Philodendron Mccolley's Final Care From A to Z (+Bonus Tips)

If you're looking for a plant that will give your home a tropical-summer vibe, Philodendron Mccolley's Final is the one to choose.

Philodendron Mccolley's Final, also known as ‘Mccolley’s Finale’ is a tropical hybrid plant that stands out for its arrow-shaped leaves which have cinnamon to orange color that turns green as the plant matures. Philodendron Mccolley's Final belongs to the Araceae family, one of the most exotic and extravagant plant families when it comes to foliage.

'Mccolley's Finale’ grows naturally in the West Indies and the Topical Americas (Central American coast and off the Caribbean islands). This is mostly because of the humidity these areas contain, which is ideal for growing plants.

Philodendron Mccolley's Final grows just fine in low-medium lighting set up, but they can also tolerate bright light as long as it’s indirect. These plants don’t like to be too wet, overwatering Mccolley's Finale could harm its growth.

If you're planning on planting or buying a Mccolley's Final, here’s a complete care guide with all the information you need to maintain it healthy. This guide provides details in watering, lighting, temperature, fertilizers, and much more. Also, it includes a section on how to propagate Philodendron 'Mccolley's Final'. Hope it helps, enjoy!

Featured images by plantahouseofFL.

General Care for Philodendron Mccolley's Final

Water

Philodendron Mccolley's Final only needs to be watered one or two times a week, three at the max. This depends greatly on the weather and sunlight the plant is receiving. It's best to water the plant after the top two inches are dry.

The plant will receive higher lighting during the summer, so it's better to water Philodendron Mccolley's Final around 2 or 3 times per week during summer to keep the soil moist. But as the weather gets colder, it’s better to keep it at once a week.

Overwatering can be very dangerous in the case of Philodendron Mccolley's Final Finale because it can easily lead to root rot just like any other Philodendrons. Philodendron Mccolley's Final can tolerate dry-outs between watering periods, so it’s better to not water it at all instead of overdoing it.

A great way to recognize when a Philodendron Mccolley's Final needs water is by looking at the leaves. When the plant is dry and needs water you’ll notice the leaves will be wilted, but if the leaves have a more animated appearance then the plant is fine.

If you like this kind of content, check out: Philodendron giganteum Care – Expert Growing Guide

Light

Philodendron Mccolley's Final requires a medium to low indirect lighting setup. Never expose the plant to direct fierce sunlight for long hours because this will burn the delicate foliage of the leaves.

Because of the low light it requires, Philodendron Mccolley's Final makes a great indoor plant, ideal for offices, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. With this said, try to keep it away from dark places since this could lead to the plant growing skinny and ugly.

Although the Mccolley is better off with medium-light brightness, you’ll notice the plant will thrive a lot better if exposed to bright indirect light. It will produce its most vibrant leaves in bright indirect sunlight.

If you decide you want to keep the plant outside, choose a partially shaded area.

Soil

If we’re talking about soil, a well-draining mix will do great with Philodendron Mccolley's Final. It’s highly recommended that the pH of the soil is between 6.1 and 7.5. 

Humusy and loamy soils are the best for gardens because they will give Philodendron Mccolley's Final a high organic content. But if you have your Mccolley Finale in a pot, you can use a well-drained aroid potting mix (click here for a good pre-made aroid mix from Etsy). 

The standard substrate for houseplants is prone to compaction, so you could improve its structure by adding peat moss, sand, or perlite in equal amounts. You can also grow it in a ready-made cactus mixture, to which you will add peat moss or perlite in the ratio of 50:50.

Add orchid barks, coconut husks, or smaller pieces of brick to the mixture because the root likes to wrap around them, forming air pockets, which contribute to the soil's airiness and ultimately improve the plant's health.

Potting

A pot for a Philodendron Mccolley's Final plant should allow a high quantity of drainage. Like we mentioned before, one of the biggest risks of the Mccolley Finale is root rot due to overwatering.

As for repotting, Philodendron Mccolley's Final is a plant that doesn't necessarily like to be moved from its original container. So do not repot it unless it is necessary, this means unless the roots get congested inside. The best time to move a Mccolley's Finale to a new container (must be slightly bigger than the original) is at the beginning of spring before the leaves start to come out.

Fertilizer

It’s best if you only apply fertilizers on Philodendron Mccolley's Final between two and four times a year during summer when the plant is in its growth period.

Do not use fertilizers on Philodendron Mccolley's Final during fall or winter. Also, make sure you are watering the Mccolley’s Finale while you’re feeding it to avoid the concentration of the product stagnating.

You must fertilize a Philodendron Mccolley's Final in a restricted manner, at least six inches away from the base. Overfeeding a Philodendron Mccolley's Final can cause damage to the roots and leaves, so make sure to pour the product carefully. It's best if you use slow-time-released products to fertilize these types of plants.   

Humidity

The humidity for a Philodendron Mccolley's Final must be above 40%. Most houses have humidity running between 40% and 50%, but during cold winters and dry summers the humidity can drop down to 30%. If this seems to happen, misting is a great method to get back the ideal humidity.

Another way to increase humidity is by placing the Philodendron Mccolley's Final around other plants.

But don’t worry too much about the Mccolleys Finale in this sense because this plant is known for being tolerant to dry weather conditions. 

But with all of this said, if you wish for your Philodendron Mccolley's Final to grow at their best, keep the humidity around it at 60%.

