June 4, 2022, by Vivienne Sayers
Anthurium crystallinum
The Anthurium Crystallinum, sometimes referred to as the Crystal Anthurium or Crystal Laceleaf, is a perennial epiphyte (check the ‘useful terms’ for definitions below!) native to Central America that grows on treetops or the sides of hills. Discover all you need to know about Crystal Anthurium care and propagation in this blog!
Is the Anthurium Crystallinum challenging to maintain?
Anthurium crystallinum is unexpectedly simple to maintain. The plant's leaves may be intimidatingly beautiful, but it does not make it difficult to care for.
How should Anthurium crystallinum be cared for?
The Crystallinum's primary care needs are as follows:
- Provide it with bright, indirect lighting or bright, filtered lighting.
- Keep it consistently moist
- Use a loose, well-draining potting mix that retains some moisture (We can help you mix this in store for an extra 3euro!)
How much light does Anthurium Crystallinum need?
Provide bright, indirect light or bright filtered light to your Anthurium crystallinum. They love bright light, yet they also thrive naturally in situations with partial shade.
If you expose them to direct sunlight, the foliage will weaken.
How must I water my Anthurium Crystallinum?
Anthurium crystallinum prefers to be kept moist at all times. It's critical to note that MOIST does not equal WET.
Water your Anthurium crystallinum when the top inch or two of the potting mix is dry to retain the optimum level of moisture. Before watering, always put your finger down into the potting soil to check if it is dry. Getting into the habit of doing so can help you avoid overwatering and root rot, which are the two most common causes of plant death.
What sort of potting mix does Anthurium Crystallinum require?
Anthurium crystallinum is an epiphyte; thus, it does not need to be densely packed into the soil. Instead, it requires a well-draining, loose potting mix that retains some moisture. I know it seems counterintuitive! This plant will thrive in a combination of orchid bark, perlite, and two parts indoor plant potting mix (found instore!) This means that the potting mix will retain some moisture while allowing the rest of the water to flow out, so your plant does not get soggy.
Does Anthurium Crystallinum like humidity?
Since Crystallinum is native to humid settings in Central and South America, it prefers greater humidity. The most straightforward method to increase humidity is to use a humidifier. You can purchase a cheap humidifier in any Argos, Homestore & More etc.!
Fertilising?
To fertilise this plant, use a houseplant fertiliser once or twice a month throughout the growing season (spring and summer). We have a fantastic organic fertiliser in-store and online made in County Westmeath, Ireland.
When should I repot my Anthurium Crystallinum?
Anthurium crystallinum grows slowly, so you won't have to repot it often. Instead, repot this plant when it gets rootbound. Rootbound plants exhibit the following characteristics:
- Roots growing from the drainage holes in the pot
- Taking the plant out of its container and inspecting the roots to see whether they are curled around the bottom of the pot/around the exterior of the soil
When repotting, choose a pot that is the next size up in diameter (2 - 4cm) from its present pot and has adequate drainage, i.e. holes in the bottom of the pot and/or well-draining soil. If feasible, attempt to repot throughout the growth season (spring and summer).
Flowers and foliage
Anthurium crystallinum has big, velvety deep green leaves with beautiful white veins. The leaves are somewhat heart-shaped and longer than they are broad. However, they are not as heart-shaped as other Anthuriums, such as the Clarinervium or Magnificum, which are likewise broader. The crystallinum sometimes blossoms a spathe and spadix (flower). However, they are cultivated for their gorgeous leaves rather than their blooms.
Pests and issues
Why are my Anthurium crystallinum's leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves are often caused by overwatering. Underwatering and too much direct light are two more prevalent reasons.
Brown, crunchy leaf edges
Your plant's environment is most likely excessively dry, either soil moisture or air humidity. Overwatering and too direct light are two more possibilities.
Root rot is frequent in plants that want to be continuously moist since it might be difficult to discern "moist" from "wet." Black, mushy roots, reduced development, and a sad-looking plant are all classic root rot symptoms. If you have root rot, I published an article to assist you!
Propagation
The Crystal Anthurium may be propagated in two different ways:
1. You can gather them from the spadix's (flowers) berries. Plant the seeds in well-fertilized soil and let them germinate for 2–5 weeks.
2. Crystallinum may also be propagated through division (splitting the plant). As soon as plantlets (baby plants) form from the mother plant, detach them from the plant's roots. Then, divide the plantlet's subterranean stem in half (the part of the stem that is in the soil). For the plantlet to develop properly, the divided plantlets must have roots! Allow them to rest for a day before planting the two parts in separate pots. Keep the soil moist and feed the plant with diluted, high-quality fertilizer until it stabilises.
Useful terms:
- Epiphyte - a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids that grow on the trunks of trees in tropical rainforests.
- Perennial - Perennial plants sprout every spring, while annual plants exist for just one growing season before dying off.
- Propagation - Propagation is the process of growing baby plants using a plant you already have. Many of the most common houseplants are asexual, meaning all the cells the plant needs for creating a reproduction of itself can be found in the stems, leaves, or roots. This makes propagation even easier.
- Humidity - The humidity is the quantity of water vapour in the air.