Anthurium crystallinum plants are tropical plants prized for their gorgeous ornamental leaves. Crystallinum is relatively easy to take care of, making it favored in many houseplant lovers’ households.
This tropical beauty belongs to the Anthurium genus, which belongs to the large Araceae or Arum plant family.
Native to rainforest margins in Central and South America, Crystallinum has large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves covered with prominent white veins.
Anthurium crystallinum is an epiphytic perennial or “air plant.” It derives most of its nutrients from the air, rain, and debris around it.
Like many popular indoor plants, all Anthurium varieties belong to the family Araceae. It’s also often referred to as:
- Anthurium killipianum
- Crystal anthurium
Anthurium Crystallinum Quick Care Tips
- Botanical Name: Anthurium Crystallinum
- Common Name(s): Crystal Anthurium, Anthurium killipianum
- Synonyms: Anthurium Magnificum
- Pronunciation: an-THUR-ee-um kriss-TAL-in-um
- Family & Origin: Araceae family, native to Central and South America
- Growability: Easy to grow
- Grow Zone: USDA zones 10-12
- Size: Can grow up to 30 – 60 inches tall
- Flowering: Produces yellowish or reddish tinge or dull purple flowers surrounded by a large, green spathe
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Humidity: High humidity levels preferred
- Temperature: Optimal temperature range is 75° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit
- Soil: Commercial orchid potting mix
- Water: Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
- Fertilizer: Use a slow-release fertilizer every 2-3 months during the growing season
- Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to mealy bugs, spider mites, aphids, and scale insects. Can also be affected by root rot and bacterial and fungal infections
- Propagation: Can be propagated through seed or division
- Plant Uses: Used as a decorative indoor plant, it adds a tropical touch to any space.
Anthurium Crystallinum Care
Size and Growth
Like all Anthurium species, Anthurium crystallinum has a slow growth rate, about 30″ – 60″ inches.
It leaves and becomes more pronounced with time, but it’ll take a while to see any significant difference.
The plant grows approximately 20″ inches every two to five years, so you won’t have to worry about moving the plant into a bigger pot for a while.
The undersides of the impressive leaves, which can grow to over 18″ inches in length, tend to be a coppery-red shade.
Outdoors, Anthurium crystallinum’s leaves can grow up to 24″-30″ inches. But, it can only grow up to a maximum of 18″ inches in a controlled home environment.
Instead, this hard-to-come-by species is prized for its large, long, slightly heart-shaped, deep green foliage with a velvety texture and striking pale green or silvery-white venation.
Check out the stunning, beautiful Queen Anthurium Warocqueanum.
When it comes to new leaves, Anthurium crystallinum sprouts a single leaf every 4 to 6 weeks. Due to its self-heading growth pattern, the large leaves usually take up lateral space.
Flowering and Fragrance
Flower spathes are either light green with a yellowish or reddish tinge or dull purple. Flowers can bloom in all seasons as long as the plant is growing in tropical conditions.
Anthurium crystallinum’s flowers have no distinct smell to them. Many describe its flowers as having a “pleasant fragrance,” though muted. It’s pretty reminiscent of pine oil cleaner and menthol.
Light Conditions and Temperature
Anthurium crystallinum thrives in humid environments and needs a minimum temperature of 65°degrees Fahrenheit to survive.
As a tropical plant, it prefers ample amounts of bright but indirect light.
Anthurium Crystallinum is a tropical plant, and like all tropical plants, it craves plenty of sunlight. This species loves ample amounts of bright but indirect light.
It thrives in indoor conditions that match the warmth and humidity of its native environments.
The bare minimum temperature is 55°F (13°C). This plant is a sucker for high air humidity. In the native environs, these plants are exposed to constant water evaporation. Direct exposure to sunlight may burn the leaves.
Its ideal temperature is anywhere between 75° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit. In colder zones, keep your Anthurium crystallinum in your patios during the summer and in the greenhouse during winter.
In areas of moderate temperatures all year round, Anthurium crystallinum can go directly into your backyard’s dirt. Their gorgeous, velvety dark green leaves will create an excellent background cover in your yard.
Indoors, keep the plant in a well-ventilated terrarium. Avoid direct sunlight; place it under bright, indirect light instead.
Moreover, Crystallinum Anthurium thrives in USDA zones 10 to 12.
Watering and Feeding
Anthurium crystallinum thrives in above-average humidity. It is best to replicate its natural environment of tropical rainforests, where it’s almost always moist.
During the growing season, keep the top layer of the soil moist. Water the plant regularly, especially during summer. Never allow the soil mix or growing medium to dry out.
In areas with humid conditions, Anthurium crystallinum can go without water for up to two weeks at a time. During winter, consider watering every two weeks with lukewarm water.
Use an airy potting mix that can hold moisture but is fast draining using things such as orchid bark, perlite, and compost. In terms of light, these plants prefer bright indirect light and high humidity in the 70-80% range.
