Key Takeaways
- Anthurium crystallinum is a large-leaved hybrid plant that is crossed between an anthurium and a tulip.
- Known for its velvety dark green leaves with striking white veins, making it a great showcase plant for any home.
- Simple plant care are as follow:
- Watering: Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry before watering again; overwatering can be harmful to this tropical plant’s roots.
- Sunlight: A few hours of indirect sunlight per day will help promote leaf growth; however, avoid direct sun exposure as it could damage its delicate leaves.
- Temperature: Finally, your plant should be kept in temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Table of Contents
What is Anthurium Crystallinum?
Anthurium crystallinum is a large-leaved plant in the Anthurium genus and the Araceae family.
Anthurium crystallinum is a hybrid plant crossed between an anthurium and a tulip. It makes a wide range of colors, including glossy green leaves and deep red flowers that look like anthuriums.
The love this plant gets from gardeners is because its velvety leaves and striking white veins make it a stunning plant in every home.
Due to their large size and shaped leaves, some have been described as resembling “a giant green umbrella.”
Crystal Anthurium is another name for Anthurium crystallinum. It is native to Central and South American rainforests, where it grows as an epiphyte or terrestrial plant on trees or rocks in montane forests.
Where crystallinum grows best depends on the location. In USDA zones 10–11, they flourish as outdoor plants.
This flowering plant is best grown in moist but well-drained soil. The plant thrives when provided with high humidity and shade in the summer, while it likes to be partially shaded in the warmer months.
They can even be grown indoors if set in a bright, sunny location with plenty of water and humidity.
In addition to its attractive foliage, this species has gained popularity for its ability to grow into very tall specimens that reach heights of up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall.
In this blog post, you will learn how to care for your crystal anthurium, such as by watering and feeding it. You can also learn more about the different types of anthuriums that you can grow in your garden.
How to care for Anthurium Crystallinum
Anthurium crystallinum needs lots of water, sunlight, and the right temperature.
When watering your plant, allow the top inch or two of soil to dry before watering again; overwatering can be harmful to this tropical plant’s roots.
As for sunlight, a few hours of indirect sunlight per day will help promote leaf growth; however, avoid direct sun exposure as it could damage its delicate leaves.
Finally, your plant should be kept in temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read further for more tips on how to care for your Anthurium crystallinum
Temperature and Humidity
Anthurium crystallinum is a large-leaved houseplant in the Anthurium genus and the Araceae family.
The love this plant gets from gardeners is because its velvety leaves and striking white veins make it a stunning plant in every home.
Naturally, you can find Anthurium growing in Central and South America, but what makes this plant unique is that it can adapt anywhere when given care.
Where crystallinum grows best depends on the location. In USDA zones 10–11, they flourish as outdoor plants.
However, in other regions, indoor plants suit them. Although this tropical plant is a slower grower, the result of caring for Anthurium will satisfy you.
You will have a healthy plant that will grow as tall as 3 feet (90 cm) with beautiful foliage.
More so, Anthurium crystallinum care requires you to place this plant in humid air since dry air can lead to the development of brown leaves.
If it’s dry, mist the air when it’s dry, or use a pebble tray to humidify Anthurium Crystallinum.
Light
For Anthurium crystallinum care, you must know that this plant loves light. Take advantage of the summer and expose it to bright, indirect light.
Providing shade is also great because, no matter how much the Anthurium crystallinum plant enjoys light, it does not tolerate direct sunlight.
The plant can burn or develop yellow leaves when exposed to intense sunlight.
You can provide shade for the crystal anthurium by keeping it under a tree outdoors or near a window with blinds or curtains.
Watering
The recommendation is to water the Anthurium crystallinum plant regularly during the summer and less in the winter to help it thrive.
Overwatering this plant can cause root rot, so water with caution.
The best method to consider when watering this plant is the soak-and-dry technique since it has proven effective.
