Botanical name: Anthurium radicans
Family: Araceae
Anthurium radicans also known as Anthurium Malyi is a popular houseplant for its lovely, glossy, blistered-looking, heart-shaped, dark-green leaves which are deeply veined and for its showy flowers with a maroon pinkish color.
Anthurium radicans is a small herbaceous evergreen tropical perennial plant which grows to a height of about 1.8 ft.
The beautiful flowers in Anthurium radicans have both female and male organs but the female becomes more receptive before the male and therefore rely on insects for pollination.
Anthurium radicans has been greatly used by gardeners to produce a lot of new hybrids with remarkable features, but these hybrids can only produce sterile flowers.
Anthurium radicans is native to Southeastern Brazil and some parts of Ecuador where it can be found growing as a small creeping plant.
Anthurium radicans prefers bright, indirect light. A curtain-filtered sunny window is perfect. Protect your Anthurium radicans 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 radicans 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 radicans. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Average warmth with a minimum of 160C is ideal for your Anthurium radicans. Protect it from cold draughts to avoid sudden changes in temperature. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Anthurium radicans requires high humidity. Raise humidity for your Anthurium radicans 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 radicans 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 radicans every 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 radicans 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 radicans 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 radicans 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 dead and wayward leaves in your Anthurium radicans to maintain the shape of your plant. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
Anthurium radicans can be propagated during the growing season from from splits.
Divide the mother Anthurium radicans plant into several sections while ensuring each divison has some roots.
Pot the Anthurium radicans 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 radicans plants to be well established before transplanting.
Two reasons are responsible for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium radicans.
One reason for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium radicans is that the air is too dry. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity for your Anthurium radicans. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second reason for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium radicans 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 radicans.
One cause of yellow leaves in your Anthurium radicans 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 radicans is cold draughts (cold air). Protect your Anthurium radicans 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 radicans to direct sunlight. Move your Anthurium radicans to a shaded place or use a curtain to filter the light.
There are four causes of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium radicans.
The first cause of drooping leaves in your Anthurium radicans is low humidity. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity for your Anthurium radicans. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium radicans 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 radicans 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 radicans is pests and diseases infestation. Inspect your plant and take control measures for these pests (see below).
The common pests in Anthurium radicans are Spider Mites, Aphids and Fungus Gnats.
Anthurium radicans is prone to Root-rot Disease which is more prevalent in soggy soil.
Anthurium radicans (Anthurium radicans) is toxic to both humans and pets.
Anthurium radicans contains oxalate crystals which can cause digestive distress, breathing problems and skin irritation.
Always wear gloves when handling your Anthurium radicans and wash your hands thereafter.
