Anthurium crystallinum care infographicAnthurium Crystallinum is a tropical plant that can be grown in greenhouses. They are found in Central America on treetops and the side of hills.

Did you know that Anthurium crystallinum plant is used as a food product and used for medicinal purposes by the Americans for centuries? They chew the bright red anthurium flowers to get relief from nausea or heartburn. The leaves are boiled to cure a cold.

The plant is ideal for potted gardens and also grows well outside in the ground. Growing it is fun because it needs low maintenance, and one can easily take care of this eye-catching plant.

What is Anthurium Crystallinum?

– Profile

  • Genus: Anthurium
  • Family: Araceae
  • Other names: Crystal Anthurium

Genus Anthurium has more than 600 to 800 species. They are green, tropical herbaceous plants with colorful spathe and attractive foliage. Their flowers are called Flamingo flowers.

Care for Anthurium Crystallinum

Anthurium plant belongs to the family Araceae. The family includes a collection of plants such as an aloe vera plant. The flowers of the anthurium plant were considered a symbol of wealth and status in South America.

Today these beautiful plants with flowers are found worldwide.

The anthurium houseplant has two categories.

1. Flowering Anthuriums

They have long-lasting spathes. They give color to your homes.

2. Foliage Anthuriums

These species are rare and not found easily. Its foliage, pattern, shape, and size are admirable. Anthurium crystallinum requires temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You should use an airy potting mix that can hold moisture with fast draining.

The potting mix should contain orchid bark, perlite, and compost. They need bright indirect light and high humidity levels ranging from 70 to 80 percent.

The leaves of Anthurium crystallinum have a silvery-white pattern with a silvery velvety sheen. The leaves are heart-shaped. The front part of the leaves is oval-shaped while the inner side is coppery-colored.

Anthurium crystallinum is a flowering plant. The flower has a spathe of dull purplish-brown color and has a pleasant fragrance. Anthurium crystallinum needs to be water in a regular pattern to thrive.

How to Care for Anthurium Crystallinum

Taking care of this stunning hearty plant is fun if you know what it needs to stay happy. Our guide will help you do just that.

– Soil Requirement

Anthurium crystallinum is a perennial epiphyte and can be grown in a wide range of soil.

Crystallinum Grown in a Wide Range of Soil

The best Anthurium crystallinum soil is the one with a porous texture. Make sure the soil contains plenty of air pockets for the roots to breathe.

– Light Requirements

Anthurium crystallinum needs indirect light. Place them on the kitchen window. Direct exposure to sunlight may burn the leaves. Anthurium crystallinum needs 70 to 85 percent sunlight. If you want to grow Anthurium crystallinum outdoors, you have to provide some sort of shade to the plant.

You can also grow them under the shade of a tree. The plant grows slowly under exposure to low light. If the plant is indoors and the room is dark and does not have natural bright light, you can arrange alternative light sources. Use LED grow lamps. They produce heat and can also control the intensity of light through them.

– Water Requirements

Anthurium crystallinum is a native of tropical rainforests, so they need a sufficient amount of water. Their roots are exposed to air and dry out as quickly as they get wet. The pot or container of the potting mix must have good drainage. You can water the plant twice or thrice a week in the summer.

In winters, give lukewarm water once in two weeks. The PH of the water also affects the growth of the plant. The PH of water should be neutral or below neutral. You can use Alkaline tap water for watering Anthurium Crystallinum.

– Temperature Requirements

Anthurium crystallinum is a warmth-loving plant. Anthurium crystallinum grows well in temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 F. Keep it indoors during winter. The plant should avoid extreme temperature fluctuations. They can bear a minimum temperature which is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

– Humidity Requirements

Anthurium crystallinum loves to grow in high air humidity. These plants are natives of rainforests, exposed to constant evaporation of water. Anthurium crystalline grows well in high humidity levels between 70 to 80 percent. Keep the plant near the kitchen window to get a sufficient amount of indirect sunlight.

Anthurium Crystallinum Growing in High Air Humidity

Anthurium crystalline can also be kept in the bathroom. There is humidity and bright light in the bathroom. If the room has heaters or air conditioners, they will dry the air and harm this indoor plant. You can use humidifiers in the rooms to maintain the humidity level in the room.

– Fertilizer Requirements

Crystal Anthurium needs nutrition for its growth. It needs a potting mix with organic matter and a well-balanced fertilizer to improve its growth rate. Use organic fertilizer over chemical fertilizers because they are slow-release. Additionally, chemical fertilizers have certain salts that destroy the plant.

Phosphorus used as a fertilizer has a positive effect on the growth of the plant. Other nutrients such as nitrogen, magnesium, and calcium are best.