Do the soak-and-dry style by watering it thoroughly and ensuring that the soil is dry before going again.
While the motive is to avoid excessive watering, many plant owners have become overzealous about it, thus depriving Anthurium crystallinum of water.
It is wrong to let your plant get too dry, as it can cause it to wilt away. Always keep the soil moist.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing is not necessary to grow Anthurium crystallinum. However, using a little in the growing season to encourage flower growth is not a bad idea.
To feed your garden plants, use a diluted amount of organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen and phosphorous.
In either situation, try to avoid applying chemical fertilizers, as they could lead to the salinization of your plant.
Soil and Repotting
The kind of soil you grow Anthurium crystallinum on can be any soil, but make sure it is well-draining.
This plant does not tolerate excessively moist soil because it causes root rot and infection.
Hence, Anthurium crystallinum requires slightly acidic soil with suitable drainage holes.
To achieve this, use a potting mix of sphagnum moss, orchid bark, pine bark, or coconut coir mixed with peat moss.
You can repot Anthurium crystallinum every two years.
This plant will not be hurt while being root-bound; Unless it is growing off the pot and not absorbing water properly, there is no need to repot the entire plant.
Propagation
There are two easy ways to propagate Anthurium crystallinum. They include; root division and stem cuttings.
For stem-cutting propagation, use a sterilized object to cut off the stems from the mother plant.
When the cuttings have healed, root them in clean water and expose them to bright, indirect light.
In a few days, this plant should start developing.
Propagation by root division involves a similar process, except that you only have to look for the offshoots and separate them this time around.
Common Pests and Diseases
These tropical plants are susceptible to lots of attacks from pests and diseases.
However, there is proof that most of the infestations are because of overwatering.
These pests and diseases are mealybugs, bacterial blight, Pythium fungal infection, etc.
To eradicate this infection, you need to stop overwatering your plant.
Also, it’s important to keep an eye out because most of these infections don’t show up right away.
When they become visible, your plant is already in danger, and there is nothing you can do except cut the infested part off or use neem oil.
FAQ
Is Anthurium Crystallinum fast-growing?
Anthurium crystallinum does not grow fast. Its leaves will become more noticeable with time, but it will take some time to see a major change. They will reach a mature height of roughly 3 feet and will grow at a rate of 20 inches every few years, depending on how well they are cared for. Bottom line, Anthurium crystallinum requires time to grow, but the mature plants are worth the wait.
What is the difference between anthurium clarinervium and crystallinum?
Anthurium crystallinum and Anthurium clarinervium vary primarily in that Anthurium crystallinum has thinner, vivid green leaves, and Anthurium clarinervium has wider, dark green leaves. In addition, Anthurium crystallinum develops more quickly than Anthurium clarinervium. Anthurium crystallinum has more delicate leaves with clear-cut patterns on the blades, whilst Anthurium clarinervium has thicker, leathery (coriaceous) leaves that are more characteristically heart-shaped. Anthurium clarinervium has enormous orange fruit, whilst Anthurium crystallinum produces whitish-violet-colored berries.
Is anthurium crystallinum toxic?
Yes, Anthurium crystallinum plants are poisonous. Though they are known for their flamingo flowers or beautiful foliage, if you consume them, you will feel a terrible burning feeling in your mouth. The plant contains oxalic crystals that are known to irritate the mouth, digestive system, and throat. Blisters and swelling are just some of the symptoms.
Conclusion
Anthurium crystallinum plants are a type of aroid with a stocky, green leaf that can grow to be up to 3 feet in height.
Since this plant is native to tropical rainforests, it will thrive if you plant them in partial shade and provide regular watering.
We hope this blog post has helped answer some questions about growing anthuriums in your home garden.
Other types of Anthuriums to Consider
Anthurium crystallinum plants are an interesting addition to any garden, however, there are other anthurium plants to consider. Read on for more information on other types of anthuriums:
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.