Who doesn’t love Anthurium Crystallinum? A tropical plant which easy to spot with the dark green and pale leaf vein along with the foliage. When you look at them closer, they have tiny sparkles as you look at the crystal, maybe that’s why they called Crystallinum. If you touch their foliage, you can feel the velvety texture.

Anthurium Crystallinum is native to Colombia but easy to find around the globe especially in tropical countries in Southeast Asia. But it doesn’t mean that they can’t grow in another part of the world because they are easy to take care of when you know what they want.

Here is the list of how to take care of your anthurium Crystallinum properly

ANTHURIUM CRYSTALLINUM CARE GUIDE

Soil

The best soil for Anthurium Crystallinum is mixed media with good drainage to prevent root rot. Consider finding media with plenty of air pockets because their roots can breathe better. Using Leca and sphagnum moss as a mix could be options too when you want to put them in clear glass. The clear glass that shows layered media for your anthurium can be another home decoration.

As they grow healthier, some of their roots possibly grow up in the air. Don’t worry, this is normal and would be fine without cutting their ‘aerial’ roots.

Light

Anthurium Crystallinum loves bright indirect light, it feels like when you stay under the shady tree. The bright direct sunlight will burn their foliage since it will too hot for them.

Since Anthurium Crystallinum is native to Peru and Panama, consistent light would be great to keep them grow. Ideally, they will have 12-14 hours of light per day. If you have a low-light room/house or simply during winter which only less than 10 hours of sun, having growing light is a must-have item. With artificial light like growing light, the light requirement will be easier to set since it always is consistent, same intensity, and same hours. 

If you put Anthurium Crystallinum in such low light conditions, their growth will much slower.

Watering

Anthurium Crystallinum loves water very much. As they have bigger and more foliages, their water needs would rise up too. Avoid the water touch their foliage since they have a velvety texture, it will make them easier to get dirt and molds when it wet.

Ideally, you can water them once or twice a week. During the hot days, you can even water them thrice a week because the water would evaporate easier too from the soil. On the other hand, water once in two weeks in winter would be enough.

Temperature

Anthurium Crystallinum is a tropical plant that originally lives in only two seasons, wet and dry. During the wet and dry season, the temperature is kinda stable between 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C). If you living in four-season countries, keep the room at the right temperature to prevent them from freezing. 

Humidity

High humidity between 70-80% is best for Anthurium Crystallinum. When your room is too dry, try to add more humidity in the room with spray water around the plant. 

If spraying the room not enough to increase humidity, try to use plastic bags to close their own space for a few days. As the plants breathing, the humidity will rise up. Keep on your eye during this stage, if it is too humid, their foliage can rot.

Fertilizer

Basically, Anthurium Crystallinum can live with low maintenance. They are not depending on any fertilizer. for some fertilizer, it can make anthurium Crsytallinum sick when it is not right for their needs or overdose. 

Another option, If you have a fish, you can use their fish tank water as fertilizer. This is just optional and could work but not really necessary.

Growth

Anthurium Crystallinum growth will start with unfold tiny burgundy leaves. After that, they will get red and turn into pink foliage. Then they will slowly turn green. As mature leaves, They will have deep dark green with contrast white/ivory vine coloration. 

Please give them support like coco pole plant support so they can climb up like in the jungle 🙂

Potting

As Anthurium Crystallinum grows healthier as expected, repotting is important to make them grow better. In general, repotting Anthurium Crystallinum once in two years would be fine since they tend to as slow-growing plants. 

You know they need to be repot when their roots starting out from drainage holes. For repotting, please choose one size or 2″ bigger to make them stay in comfort pot. When the pot is too big for them, it will only make them anxious.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH ANTHURIUM CRYSTALLINUM

Leaf spots like burn marks: These could possibly because of bacterial infection by overwatering or wet leaves. It will look asymptomatic for few months and once it spread, it will spread really fast. The affected leaves need to be cut as soon as possible before the infection spread wider. 

Yellowing and suddenly dropped leaves when everything is normal can be a symptom of a new problem. It usually causes by the root due to the waterlogged soil and some fungus. Remember, their roots need to breathe and dry after watering to grow better. 

Anthurium Crystallinum tends to be pest-resistant plants but in some unlucky way, they still have pests like mealybugs. These pests could suck all the plant’s nutrients and make the plants miserable. 

In case your plant gets the mealybug, you can use regular insecticidal soap once a week to cure it. You can also try to use a cotton ball with isopropyl alcohol to dab the mealybugs. When the insects died, clean your plant with a damp cloth gently.

Pro Tip: Cleaning Anthurium Crystallinum foliage with damp clothes regularly will prevent any pests problem.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ANTHURIUM CRYSTALLINUM

Is Anthurium Crystallinum pet-friendly?

No, when the sap is swallowed could be dangerous. The sap will make irritate the throat and leads to an allergic reaction.

How to clean Anthurium Crystallinum foliage?

You can clean with damp cloth really gently. Most of the dirt is caused by water that stuck on the foliage too long and starts to be home to fungus. After you mist/ water the foliage, you can just wipe it with dry tissue or soft fabrics.

CONCLUSION

Anthurium Crystallinum is an easy plant to take care of once we know what they want and suits for new plant parent. Keep your Anthurium Crystallinum to your pet when they love to bite things like plants. In case you don’t have any Anthurium Crystallinum, you can get it here.