You may, however, use well-balanced fertilizer to improve the growth. Grandma’s answer to feeding was to fish emulsion well diluted and administered once a month.
Many Anthuriums are grown commercially and fed with a slow-release fertilizer. Crystallium and Anthuriums, in general, respond very well to balanced liquid fertilizers.
Potting Soil and Transplanting
Anthurium crystallinum grows best in
- Commercial orchid potting mix,
- Sphagnum moss
- Soilless mediums like moss or bark
- Light soil mixes of peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, pine bark, orchid bark, charcoal, and pumice
Repot every two years at the beginning of each spring using terra cotta pots. Transfer the plant to a pot of fresh potting mix or soil rich in organic material.
Ensure you’re using the correct soil mixture too. A mix of vermiculite, perlite, and coconut coir is best, as it drains well and offers very little resistance to new root growth.
Try to repot during the spring or summer growing season and opt for a pot with good drainage and breathability (porous terracotta works well).
Only repot your Anthurium crystallinum if the plant’s roots begin filling the pot and suffocating the soil.
Grooming and Maintenance
Anthurium crystallinum doesn’t need frequent grooming or maintenance. Prune the plant from the top down sometimes, and pluck out any dead or discolored leaves, along with inflorescences, and it’ll be a happy camper.
For the greatest growth, always choose slow-release or well-balanced organic fertilizers. You can also use well-diluted fish emulsion once a month to keep the plant healthy and well-maintained.
While seemingly harmless, the layer of dust prevents photosynthesis and transpiration, affecting the overall health of the plant.
Avoid chemical fertilizers as much as possible, as they may destroy the plant’s roots and hinder its growth.
A fertilizer that contains a decent amount of nitrogen, magnesium, and phosphorus is excellent for flower growth.
More on Anthuriums
How To Propagate Anthurium Crystallinum
The propagation methods for Crystal Anthurium are pretty straightforward, but the results may not always be consistent.
Propagate the Crystal Anthurium through seed or division. Root separation is the most reliable method to propagate Anthurium crystallinum.
At the start of the growing season, you can separate the plantlet just like the root division method. This is a reliable method but will diminish the bushy look of your entire plant.
Many professional nurserymen will save the seeds from the berries on the spadix to germinate them, but the environment has to be very precise; otherwise, the seeds simply rot away.
Gently remove the soil around the root system until you see the thick stem at the center. This subsoil stem needs to be cut into two halves – the top half with the leaves and a few roots and the bottom half, which just be stumped with the remaining roots.
Buy seeds or collect them from the spadix’s berries. Plant the seeds in well-fertilized soil and wait for 2–5 weeks until they germinate.
You can also propagate Crystallinum through division. To do this, separate plantlets from the plant’s roots as soon as they appear.
Then cut the plantlet’s subsoil stem into two. Both divisions should have roots attached for the plantlet to grow well.
Leave them to rest for about a day before planting the two halves in individual pots. Once potted, keep the soil moist and feed them with diluted, good-quality fertilizer until the plant stabilizes.
Anthurium Crystallinum Pests or Diseases
Like most houseplants, Anthuriums are susceptible to mealy bugs, spider mites, aphids, and scales.
Anthurium crystallinum is pest resistant. If you spot any of these pests, spray them with a bit of insecticidal soap water.
You can also make a simple neem oil solution by mixing two tablespoons of neem oil and three teaspoons of mild liquid soap into about a gallon of water.
Apply this treatment once a week for two to three weeks until all pests disappear.
Anthuriums also experience a few diseases caused by bacterial and fungal infections. You can also dab these insects with a cotton ball dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Remove the dead insects from the plant using a damp cloth.
If your plant has burn marks or yellowed lesions along its leaf margins, it’s likely due to overwatering. Snip off the affected leaves with sterile sheers to not infect the leaves around them.
Overwatering or mature plants sitting in water can lead to root rot. As the soil ages, the infection-causing bacteria and fungus start building up around the roots. Repotting is a good time to check the health of the roots.
If your plant suddenly starts yellowing and wilting, you might want to check its roots. Pythium fungal infection causes yellowing and wilting of leaves, which spreads due to water-logged soil.
Buying Tips
Here are some factors to keep in mind when buying Crystallinum Anthuriums:
Lifespan
Anthurium crystallinum, as long as it’s properly taken care of, will last for several years. If it’s happy, it’ll keep producing new leaves and flowers all year round.
Season
This large-leafed plant thrives all season. Its flowers can bloom anywhere between summer and winter. Plus, it can produce up to six blooms a year.
Care Difficulty
While Anthurium crystallinum is not a demanding plant, it needs proper care.
Bottom Line
Crystallinum is a safe and easy choice for beginner botanists and gardeners. It doesn’t need frequent care or special treatments.
As long as you regularly water the plant and place it in its required temperature range, your Anthurium crystallinum will thrive for a very long time.
