Anthurium Crystallinum: Origin, Appearance, Care, and Propagation

Anthurium crystallinum, commonly called Crystal Anthurium, is a rare, hard-to-come-by Anthurium species prized for its beautiful foliage. The plant produces large, heart-shaped, and deep green foliage with velvety texture and striking pale green or silvery white venation. This species can grow to over 18 inches in length when properly cared for.

In this blog post, we will cover everything, including Anthurium Crystallinum characteristics, origin, care requirements, propagation methods, and common problems that can affect its normal growth in detail.

This blog post will provide a step-by-step care and growing guide for this beautiful plant.

What is Anthurium Crystallinum? History, Origin, Habitat, and Morphological Characters

Anthurium Crystallinum, aka Crystal Anthurium, is an epiphytic evergreen plant in the Araceae family. The plant produces eye-catching foliage even with low maintenance.

1. History:

A French botanist, Eduard Andre, discovered this anthurium genus in 1876. Anthuriums symbolize love, long-lasting friendship, and good luck in any relationship. In the 1980s, NASA found that the anthurium plant was the best way to purify the air and filter out harmful toxins.

2. Origin:

Anthurium crystallinum belongs to the tropical rainforest of Central and South America, where it has been used for medicinal and ornamental purposes for the last thousand years.

3. Morphological Characteristics of Anthurium Crystallinum

Some unique features and characteristics of this plant make it different from others, such as

4. Velvety Touch:

The plant’s smooth, soft, and velvety texture makes it pleasant to plant lovers. People use it for indoor decoration just for its eye-catching appearance.

Size of Leaves:

The large leaves of this species can grow up to 15-18 inches long and 8 inches wide.

2. Anthurium Cystallinum Inflorescence/Flowers and Fruits:

Anthurium Crystallinum flowers are called inflorescences that contain both male and female flowers. The male and female phases happened at different times, and for pollination, you will either two inflorescences at different stages to prevent them from the previous inflorescence. The Evergreen crystal anthurium produces unique and vibrant yellow-green spathes for the whole year. The perennial plants also bear white flowers.

3. Red Parameter Lining:

A delicate red lining forms on the anthurium crystallinum leaf when a new leaf appears. A new leaf requires much care because it is more fragile and looks like thin paper.

4. Round Red Colored Stem:

The leaf stem of this anthurium is rounded and red.

Silvery Veins:

Those veins look painted on leaves, but they are natural. The map of silvery veins on dark green leaves makes it more attractive.

2. Air Purifying Quality:

Anthurium crystallinum is an effective air-purifying plant. It can purify and remove all invisible toxic material from the environment, making it fresher.

3. Toxicity:

Because of some chemicals, it is toxic to eat. So, keep this plant away from your pets, such as cats, dogs, parrots, and small children. Eating their leaves may be too harmful for them.

How to Grow and Care for Your Anthurium Crystallinum Indoors?

Meet the following requirements to grow your Anthurium Crystallinum indoors.

Light: What kind of light does Crystal Anthurium need?

Anthurium Crystallinum needs Indirect and bright sunlight for optimal growth. Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight as it can burn its leaves. If you are growing this plant outdoors, place it under a tree, which is the best for its growth.

Sometimes, if there is no tree, you can provide artificial shade to this plant. Providing the best light combination to your plant for the whole day will make it healthy in appearance, regulate its growth, and promote its flowering.

Humidity: What percentage of humidity is enough for Anthurium Crystallinum?

Humidity around 60% is enough to keep this plant happy and thriving. To ensure optimum humidity, you can use:

A regular spray of water also helps to maintain the humidity.
Place your Anthurium plant in the bathroom and kitchen with high humidity. You don’t need anything to increase the moisture around it.
Add a humidifier if the humidity level around your plant is too low.

Temperature: What temperature does Anthurium Crystallinum require?

If you want to keep your plant healthy, place it where the minimum temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the maximum is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it will damage your plant. Avoid placing your plant near heaters, AC, etc.

