Featuring suede-textured leaves, the anthurium clarinervium is a gorgeous plant that you can add to your indoor collections, be it in your home or office.
Although it is a lovely plant, it is not a plant for beginners, as maintenance is a bit tricky. However, it wouldn’t be too challenging to care for as long as its basic requirements are met.
Anthurium clarinervium thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. It thrives most in well-drained, wet, but never too dry soil. Its humidity level shouldn’t be less than 50%, and temperatures should be between 68ºF (20ºC) and 80ºF (27ºC). It also requires moderate nutrition in the growing season.
This article will look at the complete and detailed anthurium clarinervium care and growing tips, giving you everything you need to successfully grow the plant.
Table of Contents
What is Anthurium Clarinervium? | Anthurium Clarinervium Origin
| Common Name | Velvet Cardboard Anthurium |
| Botanical Name | Anthurium Clarinervium |
| Plant Type | Epiphytes, Perennials |
| Family | Aroid family of the Araceae |
| Sun Exposure | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Soil pH Acidic | The pH level of 6.5 |
| Mature Size | Up to 4″ tall |
| Soil Type | Loose, well aerated |
| Leaf Color | Dark green color |
| Native Area | Río Grijalva and Río de la Venta of Mexico, north of Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, Chiapas. Colón Province of Panama. |
| Temperature | Between 68ºF (20ºC) to 80ºF (27ºC) |
| Toxicity | Mildly poisonous to humans and pets if ingested. |
| Cool Hardiness | Zone 10, Not Cold Hardy |
Also known as ‘Velvet Cardboard Anthurium,’ the anthurium clarinervium is an exotic plant that possesses attractive flowers with wide spathe and spadix. It is an amazing tropical plant capable of giving the owner a special aura and beauty when grown indoors.
It is native to Chiapas, Río Grijalva and Río de la Venta of Mexico, also north of Ocozocoautla de Espinosa and Colón Province of Panama.
In these regions, it grows wild as an epiphyte and is mostly seen developing on trees or other bigger plants in the deepest paths of the forest, where it receives the indirect impact of sunlight.
This plant features large dark green, leathery and heart-shaped leaves with prominent creamy-white colored veins.
It can also be known by other names such as Queen Anthurium, White-Vein Anthurium, and most notably Velvet Cardboard Anthurium (because of its thick and velvet-like leaves). Though tricky, it is an easy maintenance flowering plant.
Is Anthurium Clarinervium Easy To Care For?
As we mentioned earlier, caring for anthurium clarinervium can be quite tricky, especially its watering need; however, it is easy to care for, as it only requires the utmost attention to produce your desired plant.
In other words, like other anthurium varieties, the clarinervium needs the best care and attention possible, especially for inexperienced gardeners.
Anthurium Clarinervium Care And Growing Tips
Natural Habitat & Light Requirements
The anthurium clarinervium is native to Chiapas, Mexico, and some other tropical areas where it thrives in sun-filtered jungles. Therefore, like other tropical plants, it demands the right care by imitating the natural conditions in the forest in your home.
In other words, it thrives in areas that gets bright, indirect sunlight. The clarinervium is sensitive to heat and sun; therefore, you can avoid excessive heat and sunlight, as it can disrupt the plant’s growth.
Excessive direct sunlight can result in drooping, yellowing, and wilting leaves.
Watering Requirements
Regular watering of the anthurium clarinervium is quite important. However, you have to ensure you avoid overwatering.
Since its natural habitat is on the trunks and tree branches, where it often gets drenched when it rains, it needs sufficient watering. But, again, it quickly dries off; therefore, that’s why you should be more careful with how you water.
Watering the clarinervium is one of the trickiest parts of its care factor, as you have to allow the water to drain out and make sure you dump any remaining water from beneath it. Avoid keeping it in a container that retains water to avoid root rot and death of the plant.
After watering your plant, you’ve to be patient until you notice that the upper two inches are dry. This can be examined by dipping your finger into the soil every day to ensure it doesn’t get excessively dry.
Another way to water is by using ice cubes, as it helps to retain the soil’s moisture without getting the roots to be waterlogged.
Humidity & Temperature
The anthurium clarinervium thrives in humidity and moisture. Therefore, you must ensure you keep its humidity level at not less than 80% in the air to promote its growth.
This is why some owners like to keep it inside their bathrooms. You can also use a humidifier as a substitute to make up for an area with a low humidity level.
The perfect temperature for your anthurium clarinervium should range between 12ºC to 23ºC. Once you’ve allowed it to go beyond 23ºC, then the plant is at risk of drying up or getting burnt.
On the other hand, if the temperature goes lower than 12ºC, the plant is at risk of freezing. Therefore, a moderate temperature is required to keep it healthy.
Soil Requirements
The anthurium clarinervium requires the ideal soil mix if you want to get the best out of it. Although the plant does well in humidity and moisture, water can easily damage its roots.
Therefore, you’ve to ensure that it has a good fibrous soil mix that would free up water from its roots.
The perfect soil mix for the clarinervium should consist of compost soil and peat, as it helps to enhance its healthy growth.
To avoid much stress, you should endeavor to check its soil pH level as often as possible. The soil mix also requires a pH level of 6.5 to ensure it stays healthy and produces the best result.
Fertilizing Needs
Another important care tip for the anthurium clarinervium is to not overfeed it, especially in the growing season. The best fertilizer for this plant is a regular houseplant fertilizer that you should dilute to partial strength.
