Philodendron plants are exceedingly popular houseplants because of their diversity, attractiveness, and their low maintenance requirements. You’ve probably heard of common philodendrons like pothos (heart-leaf) and the delicious monster, but are you familiar with rare and unique varieties like McColley’s Finale?
Philodendron McColley’s Finale is a hybrid plant variety bred from unknown Philodendron species. The plant has distinctive chestnut red foliage and a self-heading growth pattern. McColley’s Finale is hardy but prefers a humid, warm environment, indirect sunlight, and well-draining, aerated soil.
If you’re intrigued by Philodendron McColley’s Finale, let’s examine this attractive and easy-to-grow philodendron variety in greater detail.
What Is The Botanical Name Of Philodendron McColley’s Finale?
There is no botanical name for Philodendron McColley’s Finale because the plant is a modern hybridized variety that does not occur in nature. This philodendron variety is named after Cora McColley, who created the poly-hybrid from a diverse and unknown genetic pool.
What Is The Common Name For Philodendron McColley’s Finale?
Philodendron McColley’s Finale does not have a common name due to its hybridized origins. For this reason, the stunning plant is commonly known as Philodendron McColley’s Finale (Or McColley’s Finale for short).
Philodendron McColley’s Finale Description
McColley’s Finale is a rare and colorful hybrid variety of Philodendron (plant of love in Greek), which is a genus of evergreen plants that occur in tropical regions around the world.
Philodendron McColley’s Finale was developed in Florida and is the culmination of a breeding project that started in the 1960s. This variety has an unusual growing habit and unique colors compared with most philodendron plants.
The leaves of McColley’s Finale are ovate, with pinnate venation and substantial mid-ribs. McColley’s Finale leaves have a glossy appearance and a waxy texture. Most philodendron plants have a leaf color palette limited to shades of green. In contrast, Philodendron McColley’s Finale has visually-striking chestnut red leaves that darken with age.
Philodendron McColley’s Finale also has a distinctive growth habit. While commonly-grown philodendrons usually have a vining or multi-stemmed growth habit, McColley’s Finale is self-heading and grows outwards from a central point in a rosette.
Philodendron McColley’s Finale is a medium-sized houseplant that reaches an average height of 18 to 24 inches at size months of age (in ideal conditions).
Growing Preferences For Philodendron McColley’s Finale
Like other philodendrons, McColley’s Finale is a relatively hardy plant that is easy to maintain, and it tolerates a wide range of growing conditions with aplomb. Nonetheless, Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants thrive and express their colors most vibrantly and lustrously when grown in optimal conditions.
Light
Philodendron McColley’s Finale prefers low to medium-intensity indirect sunlight (though this depends on the local climate, season, and growing space).
When Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants are exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, the leaves become bleached and lose their unique red colors.
Temperature
The ideal temperature Philodendron McColley’s Finale thrives in warm temperatures ranging from 80°F to 90°F and achieves its maximum growth rate between 85°F and 90°F.
Nonetheless, McColley’s Finale is resilient and easily tolerates temperatures between 60°F to 90°F.
Watering
Philodendron McColley’s Finale has low to medium water requirements. Like other philodendrons, McColley’s Finale prefers the top inch or two of the soil to dry before the plants receive more water.
Having said this, Philodendron McColley’s Finale is a tropical plant with fleshy foliage, so the plants suffer if under-watered.
The exact quantity of water that Philodendron McColley’s Finale requires will depend, of course, on specific factors like the container size, the local climate, and the growing media.
During hot, dry summer weather McColley’s Finale might need weekly watering. In cooler, high-humidity conditions of winter, the plants may only require water every two to three weeks.
Soil
Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants grow well in most general-purpose indoor potting mixes, provided that the growing media has adequate fertility, aeration, and drainage.
McColley’s Finale thrives in soil blends containing materials like peat moss, coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite. These soil mix ingredients ensure that the roots of Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants have consistent access to sufficient oxygen and water.
Given its tropical natural origins, this philodendron variety prefers fertile soil enriched with nutrient sources like high-quality compost or worm castings.
Tips On Caring For Philodendron McColley’s Finale
While Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants are hardy and tolerate a certain amount of neglect, they benefit significantly from tender love and care. Here are some tips on how to care for McColley’s Finale successfully.
Feeding
Philodendron McColley’s Finale isn’t a heavy-feeding plant but benefits from mild fertilizer applications of fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
General-purpose liquid fertilizers are suitable for providing McColley’s Finale plants with the nutrients they require to maintain vigorous growth and lustrous foliage. To avoid causing harm to the plants it is advisable to apply liquid fertilizer at half-strength.
Alternatively, you can feed the plants by top-dressing the soil with a layer of compost or dry fertilizer at the start of the growing season.
Misting To Increase Humidity
As a tropical plant, McColley’s Finale prefers medium to high humidity levels in the air. During hot, dry weather, mist Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants with water to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
Keep The Leaves Clean
Dust accumulates easily on the broad, leathery leaves of Philodendron McColley’s Finale plants, which reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, while also giving the plants an unsightly appearance.
To prevent this problem, use a wet cloth to wipe McColley’s Finale foliage weekly with a damp cloth.
Common Problems And Troubleshooting For Philodendron McColley’s Finale
Though hardy, Philodendron McColley’s Finale may encounter problems if cared for incorrectly.
Root rot is a common problem that McColley’s Finale plants encounter when they are over-watered. The signs of root rot include drooping leaves, slow or stunted growth, and yellowing leaves.
Insect pests like thrips and red spider mites occasionally affect McColley’s Finale plants. These pests usually attack plants stressed by unfavorable environmental conditions (such as excessive heat) and poor maintenance practices (like over-watering). The typical indications of spider mite and thrip issues are sagging, pale foliage, weak plant growth, and tiny red or white spots underneath the leaves.
How To Re-pot Philodendron McColley’s Finale
There are no specific requirements for successfully re-potting Philodendron McColley’s Finale.
Following the general rules for transplanting houseplants will be sufficient to ensure the plants are happy in their new homes. Don’t re-pot into a container that is more than 10% to 15% larger than the original container. Using the same soil blend in the new, larger pot is also advantageous.
How to Propagate Philodendron McColley’s Finale
It is simple to propagate Philodendron McColley’s Finale.
Propagation of this rare and unique philodendron hybrid is usually by cuttings taken in the spring and early summer. The cuttings are placed in water or directly into the soil. McColley’s Finale develops new roots in a few weeks (though the timing depends on factors like the ambient temperature).
Conclusion
Philodendron McColley’s Finale is a rare hybrid with unique, chestnut red foliage.
McColley’s Finale is a low-maintenance plant that tolerates intermittent neglect with impressive resilience. This philodendron variety is at its healthiest and most beautiful when grown in warm, humid conditions and in well-drained and aerated soil mixes.
References
https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP12144P2/en
https://plantproper.com/products/philodendron-mccolleys-finale
https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Plant-Pest-Handbook/pphP/Philodendron-Philodendron