Crystal Anthurium is a tropical plant. It takes up minerals during rain when they are outdoors, in the garden.

The nutrients have a positive impact on the plant. If the plant is getting nutrients from rainfall, you do not need to fertilize them frequently. However, Overfertilizing causes the small leaves to lose their color and become pale-colored.

When the color of your plant changes, stop adding fertilizer and give your plant a break. Likewise, stop giving fertilizer to your plant in winter.

How to Propagate Anthurium Crystallinum

The propagation methods for Crystal Anthurium are simple. The easy way for propagation is to separate plantlets from the roots. The most reliable method of propagating Anthurium crystalline is root separation.

Propagation Methods for Crystal Anthurium

The propagation of Anthurium crystalline can also be done through seeds from the berries on the spadix to germinate.

– Growth

Anthurium crystalline growth rate is slow. The new shoots appear in about 3 to 4 weeks. Anthurium crystalline grows better in the ground than in a pot. Anthurium crystallinum doesn’t require regular pruning.

– Potting

Anthurium crystalline can be grown as a potted plant. Place the plant in the pot, and pour in the potting mixture around the roots. Anthurium crystalline likes to be root-bound. Repotting and rooting are not necessary.

You can repot the plant when the roots outgrow the pot. It happens once every two years. Pick up the plant gently and repot it. Give the potting mix the supplementing organic material. You have to give well-diluted fertilizer at the time of repotting.

Propagation Made Simple

– Root Division Method

Root division is a simple and reliable method of propagation. Root division is possible only when the plant is mature and at least a year old. Follow this step-to-step guide to propagate your plants.

Root Division for Anthurium Plants

  1. Remove the plant from the planter at the start of winter until summer
  2. Remove the soil around the root until you see the thick stem at the center
  3. Cut the stem into two halves. The top half should have leaves and roots. The bottom half is the stump
  4. Ensure both the divisions have few roots
  5. Keep cutting for a day and then plant the two halves in individual pots
  6. The stump should be visible above the soil mix
  7. Moisten the soil and maintain high humidity with a plastic bag with holes
  8. Give diluted good quality fertilizer to your plants

– Propagate Anthurium Crystallinum Through Plantlets

You may see young plantlets at the roots in the mature plant. Young plantlets are attached to the stem from the bottom. When the growing season starts, separate the plantlet. This method diminishes the bushy look of the plant.

Common Problems

– Spots on Leaves

The leaf spots are an indication of bacterial invasion. It is caused by overwatering or moist leaves.

Bacterial Invasion On Anthurium Leaves

The leaves with the decaying spots should be immediately cut off with sharp scissors.

– Lesions

Yellowed lesions form along the leaf margins due to bacterial infection.

– Wilting Leaves

The leaves turn yellow and eventually wilt even if the plant gets a sufficient amount of water. You should always check the roots of the plant. If they rot, it is because of the Pythium fungal infection. This fungal infection is due to waterlogged soil and excess humidity.

Anthurium crystallinum should be grown in dry environments as compared to other tropical plants.

– Pest Attacks

Anthurium crystallinum is pest resistant. Sometimes the plant is attacked by some sucking pests like aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs. These pests suck the sap of the leaves and feed on plant nutrients. To get rid of pests, spray the plant with insecticidal soap once a week.

Anthurium Crystallinum is Pest Resistant Plant

Use isopropyl alcohol to remove the dead insects. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

– Bacterial Blithe

The bacteria enter the Anthurium plants through pores along the margin of the leaf. Bacteria can also get inside the plant from torn tissues, punctures by insects, or wounds during harvesting. Once the bacteria invade, they quickly spread throughout the plant.

It also changes the leaves to exhibit a bronzed appearance. The bacteria also attacks the flowers and causes the plant to wilt and die. When bacteria invade the plant throughout the vascular system, veins in the leaves and stems become brown or bronze. This bacterial infection causes the plant to wilt.

– Rhizoctonia Root Rot

The fungus Rhizoctonia attacks the roots and bottom of the stems of the anthurium plant. This fungus spreads when the plant undergoes overwatering. The fungus causes root rot.

– Phytophthora And Pythium

Phytophthora and Pythium are known as Oomycetes. They are commonly called water molds. Plants infected by these pathogens display yellowing of leaves, wilting, and root rot.

– Black Nose Disease

The plant may display brown to black spots. They are on the floral spadix, called the nose. These black spots on the nose represent the name of this disease. These spots become large and watery and may include the spadix. The spadix eventually falls off.

