How to Grow Anthurium Crystallinum Plants at Home

Leafy houseplants are all the rage, and in terms of size, the bigger, the better. Rare and unique houseplants are also trendy and sought after by collectors who have mastered the many popular houseplants available today. Luckily, the fascinating Crystal Anthurium meets all these criteria and comes with even more benefits. In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about how I grow and care for Anthurium crystallinum plants at home, including planting, soil considerations, light, temperature, watering, fertilizing, pruning, and more. 

Anthurium Crystallinum Plant Care Essentials:

Botanical Name:	Anthurium crystallinum
Also Known As:	Crystal Anthurium
Growing Difficulty:	Easy
Light Requirements:	Bright indirect light
Temp & Humidity:	Warm temperatures around 75F and high humidity around 70%
Watering Needs:	Water when the top two inches of soil have dried out
Soil Preferences:	Well-draining, airy houseplant potting mixes
Fertilizing:	Half strength dose of balanced fertilizer every two months in spring and summer
Toxicity:	Toxic to humans and pets.

Are Anthurium crystallinum Considered Easy to Grow?

Many rare plants are considered challenging to care for as they are fussy about their conditions. Luckily, that is not the case with the Crystal Anthurium. In my experience, this plant is just as easy to care for as common Anthurium species and has similar requirements to other leafy houseplants.

Growth Expectations

I find that Anthuriums are relatively slow growers, adding a couple of inches to their height every growing season. They are considered moderate growers in perfect conditions but remain fairly compact indoors.

Best Soil Types

Anthuriums require a well-draining soil mix with large spaces between particles to deliver oxygen to the roots. Standard potting soil or garden soil generally doesn’t drain well enough for indoor plants, requiring a specialized houseplant soil mix to do their best.

Houseplant soil mixes are available to purchase online, containing the right ratios of materials to drain well while keeping the soil moist. I prefer to make my own soil mix by combining potting soil with perlite, coconut coir, or peat moss. My plants love this potting mix as it provides excellent drainage and aeration, as well as a stable foundation for growth.

Light Preferences

To maintain the strong color in their leaves and grow as large as possible, my Crystal Anthurium needs plenty of bright indirect light throughout the day. In my experience, they will also grow well in moderate light but aren’t suitable for low-light areas of your home.

I also try to keep these plants out of intense direct sunlight as the large leaves can burn easily. Some gentle early morning sun in front of an east-facing window is ideal, but a sheer curtain should filter south or west-facing windows to protect the foliage.

Temperature & Humidity

In their native habitats, Anthurium crystallinum is accustomed to consistent warmth and high humidity. The forests they reside in rarely dip below 60F in temperature and average around 80% humidity. Replicating these conditions is key to keeping your plant happy and thriving.

One key point I noticed is that the Crystal Anthurium is not tolerant of cold at all. They cannot be left in temperatures below 50F, or the leaves and roots may become damaged. I aim for consistent temperatures of around 75F throughout the year, keeping them in the warmest room of my house.

Humidity is also essential for these large-leaved plants. Some houseplants may be happy with humidity as low as 40%, but Crystal Anthuriums grow best when humidity is closer to their native habitats at around 70%.

To raise the humidity, I like to group several houseplants together, place them on pebble trays filled with water, or use a small plant humidifier. I aim to keep humidity consistently high throughout the year to stop the leaves from drying out and turning brown.

Watering

Crystal Anthuriums are accustomed to consistently moist soil in their rainforest habitats. However, planted in containers where water doesn’t drain away as quickly, they are sensitive to root rot. They cannot sit in soggy or waterlogged soil for long periods and can’t stand being overwatered.

I find that watering Anthuriums when the top layer of soil is still moist will quickly lead to damage. The leaves will begin to turn yellow or brown, the stems will soften and fall over, and the roots will stop drawing up any moisture. In severe cases, only repotting and trimming the roots will potentially save the plant, so this is a crucial mistake to avoid.

Underwatering can also be damaging. Without enough moisture, the large leaves will begin to curl and turn brown. The soil should not be left to dry out completely to avoid damaging too many of the leaves at once.

To water consistently, avoid overwatering and underwatering, and get into the habit of testing the soil every couple of days. I water my plants when the top two inches have dried out to the touch. When watering in a pot cover or on a drip tray, make sure to empty it out after watering to stop the pot from sitting in water.