Soil: Which type of soil is the best potting soil for Crystal Anthurium?

A nutrient-rich and well-draining soil or potting mix is ideal for your Crystal Anthurium growth. To keep your plant thriving:

Avoid placing your anthurium plant in any old potting soil.
Always choose well-drained soil to keep it hydrated.
Mix the coco husk, coco peat, activated charcoal, and orchid bark to create the perfect blend.
Peat moss is less suitable for Crystal Anthurium because it sinks to the bottom of the plant, causing problems with air circulation.
The pH range of the potting mix should be slightly acidic to neutral, such as 5.5 and 6.5.

The best ratio for your DIY potting mix is 1:1:2. Mix one part perlite, one part coconut oil, and two parts of potting soil. You can add more or less of each material according to your plant’s needs.

Watering Requirements: How often should you water your Crystal Anthurium?

Water your Crystal Anthurum once a week or when the upper 1-2 inches of the potting mix feel dry. For appropriate watering, follow the tips below:

Distilled or purified water.
Don’t use tap water because it contains many harmful chemicals that affect your anthurium’s growth.
Before watering, check the topsoil of your plant. If it feels dry, then water it.
Watering once a week is enough because over-watering is unhealthy for anthurium crystallinum.
During the summer, frequent watering is necessary because the soil dries up much faster, while in winter, the wetness of the soil stays longer.
Avoid over-watering because it can cause root rot.

Pot Requirements: How much space does a Crystal Anthurium require to grow ideally?

The crystal anthurium only requires a little space to flourish.

Plant it in a container filled with a mixture of dense roots.
The ideal pot size for a crystal anthurium is 8-10 inches.

Feeding and fertilizing: What type of feeding does Anthurium Crystallinum require?

You can boost the growth of your anthurium crystallinum by fertilizing it during its growing season. Be careful while giving fertilizer to the soil because overfertilizing can damage your plants. So,

First, measure the quantity of fertilizers.
Giving the best type and accurate amount of fertilizing can create a clear difference in plant flourishing.

Nutrients are divided into three types.

Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
Micronutrients: boron
Secondary nutrients: calcium

All of them play an essential role in the growth of healthy plants. Add these nutrients to your anthurium plant by using a balanced houseplant fertilizer

During the summer and spring seasons,

Fertilize your anthurium crystallinum every 4-6 weeks.
Apply this fertilizer to the soil, not to the leaves.

You can add the following types of fertilizers to your plant.

1. Organic fertilizer

Give this organic fertilizer to your plant only during its growing seasons, summer and spring. And this slow-release fertilizer is the best for the growth of anthurium crystallinum.

2. Orchid fertilizer

This fertilizer is also suitable for anthurium growth because the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus is also necessary for the best-looking foliage.

3. Chemical fertilizer

Make sure Chemical fertilizer is in liquid form and water-soluble. Dilute the fertilizer to about one-quarter strength before applying it.

Pruning and Maintenance of Crystal Anthurium

Pruning is the process of cutting off dead or damaged plant parts to keep them healthy. Follow the tips below to cut off the dead or damaged foliage:

Cut the dead and yellow parts of the leaves for new plants; by doing this, you can protect your plant from the attack of different diseases.
The best season for pruning is spring.
For pruning, use a pair of gloves.
Use a clean and sharp knife to cut dead leaves and stems.

What Are the Different Methods of Propagation for Anthurium Crystallinum

There are many methods of propagation. Here, we will discuss three of them, including propagation by division, stem cutting propagation, and propagation through seeds –pollination.

1. Propagation by Division:

To propagate your Anthurium Crystallinum through division:

First, take out the whole plant from the pot and analyze its root portion.
Second, separate the roots carefully, but you can use a knife if they are knotted hard.
Third, separate the plants into fresh soil. Use an accurate pot according to the size of the plant. An oversized pot can lead to too much moisture, blocking the propagation process.
Fourth, place the old and new plants in bright, high-humidity areas and spray both with water. After a few days, you will see some new leaves.