Fertilizing should be done once in two months after watering from March to September. Once your region is entering the fall and winter season, avoid fertilizing.
Just like the watering care factor, to ensure proper and healthy growth of your clarinervium, overfertilizing should be avoided.
Planting (Potting & Repotting) anthurium clarinervium
Since the anthurium clarinervium grows at a slower pace, there’s a need to repot it once in two years. The plant doesn’t appreciate too much root-bound; therefore, the moment you notice roots stretching out of the drainage holes looking pale, then it is indeed time to repot.
Also, whenever you notice that the roots are immensely twisted around the outside of the soil the moment you take the plant away from the pot, it is a sign that it is also time for repotting.
The best potting size for repotting should be a little bigger than the previous one and should feature a well-drainage system. Repotting is perfect in the growing season.
How to Prune Anthurium Clarinervium
Contrary to most other houseplant varieties, the anthurium clarinervium should be pruned at least once in a while. Pruning ensures the plant stays balanced to prevent it from falling over or becoming dwarfed by bending the stem.
Pruning of the clarinervium requires a sharp and clean sterilized knife or hand pruners to cut. Also, beginning from the upper side, cut off any damaged or discolored leaves.
Remove the rotten or wilted flowers down to the stem, and cut off the suckers at the lower end of the stem to prevent them from taking energy away from other parts of the plant.
How to Propagate Anthurium Clarinervium
Propagation of the anthurium clarinervium can be done using three methods, which include seeds, stem cuttings, and division methods.
Seed propagation of the clarinervium is seen as the most difficult and less efficient of the three. It also requires a lot of time and process.
Propagation by Division Method
The division method of propagation of the clarinervium is seen as the easiest. For better results, here are the steps to propagate by division method;
- Carefully get rid of your plant from its pot.
- Shake off excessive soil or dirt and separate the roots.
- Disintegrate smaller offsets or stems, and ensure each root features a minimum of one or two leaves.
- Sow the new roots in the same type of potting mix as the parent plant.
- Finally, water the plant so that the soil will be moist.
Propagation by Stem Cuttings Method
Propagation of the clarinervium can also be done through the stem cutting method. For easier propagation through this method, the following are the steps required;
- Look for sharp and sterile scissors or knives and trim up to 4 to 6-inches of a stem that already possesses aerial roots.
- Clean up the cut part using a fungicide, as it would help to prevent any infection.
- Then, dip the base of the root using a rooting hormone
- Also, make use of a similar soil mix that has been used for the parent plant, and plant the cuttings into another pot
- Finally, locate a warm area to keep your fresh cutting and ensure it receives enough bright, indirect light.
Anthurium Clarinervium Varieties
As far as the anthurium clarinervium is concerned, it is one of the informally Esqueleto plants and among the 1000 species of the anthurium genus family.
The term ‘anthurium’ is a Spanish word coined from ‘skeleton,’ which signifies the light, stark ribcage-like veining its leaves possess.
There are periods that it has been referred to as Anthurium Clarinervium Matuda. However, the clarinervium spspeciesnly has one variety but with lots of hybrids. Most individual plants come with a few different leaf patterns or vein colors.
The clarinervium is sometimes confused with the crystalline species, which has thinner and bigger leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do My Anthurium Clarinervium Have Stunted Growth?
Every anthurium spespeciesquire sufficient light and high humidity levels ensure growth and good health. This can be enhanced by positioning your plant in an area that receives enough bright, indirect sunlight.
You can improve its humidity by misting daily, putting your plant on a humidifying pebble tray, or using a humidifier.
Why Are My Anthurium Clarinervium Leaves Turning yellow?
The explanation for this situation is very simple. It means that your plant is not receiving a good amount of bright indirect sunlight.
Not only will it turn the leaves of your anthurium clarinervium yellow, but it will also cause the stem of the plant to droop and appear like it is dying. Root rot can also cause yellow leaves of the plant.
Why Do Leaves on My Anthurium Clarinervium Have Brown Tips?
The most feasible explanation for this is when the plant's area lacked the required humidity. To avoid this situation, you must first ensure that you water the soil properly and when due and do not allow it to completely dry out before watering again. Also, make sure there’s enough humidity by frequently misting or using a humidifier.
Can My Anthurium Clarinervium Produce Flowers?
Yes, your anthurium clarinervium can produce flowers. However, their blooms are quite different from that of the other anthurium varieties that you can purchase from garden centers. The clarinervium possesses little, understated flowers and is mostly preferred for having unique, huge heart-shaped leaves with brightly colored veins.
Is the Anthurium Clarinervium Toxic?
You should try as much as possible to keep your anthurium clarinervium out of reach of your kids and pets, as it can cause them to be very ill. In other words, every part of the plant is poisonous to humans and pets. All parts of the plant feature insoluble calcium oxalates, the sap inclusive.
The sap can result in contact dermatitis to anyone who touches it; therefore, you must avoid contact with its damaged leaves or stems. If you allow your kids or pets to consume a substantial amount of the clarinervium, it can cause them to become seriously ill.
Some of the common symptoms of anthurium clarinervium poisoning in kids include the painful or red tongue, mouth, and throat, drooling, nausea, frequent vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, and trouble breathing. If you notice these signs, rush them to a doctor for adequate attention.
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