Fertilizing

As slow growers, Crystal Anthuriums don’t rely heavily on fertilizer. However, when growing in the same pot for a while without additional nutrients, they benefit from a top-up.

I feed my Anthurium crystallinum with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once every two months. I find a half-strength dose is enough to satisfy the plants, but more can be applied if growth slows.

Propagation

In my experience, there are two ways to propagate Crystal Anthuriums. Propagating by division is great for large and established plants and instantly gives you two fully grown plants out of one. However, if your plant is small and not ready for division, you can also propagate by stem cuttings.

Follow these steps to propagate by division:

• Propagate when your plant is ready for repotting to tackle two tasks at once and limit problems with shock.
• Squeeze the sides of the pot to release the roots and gently lift the plant out of the pot.
• Gently separate the roots and identify areas where the plant can naturally split. If you cannot identify spots, trim some roots with shears to separate them, cutting as few roots as possible.
• Repot each division into separate new pots with a well-draining potting mix.
• Water after planting to encourage new root growth.

Follow these steps to propagate from stem cuttings:

• Identify a healthy stem with no signs of disease or damage.
• Trim the stem just below the node.
• Root in a propagating mix of equal parts perlite and coconut coir or peat moss.
• Transplant into a rich soil mix when the roots are an inch or two long.

Repotting

Due to their slow growth, my Crystal Anthuriums rarely require repotting. They are happy to remain confined to a pot for long periods and only need repotting every couple of years.

I look for signs that the plant has outgrown the pot, such as roots growing through the drainage holes or signs that the soil has disintegrated and can no longer hold onto water or nutrients.

To repot, I remove the plant from its existing container. Gently tease the roots to release them and plant in a new pot one size up. Plus, I always try to match the soil mix as much as possible to limit the chances of shock and water immediately after planting.

Common Problems & How to Treat Them

Although they aren’t majorly fussy plants, Crystal Anthuriums can be susceptible to a few problems, in my experience. I always keep an eye out for these signs, identify the most likely cause, and tackle it in a timely manner to get the plant back to good health:

• Yellowing leaves: Overwatering, low light, lack of nutrients
• Brown leaves: Underwatering, lack of humidity, excessive sunlight
• Drooping: Usually overwatering or underwatering.
• Stunted growth: Low sunlight, lack of pot space, lack of nutrients
• Spotted leaves: Anthurium pest or disease problems, or root rot

Essential Tools for Anthurium Crystallinum Care

No specialized tools are required to keep these plants. When doing maintenance, a pair of pruning shears is easiest to trim any damaged or dying foliage, but sharp and cleaned scissors are also suitable.

When repotting, you’ll need a new pot one size up and the right soil mix. A balanced fertilizer is also a good investment for when you need it.

About Anthurium crystallinum

Anthurium crystallinum is commonly known as the Crystal Anthurium, a member of the popular Anthurium genus. These traditional houseplants are known for their waxy, modified leaves in various colors surrounding their attractive spadix flowers. The flowers are characteristic of the Araceae family to which this genus belongs, along with houseplants similar to the Peace Lily.

However, Anthurium crystallinum is unique in that it’s not desired for flowers but for its attractive foliage. The large leaves are heart-shaped and deep, velvety green, intensified by the contrasting white veins. To top it all off, the undersides have a stunning coppery color, making the Crystal Anthurium interesting from any angle.

Native Region

Anthurium crystallinum is largely native to tropical forests in South America, much like other species in the genus. They cover the regions from Panama to Peru, but due to their rarity, they are not as prominent as more common Anthurium species.

Average Cost of Anthurium crystallinum

Crystal Anthuriums can be pricey compared to more common houseplants. They were previously considered quite rare but have become more common in recent years, bringing the price down. You can pick up a plant online for just under $100, and a cutting for even less. They may be slightly more difficult to find, so contact a local grower in your area for help if you can’t find one.

Anthurium crystallinum Toxicity

Like all other Anthuriums, this plant is toxic to pets and humans. The leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause irritation when ingested. Keep them out of reach of your pets and curious children.

The Final Word

If you’re looking for an interesting leafy plant to add to your collection, the Crystal Anthurium is the one. These easy-to-grow plants are suitable for beginners and any Anthurium lovers.