2. Propagation from Stem Cuttings:

The stem cutting propagation method for Anthurium Crystallinum includes the following steps:

First, cut the healthy stem below the leaf node
Second, leave it for about 24 hours to reduce the risk of infection.
Third, use well-drained soil for planting.
Fourth, place the cutting in a bright spot. Make sure the substrate is moist and maintains a high level of humidity.
Fifth, new roots will develop in two weeks, and you can check this by pulling the plant slowly. If this does not happen, you can cultivate it as an adult plant because it has its own root system.

3. Propagation Through Seeds – Pollination

Propagating Crystal Atnhurium through seed pollination is the most complex and time-consuming process, yet the most satisfying one because you will be able to observe all growth stages.

The method works when your Crystal Anthurium is developing an inflorescence with plenty of pollen. You can use these pollens to pollinate and produce new plants.

Generally, the germinated pollens produce relatively weak plantlets. A greenhouse or a grow tent with optimal growing conditions can be useful for proper growth.

When to Repot Your Crystal Anthurium?

Anthurium crystallinum should be repotted after two to three years. This is useful because it refreshes your plant’s soil and gives continuous growth.

For repotting, make sure you choose a large pot size that has proper drainage holes.
Spring and summer growing seasons are the best for repotting.
Avoid using old potting soil because no beneficial nutrients are present in it.
Always prefer fresh and well-drained soil for the best growth of your plant.

Anthurium Crystallinum Common Problems and Troubleshooting Steps

Thinking about why your anthurium crystallinum is not growing well? Or noticing curling leaves and brown tips? These are the common problems you will face while growing the crystal anthurium.

1. Yellowing leaves

If the dark green leaves of this lovely houseplant turn yellow, it could be due to overwatering and direct sunlight. Placing your plant under indirect and bright sunlight can solve your problem.

2. Curling leaves

It is disheartening when large leaves of a lovely houseplant start curling. The main reasons are an improper watering schedule, excess sunlight, and exposure to cold drafts.

3. Brown leaves

Bacterial infection and direct sunlight can cause brown patches on the large leaves of your plant. If you observe any brown spots or leaves, cut that part as soon as possible.

Always use a sharp knife and scissors to cut. This will help your plant survive and prevent further infections.

4. Pests

Some common pests include spiders, mites, bugs, and aphids that attack your lovely anthurium for feeding. If you observe this, then separate the infested plant part as soon as possible.

5. Root rot

Improper movement of air around the root can cause root rot. Always use a lightweight and porous potting mix to ensure roots can breathe properly.

6. Flowering problems

Your plant’s blooming development will be reduced under low light conditions, while under excessive light, small blooms will appear.

Use orchid fertilizer and diluted phosphorus-rich fertilizer for better blooming results for your crystal anthurium. Provide indirect light and a sufficient amount of water.

Also Check What is Anthurium Magnificum?

Conclusion

Anthurium Crystallinum, a beautiful houseplant in the Araceae family in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, is very easy to care for. Just ensure you are providing the best soil mixture, high humidity level, quality of water, accurate amount of fertilizers, shade, the best method of propagation, and bright and indirect lights to grow. It improves your plant growth and makes it healthy and lovely. This maintenance and proper care of anthurium crystallinum give you a gorgeous and aesthetic plant to decorate your home and office.

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About Author

Hi, I’m Emily Davis, a passionate tropical plant enthusiast dedicated to sharing knowledge and expertise with plant lovers. Through his blog, I will provide guides, tips, and tricks for caring for tropical houseplants species like Alocasia, Anthurium, Calathea, Philodendron, Begonia, and many more that will help readers bring a touch of paradise into their own homes. With a deep love for the vibrant colors and lush textures of tropical flora, I’m committed to inspiring others to cultivate their own tropical oasis.