Temperature

The best temperature for a Philodendron Mccolley's Final to grow is between 16-24ºC (60-75ºF). This type of plant grows healthy in warmer conditions due to its tropical nature. Philodendron Mccolley's Final can tolerate heat much better than cold. But don’t get too confident about this, too much heat for long hours could stress the plant.

Feel free to take your Philodendron Mccolley's Final outdoors during the summer (without getting direct sunlight). But you should never leave a Mccolleys Finale outside during a freezing winter. 

Cold temperature is Philodendron Mccolley's Final number one weakness and it is most likely to not survive in these conditions.

If you like this kind of content, check out: Philodendron Golden Goddess Care: The Ultimate Growers’ Guide

Pruning

Philodendron Mccolley's Final isn’t a plant that necessarily needs pruning. However, this plant is known for growing very fast so if you want it to maintain a better appearance you can trim the older leaves near to the base. 

You should also make sure to trim the diseased and dead leaves. You can easily scout these out by looking at the color of the leaves. Dead or diseased leaves tend to adopt a brown to yellow color.

In case you have your Philodendron Mccolley's Final growing in a vertical space, you may have to do a bit more leave maintenance due to Mccolleys Finale climbing habit.

Diseases

The main cause of diseases in Philodondren Mccolley is excess moisture. The two most common diseases for Philodendron Mccolley's Final are blight and leaf spot.

To prevent blight from spreading, simply remove the affected leaves from the plant and burn them. Also, place wood chips around the soil to avoid fungus spores splashing the plant.

Most plants can live with leaf spot disease, it isn’t that dangerous. But the best way to prevent it is to avoid overwatering and keeping a clean garden.

Pests

Although Philodendron Mccolley's Final is very tolerant of pests, the best way to avoid them is by cleaning the leaves daily so you can spot pests early and keep the plant healthy. If the Mccolleys Finale is stressed, it is most likely to catch pests like aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs.

If you happen to identify any of these pests early on, the best way to treat them is with insecticidal or regular dishwashing soap and water solution (mix 1 tablespoon of soap per quart of water).

How to Propagate Philodendron Mccolley's Final

Like most Philodendrons, Mccolleys Finales propagation is done by planting a stem cutting during the plant’s growth period. You can also use Division or Air layering, but we are only going to explain the easiest method.

Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to propagate Philodendron Mccolley's Final (with stem cuttings):

• Step one: Look for stem cuttings on the growing edges. Try to select the most healthy-looking stems with at least two or more leaves on them.
• Step two: Grab a sharp knife or scissors and cut the stems from the plant. Try to make the cut as accurate as possible. Do not tear forcibly the stems or this could traumatize the plant and reduce the chances of enjoying a new Philodendron MCccolley.
• Step three: Put the cuttings inside a container (preferably a glass jar) with moist oil. Its recommended to cover the jar with a plastic bag, this will increase humidity and chances of success.
• Step four: Leave the container with the plant medium light area. Make sure it is not receiving direct sunlight, this will most likely kill it. Pay attention and provide maintenance until the plant starts to grow roots.
• Step five: Once the Mccolleys finale has been in the container for 3 to 4 weeks, pull the plant gently to see if it resists. If the plant shows signs of resistance, then it will have successfully grown new and healthy roots.
• Step six: Once the roots have grown about an inch, gently move it to soil and enjoy your new Philodendron Mccolley.

Related questions:

Why are the leaves of my Philodendron Mccolley's Final turning yellow?

Philodendron Mccolley's Final turns yellow due to overwatering or underwatering. A soil that is too moist or too dry can make the plant stressed. 

Another reason why your Philodendron Mccolley's Final may have turned yellow could be poor lighting. Mccolleys Finale is known for growing fine in a low lighting setup but if it doesn’t receive enough light, it will most likely turn yellow.

The best way to avoid your Philodendron turning yellow is placing it in a bright indirect spot and watering it only when the top 2 inches of the soil are dry to the touch.

What is the price of Philodendron Mccolley's Final?

A six-inch pot of Philodendron Mccolley's Final will cost you between 35 and 50 USD, while an 8-inch pot somewhere between 50 and 65 USD. 

Philodendron Mccolley's Final are all over the world and the price will change depending on what country or store you buy them in. But overall it is a very accessible and common indoor plant that fits perfectly for decoration purposes.

Is the Philodendron Mccolley's Final toxic?

The answer is yes. Like most Philodendrons, the Mccolleys Finale is toxic to humans and animals. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, so the best idea would be to keep it away from pets and children.

Ingesting a leaf from a Philodendron Mccolley's Final could lead to nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, swelling, pain in swallowing, and eye irritation. If you or someone around you happens to swallow a Mccolleys Finale leaf by accident, you must go straight to the hospital.

Why is my Philodendron Mccolley's Final wilting?

If your Philodendron Mccolley's Final leaves are wilting, it will most likely be related to the watering of the plant. Overwatering or underwatering a Mccolley’s Finale can lead to the leaves dropping. 

There could also exist other causes for the wilting of your Philodendron Mcoolley’s Finale including repotting shock, excessive heat, nutrient deficiency, low humidity, cold drafts, and fertilizer burn.

The best way to avoid/fix this problem is by keeping a consistent water schedule and following the growth of the plant closely. Pay attention to the lighting it’s receiving, the percentage of humidity around it, and the quality of fertilizer you use.

If you like this kind of content, check out: Philodendron Care: 5 Best Tips for Success