noot’s Organic Indoor Potting Soil or a bag of Fox Farm Ocean Forest.
Noot is pre-mixed with perlite, bark & coir so no need to grab anything else! With Fox Farm I tend to add a little more perlite, but other than that, it’s some seriously great stuff.
Pro Tip: Make sure you get a pot that has adequate drainage holes too! If water can't flow out of the pot, you'll experience the dreaded root rot!
5. Humidity
Ideal humidity range is between 60 and 80%, however, they will ‘survive’ in levels as low as 40%. Emphasis on survival, they’ll definitely be stunted in growth!
Don’t worry if you live in a dry climate! Here are two tried and tested ways to increase humidity naturally:
- Purchasing a small humidifier to place near your plants (100% effective)
- Placing plants in humid locations, such as the bathroom (70-80% effective)
- Placing plants close together so they can share humidity (30-40% effective, needs a lot of plants to work)
Pro Tip: Leaving bowls of water near your plants, misting with water, and lining with pebble trays don't actually work. They're complete myths. Though I know it's addictive to spray plants, sorry!
6. Fertilizer
Like all plants, Philodendron Majesty loves calcium, magnesium as well as the 3 key macronutrients – potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous, so look for fertilizers that are rich in those nutrients!
I swear by Dyna Gro’s GROW 7-9-5 NPK formula. It’s a complete nutrient palette (all 16 nutrients your plant needs), doesn’t burn the roots, and lasts ages.
You only need to mix 1-2 teaspoons with 1 gallon (4.5 litres) of water and feed using that mix.
You can also opt for Miracle Gro’s houseplant fertilizer (Disclaimer: I generally don’t like their products – their soil is a no-go, but this fertilizer is okay if you’re looking for a cheaper option).
The rule of thumb is to apply fertilizer once a month during the Summer months and every 6-8 weeks during the Autumn/Winter months.
Pro Tip: If the leaves are turning brown or yellow, it could mean there is too much salt in the soil, and you need to go a little longer between applications.
Also if you’re using a cheaper fertilizer, you can usually see a fine layer of residue salt on the top soil of your plant. These are heavy salts that if not washed away can cause fertilizer burn!
How to Propagate the Philodendron Majesty
Propagating a plant can sound scary if you’ve never done it before. But don’t worry! It isn’t actually that complicated!
Here’s a few simple steps you can follow to get you started.
Aerial Roots Method (Ideal for Beginners)
- Cut your branch at the node (the place on the branch where the small aerial roots are located). Be sure to use sharp pruning shears to avoid extra stress to your plant.
- Place each cutting in a soil mixture rich in organic matter (the recipe above works well), water well, and let the soil drain.
- After it has drained, wrap the cutting in a plastic bag. Make sure to puncture a few small holes in the bag so the nodes can breathe.
- Spritz the cutting with water, and leave it in a warm place that receives bright, indirect light.
- Once the cutting has rooted, remove the bag entirely. Move the cutting to a bigger pot and care for as usual.
How to Repot the Philodendron Majesty
Philodendron Majesty is a fast-growing plant so will need to be repotted roughly every 1-2 years to allow for new growth.
Pro Tip: It’s best to repot them in late Winter or early Spring, but you can get away with repotting throughout the rest of the year as long you’re careful not to disturb too much of the root system.
- Find a pot that is 1 inch bigger than the last one (2 inches at max!).
- Fill with a soil mixture rich in organic matter.
- Place your plant in the pot. Water and care for as usual.
How to Prune the Philodendron Majesty
Luckily, the Philodendron Majesty doesn’t need too much pruning. It’s not like the Philodendron Micans that roams all over the place! You’ll only need to prune yellowing, diseased or dead leaves.
Here are some quick tips to help you:
● Spring or fall is usually the best time to prune
● Make sure your pruning shears or knife are sharp for a cleaner cut
● Cut where the branches meet the main plant
Common Philodendron Majesty Diseases and Issues
@dhimas & @unsolicited.plant.talk
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot usually manifests in tan, red-brown, or yellow spots on leaves.
