Botanical name: Anthurium luxurians
Family: Araceae
Anthurium luxurians is a popular foliage species of Anthurium whose large bullet-shaped leaves are dark-green and have a crinkled leaf surface which reflects light.
When Anthurium luxurians is in the juvenile stage, the foliage is light green and as it matures, it turns dark green to almost black.
The Anthurium luxurians grows to a height of 15-20 inches but the leaves are large and have a spread of about 20-23 inches.
The inflorescences Anthurium luxurians are green spathes with a pale-green spandix though it is unlikely to flower under room conditions.
Anthurium luxurians may not be easy to grow under room conditions but with proper care it can last for many years.
Anthurium luxurians is native to the tropical regions of South America in Columbia where it is found growing along the streams.
Anthurium luxurians prefers bright indirect light. A curtain-filtered sunny window is perfect. Protect your Anthurium luxurians from direct sunlight to avoid scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Keep the soil moist at all times for your Anthurium luxurians during the growing season but reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist.
Avoid keeping the soil soggy as it may lead to the root-rot and eventual death of your Anthurium luxurians. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Average warmth with a minimum of 160C is ideal for your Anthurium luxurians. Protect it from cold draughts to avoid sudden changes in temperature. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Anthurium luxurians requires high humidity. Raise humidity for your Anthurium luxurians by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out this techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Clean the leaves of your Anthurium luxurians by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust. Do not leave water drops on the leaves as it may cause fungal infestations. Read more on how to clean houseplants.
Feed your Anthurium luxurians every 3-4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.
Regularly flush out accumulated salts in the soil for your Anthurium luxurians by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Allow it to run for a few minutes and repeat several times. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Repot your Anthurium luxurians every 2 years at the beginning of the growing season. Use a pot one-size larger and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot.
Pruning your Anthurium luxurians is easy. Remove yellow and dead leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy. Cut the leaves at the base of the stem with a sharp sterlized knife or scissors.
Cut away any wayward leaves in your Anthurium luxurians to maintain the shape of your plant. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
Anthurium luxurians can be propagated during the growing season from from splits.
Divide the mother Anthurium luxurians plant into several sections while ensuring each divison has some roots.
Pot the Anthurium luxurians splits in moist soil in individual pots. Place the set up in a cool place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges.
Ensure the crown of the plant is above the soil level to avoid rotting. Allow the new Anthurium luxurians plants to be well established before transplanting.
Two reasons are responsible for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium luxurians.
One reason for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium luxurians is that the air is too dry. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity for your Anthurium luxurians. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second reason for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium luxurians is soggy soil. Maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining (drains easily).
There are two causes of yellow leaves in your Anthurium luxurians.
One cause of yellow leaves in your Anthurium luxurians is soggy soil. Maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining.
The second cause of yellow leaves in your Anthurium luxurians is cold draughts (cold air). Protect your Anthurium luxurians from cold draughts or place it away from windy doors and windows.
The brown leaf spots are sunburn marks caused by exposure of your Anthurium luxurians to direct sunlight. Move your Anthurium luxurians to a shaded place or use a curtain to filter the light.
There are four causes of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium luxurians.
The first cause of drooping leaves in your Anthurium luxurians is low humidity. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity for your Anthurium luxurians. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium luxurians is incorrect watering; either underwatering or overwatering. Maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.
The third cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium luxurians is too high temperature due to exposure to direct sunlight. Protect your plant from direct sunlight by filtering the light with a sheer curtain.
The fourth cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium luxurians is pests and diseases infestation. Inspect your plant and take control measures for these pests (see below).
The common pests in Anthurium luxurians are Spider Mites, Aphids and Fungus Gnats.
Anthurium luxurians is prone to Root-rot Disease which is more prevalent in soggy soil.
Anthurium luxurians (Anthurium luxurians) is toxic to both humans and pets.
Anthurium luxurians contains oxalate crystals which can cause digestive distress, breathing problems and skin irritation.
Always wear gloves when handling your Anthurium luxurians and wash your hands thereafter.
