Plant Know-How: Anthurium clarinervium
A plant that was once on our list of plants we'd likely never be able to carry in the shop, Anthurium clarinervium is a stunning aroid with heart shaped leaves of deep green, accentuated by pale green to white veins. Once extremely hard to find and very expensive, they are still harder to find, but becoming a bit easier and the price has gone down substantially as well, so we're excited to see this plant become more accessible! Our own specimens are currently coming from our friends at Plants Choto who grow them in their family greenhouse here in the LA area.
While not an easy-care plant, for a fancier Anthurium, A. clarinervium isn't quite as needy when it comes to super high humidity, which makes it a good candidate for those who don't have a special enclosure for their plants (like an IKEA cabinet greenhouse). Read on for our full care guide for this striking plant.
HOW TO CARE FOR ANTHURIUM CLARINERVIUM:
Light requirements for Anthurium clarinervium: Indoors, bright indirect light is best, so this plant should ideally be within 1-2 feet of a window that gets bright filtered light all day. In the cooler months when the days are shorter, a little direct sun is also fine, as long as the plant is protected during the most intense part of the day. Avoid intense direct sun for long periods or during warm months. Outdoors, full shade is best for this plant as that mimics the conditions it grows in naturally.
Watering tips for Anthurium clarinervium: A. clarinervium likes a humid environment, but because it's an epiphyte (a plant that grows on the side a tree, etc, in the wild) it doesn't do well with soggy soil. Allow the top 1/3 of the soil to dry out in between waterings, and ensure very good drainage- including emptying cachepots or saucers of any excess water. If you need some help knowing how wet or dry your soil is, a moisture meter is a helpful tool that can take out some of the guesswork!
The Best Soil for Anthurium clarinervium: Like other aroids, Anthurium clarinervium does best in a chunky, well-draining potting medium that allows lots of oxygen to flow around the roots, and doesn't trap too much water for too long. Our Folia Favorite Mix was developed specifically with plants like Anthuriums in mind, but if you're making your own mix be sure to use chunky amendments like orchid bark and/or pumice.
Is Anthurium clarinervium pet-safe? Anthurium are not pet-safe and can be toxic when consumed by pets. If you're looking for pet-safe plants, be sure to check out the Pet Safe category of the Plant Care Compendium!
How to style Anthurium clarinervium: Unlike many Anthuriums, A. clarinervium doesn't grow to huge sizes when kept indoors, so this isn't a plant you have to plan lots of room for long-term. With such striking leaves we love this plant styled in a simple white, off-white, or pale green or even blue pot that highlights the lighter color in the veins and provides contrast to the deep green leaves. Placing this plant where there aren't too many other plants crowding it will let it's beauty really shine.
Did you know? If your home is very dry (like many homes in our part of the world), Anthurium clarinervium will need some added humidity- especially in the drier winter months when the heat is running. Use a humidifier to most effectively add humidity, but even grouping plants together or setting them on top of a tray filled with pebbles and water that sits just below the surface of the pebbles is better than nothing. Misting does not add sustained humidity and water landing on leaves and sitting there for long periods can make the plant more vulnerable to infections, so we don't advise misting. This plant will also do well in an enclosure like the popular IKEA cabinets turned greenhouses, or a vivarium.
If you're ready for the challenge of this special plant, we sometimes have them available in our Eagle Rock shop- call or text to check availability.
