Miconia silicicola Plant Care
Miconia silicicola Gleason
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Miconia silicicola is a species of plant in the family Melastomataceae. It is found in Guyana and Venezuela.
Every 7–10 days
Bright indirect light
65–80°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Miconia silicicola?
Plant Miconia silicicola in bright indirect light (USDA zones 13b) and water a young tree every 7–10 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Miconia silicicola?
Miconia silicicola (Miconia silicicola) belongs to the Melastomataceae family within the Miconia genus. Miconia silicicola is native to Guyana and Venezuela.
Miconia silicicola displays a tall, upright shrub growth habit, reaching up to 5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Miconia silicicola produces small, colorful clusters of flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Miconia silicicola?
Water a young or newly planted Miconia silicicola every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Miconia silicicola Need?
Miconia silicicola thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Miconia silicicola in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect light
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Miconia silicicola Prefer?
Miconia silicicola tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F. Miconia silicicola prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–80°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Miconia silicicola?
Well-draining, acidic soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Miconia silicicola to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Miconia silicicola?
Feed Miconia silicicola every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Miconia silicicola?
Choose a spot with bright indirect light and well-draining, acidic soil with high organic matter content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Miconia silicicola is suited to USDA Zone 13b.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Miconia silicicola?
Miconia silicicola can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 5 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Miconia silicicola?
Prune Miconia silicicola while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.
How Do You Care for a Miconia silicicola in Winter?
Miconia silicicola is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.
How Do You Propagate a Miconia silicicola?
Miconia silicicola can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to marica bicolor plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Miconia silicicola Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Miconia silicicola, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Miconia silicicola?
Miconia silicicola is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Miconia silicicola Need?
Miconia silicicola grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Miconia silicicola is native to Guyana and Venezuela. In cooler regions, grow Miconia silicicola as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Miconia silicicola is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Miconia genus — compare its care with other Miconia species on PlantoScan.
Miconia is part of the Melastomataceae plant family — browse all Melastomataceae genera and species.
Miconia silicicola thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Miconia Species
Other Miconia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Miconia silicicola Gleason, family Melastomataceae (first published in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 58: 428 (1931)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Miconia silicicola, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
