The large, heart-shaped leaves of the Anthurium clarinervium have a velvety texture and make this plant like a year-round Valentine. The vivid ivory or light green veining is broad and stands out against the dark green foliage, giving this Anthurium even more visual appeal. Expect a houseplant to grow one foot tall, but it can reach two feet tall with proper care and patience. The leaves can grow a staggering 10 inches long and are big, given the plant’s overall size.
This epiphyte is native to southern Mexico and is also known as velvet cardboard anthurium, velvet leaf anthurium, and velvet anthurium. It is generally laid back and easy to grow, and here’s everything you need to know about Anthurium clarinervium care.
What is the Difference Between Anthurium Clarinervium and Anthurium Crystallinum?
These two Anthuriums look similar, and they’re both sort of rare, so it’s easy to confuse them since you may not be very familiar with either one. The leaves hold the answer.
Both varieties have heart-shaped leaves, but the Anthurium clarinervium has round and full foliage. Its leaves are almost as wide as they are tall, while the leaves of the Anthurium crystallinum are narrow and tall. The leaves of both varieties have a luxurious, velvety texture, but Clarinervium leaves are thick and leathery, while crystallinum leaves are more delicate.
Both plants are grown for foliage, and houseplants don’t always bloom, but the color of the resulting berries will confirm the cultivar. Clarinervium plants produce orange berries, while crystallinum has white berries with a purple hue.
Light Needs
Position this Anthurium in bright, indirect sunlight. It naturally grows on trees and plants in the canopy and needs bright but filtered sunlight. Direct light is too harsh and will burn the leaves, causing black singe marks. Medium light is too mild and will stunt the growth. A table set several feet away from a south-facing window or close to a west- or east-facing window is often a good location.
How Often to Water Anthurium clarinervium
Water when the top inch of the soil is dry. The roots of the Anthurium clarinervium like dampness, but soggy soil is trouble. Water until excess moisture drains through the container, then remove the overflow from the tray or cover pot. Standing water that could be reabsorbed into the soil will put the plant at risk of root rot.
Plants need more water when they’re actively growing and soaking up plenty of sunshine. Limited sunlight and lower humidity during the winter slows growth and diminishes the plant’s water needs. Continue to check the conditions and water when the top inch of soil is dry, but understand that you will water less frequently during the fall and winter.
Best Soil for Anthurium clarinervium
Give this leafy beauty a rich, well-drained potting mix. The ideal soil mix will contain some perlite or sand to promote drainage but can also contain bark or peat moss to retain moisture. The soil mix should hold some moisture, but not a lot. An easy potting mix recipe is half all-purpose and half orchid mix.
Check the quality of the soil when bringing home a new clarinervium. A dense, moist soil is no good, and you may want to repot sooner than later to best support the plant.
Humidity and Temperature Needs
This tropical plant likes warm, humid conditions and prefers temperatures between 65° and 80° F. Humidity at or above 50% is acceptable, and the clarinervium will do well, but humidity over 70% is ideal. Extra high humidity is necessary to keep the leaves lush and vibrant. A sunny and steamy bathroom provides excellent Anthurium clarinervium care.
Most plant owners may find it necessary to use a pebble tray or humidifier to keep this Anthurium happy and healthy. Maintaining elevated humidity inside a home can be challenging, so consider using a glass cloche or indoor greenhouse. Monitor the leaves and soil for mold, mildew, or fungus, and scale back on the dampness if necessary.
Anthurium clarinervium Fertilizer
Anthuriums are generally slow to moderate growers, although this cultivar grows slightly faster than others. The environment and level of care provided dictate how quickly the plant grows. You can help move things along with regular doses of fertilizer. Feed your Anthurium clarinervium using a balanced fertilizer every month during the growing season. Routinely fertilizing the plant encourages new growth, but it doesn’t need to be fed when dormant. Water-soluble fertilizers are easy to use and can be combined with a regular watering session.
Pruning Anthurium clarinervium
Use clean, sharp pruning shears to snip dead, damaged, or leggy growth. Prune the plant as necessary to maintain its size or shape or encourage new growth.
The Anthurium clarinervium blooms, but the flowers aren’t showy. Flowers are a sign that you’re providing excellent Anthurium clarinervium care, and the plant is thriving, so congratulations! Some plant owners choose to keep the flowers to enjoy the appearance of the bold orange berries. Other plant owners prune the flowers to redirect energy into foliage growth since that’s the main reason most people keep this plant around.
When to Repot Anthurium clarinervium
The plant needs a larger container when the roots poke through the drainage holes or above the soil level. If the plant hasn’t shown signs of being rootbound, repot every three years to freshen up the potting mix.
Pro tip: Always use a container with drainage, but avoid unglazed ceramic or terracotta pots for Anthuriums. Unglazed ceramic breaths and allows moisture in the soil to evaporate more quickly, so this moisture-loving plant will dry out and need water more often. Use a plastic interior pot paired with an unglazed ceramic or terracotta to achieve a certain look while giving the plant the care it needs.
Anthurium clarinervium Propagation
Expand your velvet cardboard Anthurium collection by dividing a large plant into several smaller plants. When potting new plants, choose a container one to two inches larger than the rootball. You can also propagate Anthurium clarinervium through stem cuttings. Cuttings root in soil or water.
Is the Velvet Cardboard Anthurium Pet Friendly?
Like all Anthurium plants, the clarinervium is not a safe choice around curious kids and pets. The foliage contains calcium oxalate crystals, which cause swelling in the mouth, tongue, and throat and gastrointestinal distress. Just chewing on the plant can be bad news, so reconsider bringing this plant into your home if any member of your household is likely to interfere with it.
Anthurium clarinervium Care Tips
Establishing and maintaining an appropriate level of humidity is often the most challenging part of caring for a velvet cardboard anthurium. Still, this plant is low-maintenance in all other aspects of care. A large clarinervium may require a moss pole or trellis. The support will keep the plant upright and nicely display the showy foliage.