Anthurium Crystallinum: Growing Tips

  • Anthurium crystallinum loves its roots to get washed and dried after that
  • Use organic material in the potting mix for better growth
  • Dry the leaves after you water the plant
  • Provide a high level of humidity to the plant
  • Grow Anthurium crystallinum in a pot where the roots need to breathe. It helps the plant in disease prevention

Growing Tips for Anthurium Crystallinum

  • The roots should be cream-colored with a pink tinge. This color is a sign of health
  • The plant loves warmth. They can not tolerate the frost
  • The anthurium crystallinum plant grows by the Aquaponic systems. This type of growth means that the plant can support fish (or other aquatic creatures) to get bigger.
  • If you see that the anthurium crystallinum plant starts losing its leaves or flowers, do not worry. Because it is normal and does not mean that your plant is dying. When the suitable time comes,  the plant will replace the lost leaves and can be grown healthy

Varieties of Anthurium

1. Anthurium Clarinervium

Their leaves are broad, large, and heart-shaped with white veins.

2. Anthurium Magnificum

The leaves are heart-shaped and larger. Their flowers are bisexual.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a simple way to identify Anthurium crystallinum?

Anthurium Crystallinum is an anthurium plant. When water droplets fall on the surface of the leaf,  they create the appearance of crystals.

2. Is it challenging to take care of Anthurium crystallinum?

Anthurium crystallinum is a beautiful houseplant that is easy to care for. It has gorgeous foliage and has low maintenance.

3. Should I repot Anthurium crystallinum?

Repotting of Anthurium crystallinum can be done every year or every two years. When the soil gets older, the roots develop a bacterial and fungal infection.

Crystal Anthurium Needs to be Repotting Every Year

Repotting is beneficial, and the plants do not get brown or sluggish.

4. Are Anthurium crystallinum toxic for children and pets?

The plant is toxic when ingested. The plant contains oxalic crystals. When ingested, they irritate the mouth, intestinal tract, and throat. The sap of the leaf can also cause allergic reactions.

5. How do I boost the flowering of Anthurium crystallinum?

Add some diluted phosphorus-rich fertilizer or orchid fertilizer to the plant to increase the bloom. Plenty of indirect sunshine and the right amount of water can also increase flowering.

6. Does Anthurium crystallinum like misting?

Anthurium crystalline requires a high humidity level. You have to mist your plants daily. The water should not be in such an amount that it will stay in the soil for long. This situation causes fungal infection to start around the roots.

If you want to get your plant flower again, you need to put your plant in a position where it can get bright indirect sunlight. Water your plant once a week and add fertilizer. Stop giving fertilizer in early spring for six weeks to two months and give less water.

In summer, give more water and fertilize the plant again. This procedure allows them to produce new flowers. The leaf will come earlier, followed by a flower.

7. Does the Anthurium crystallinum have a fast growth rate?

Anthurium crystalline is an epiphytic plant. They grow in trees and require plenty of water and humidity. They grow fast when provided with bright indirect sunlight, water, and moisture.

Conclusion

Let’s try to recap the most important things to know about this special plant:

  • Anthurium crystallinum is a flowering plant that can be grown as a potted houseplant
  • Grow Anthurium crystallinum in a pot where the roots need to breathe. It helps the plant in disease prevention.
  • The leaves of Anthurium crystallinum have a striking silver-white pattern with a silvery velvety sheen
  • Anthurium crystalline needs bright, indirect light
  • Anthurium crystalline wants a high level of humidity and needs warm temperatures. Mist your plants daily.
  • Anthurium crystallinum is pest resistant. Sometimes the plant is attacked by some sucking pests
  • Anthurium crystalline needs a well-draining, loose potting mix that can hold some moisture
  • It will love a feed of balanced fertilizer during the growing season. Phosphorous used as a fertilizer has a positive effect on the growth of the plant
  • Anthurium crystallinum needs potting mix with organic content, well-balanced fertilizer to improve growth
  • Repot Anthurium crystalline when the roots are getting out of the drainage holes
  • Repotting of a plant can be done every year or two years. You can also prune it to remove dead or dying leaves
  • They are toxic. Avoid ingestion
  • The propagation methods for Anthurium are easy to practice
  • Anthurium crystallinum plant is used as a food product and used for medicinal purposes by the American people
  • Different types of bacteria and fungi attack Anthurium crystallinum. It causes various diseases like wilt, lesions, bacterial blight, among others
  • Anthurium crystallinum is an anthurium plant. When water droplets fall on the surface of the leaf, they create the appearance of crystals

Anthurium crystalline is a lovely plant to have at home. With basic care practices in place, you can enjoy growing this wonderful plant. The guide above will assist you in understanding its basic requirements and have a fun gardening experience.

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