To avoid it, water the soil directly, and try to prevent any splash back hitting the leaves or stem. Overhead watering can create a moist environment on your plant’s leaves that just invites bacteria to move in.
What to do: Unfortunately, there’s no known cure! To prevent the spread of leaf spot, quickly remove any leaves that begin to show symptoms.
Bacterial Blight
Bacterial blight is similar to leaf spot in that it is caused by a bacteria. You will know your plant is suffering from blight if green spots appear on the leaves before they begin to rot away.
What to do: The best way to avoid and treat blight is the same as leaf spot: avoid overhead watering and remove infected leaves as soon as possible.
Spider Mites
Smaller than the head of a pin, spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) are reddish, pale arachnids that quickly cluster together and feed on the plant’s leaves and juices.
What to do: Give your plant a hose down, boost your plant’s humidity by spritzing it and keeping it under a glass cloche and spray with neem oil, a highly effective eco-friendly insecticidal soap.
Thrips
Sudden and severe leaf fall is a sign thrips are possibly attacking your plant.
What to do: Hose your plant down, cut away major infestations and spray with neem oil.
Aphids
Seeing curling leaves? Whilst there are other possible causes, it could be aphids, small white or green bugs that feed on your plant’s sap.
What to do: Rinse your plant, cut away major infestations and spray with neem oil.
Root Rot
Root rot is usually caused by the plant sitting in overly wet soil that prevents oxygen from getting to its roots. The other source is a fungus in the soil. If the plant is slowly wilting and turning yellow, root rot is the likely culprit.
What to do: Remove plant from soil, wash the roots, gently trim affected or dead roots, and re-pot in fresh, drier soil. Only water when the top few inches of soil are dry to touch.
Cold Injury
While not a disease, cold injury is a problem you may face with your Philodendron Majesty. Cold injury occurs when the temperature drops below 50°F (10°C).
You will know your plant is suffering from cold injury if dark green or brown blotches form on the leaves.
What to do: Keep your Philodendron Majesty in temperatures above 65°F (18°C). And if you can, keep them away from AC vents.
Magnesium Deficiency
If your Philodendron Majesty is not getting enough Magensium, v-shaped yellow patches will appear on the leaves. But there is an easy fix.
What to do: Use a fertilizer that has Magnesium built into its formula
Tip Curl
If the tips of your Philodendron majesty are beginning to turn brown and curl, this could be a classic sign of over-fertilization.
What to do : Cut back on your fertilizer or go a little longer between applications. In severe cases, you can repot the plants into new, fresh potting soil.
Philodendron Majesty Look A Likes
There are two plants that are commonly confused with the Philodendron Majesty. These are the Philodendron Dark Lord and the Philodendron Bloody Mary.
Here are a few tell-tale signs you can use to tell them apart.
Q. Philodendron Black Majesty vs. Philodendron Dark Lord – What’s the Difference?
The main difference between these two plants is their coloring. The Majesty tends to have dark purple and green leaves. On the other hand, the Dark Lord has such deep green and red leaves that they almost appear black.
Q. Philodendron Black Majesty vs. Philodendron Bloody Mary – What’s the Difference?
Once again, the Philodendron Bloody Mary does look similar. But there are actually three differences between it and the Majesty.
First, the coloring is different. When the plants are young, the Bloody Mary’s leaves will have burgundy coloring, but as they mature, one side of the leaves will turn to green, leaving you with a beautiful, bi-colored plant.
Second, while the Majesty’s leaves have a little bit of a rounder tip, the Bloody Mary has heart-shaped leaves with a very pointy end.
Third, while the Majesty has small white or green flower buds, the bloody mary can produce red flowers.
Common FAQ
Can I Provide a Moss Pole?
Yes! The Philodendron Majesty thrives when placed on a moss pole.
Is the Philodendron Majesty a Climber?
Yes, the Philodendron Majesty is a fast-growing climber and will climb using its long aerial roots.
It’s a misconception that this plant is vining – it doesn’t behave like Philodendron Scandens or Scandens Brasil does.
