Anthurium clarinervium is a gorgeous houseplant with large, heart-shaped leaves that are velvety to the touch. White veins create lines on the top side of the leaves, producing interesting shapes and patterns that add to the plant’s aesthetic and make it a dramatic centerpiece.
The good news about Anthurium clarinervium is that, if you want to have more than one of them in your house, you do not necessarily have to buy more plants to achieve this: you can propagate your mature Anthurium clarinervium and essentially get new plants for free.
In this article, we will discuss the correct way to propagate Anthurium clarinervium, so if you want to learn more about this process, don’t stop reading!
Why should I propagate my Anthurium clarinervium?
Propagation is the most efficient way of getting plants for free. The new plants can make wonderful gifts for friends and family, or they can simply be used to expand your own plant collection.
You may also want to consider taking a cutting for propagation if you notice that the plant is beginning to look a little unhealthy and is at risk of dying. Propagating the healthy parts of the plant is a great way to save it if you have been unsuccessful in reviving the entire plant. In this case, it is important to ensure that you only use healthy parts of the plant, as propagating sections that are rotting or infested will only transfer the problems to your new plant.
When is the best time to propagate Anthurium clarinervium?
The beginning of spring is the ideal time for propagation. Make sure that any wintery, cold weather has passed so that your new plants can begin life in the warmer, brighter months of the year. This will encourage the development of healthier, stronger roots, as well as a speedier propagation process.
You will see very little growth if you propagate your plant in the autumn or winter; moreover, there will be a higher chance of root or leaf rot.
How to propagate Anthurium clarinervium
Before you begin the actual process of propagation, you need to collect all the materials you will be using.
Your mature Anthurium clarinervium parent plant should be healthy and hydrated. Prepare a pair of sharp scissors, some pots for the new plants, fresh potting soil, and water.
The only method of propagation that is truly successful for Anthurium clarinervium is by division of the mother plant. This plant grows from a central stem, rather than from nodes that develop along a main stem as some other plants do. This makes it all the more important to have a fully mature plant so that you can divide it easily into two or more plants.
You will need to find natural offshoots to divide from the mother plant, so the first step is to carefully remove it from its container. Hold on to the strongest stems as you carefully pull the plant out of the pot. Some roots may have become tangled in the drainage holes, in which case, gently untangle them rather than pulling on them, because they will snap if pulled too hard.
Once the plant has been safely removed from its container, loosen the potting mix from around the roots to make the division easier. You can do this by running your fingers through the roots to separate them.
Now, start looking for a section of the plant to divide. It should be easy to see whether there are offshoots for division; they will be completely separate from one another, and each one’s growth will emerge from the middle of its own section. Even if the sections do not separate immediately, you should be able to carefully pull them apart. If the roots are not detangling easily, you may need to trim them.
If there are no offshoots and only one central section, you will have to slice your plant in half, making sure that each section has a good share of the overall root system to increase its chances of growing successfully.
The mother plant should be returned to its original pot, or a smaller one if you have removed a substantial amount of the plant. After that, you will need to decide whether you want to pot the new sections in potting mix or root them in water first.
For sections with mature roots, it is perfectly fine to plant them directly into newly-watered soil. Your new plants will need a fresh, high-quality potting mix to receive all of their required nutrients. Never reuse old soil because it can introduce bacteria and pests to your new plant.
If you think your offshoot’s roots require a little more time to establish themselves, you can place the divided section into water as a middle step. If you do this, you must ensure that you change the water as soon as it starts to look murky or if it is starting to smell. This will prevent the growth of any bacteria that could be harmful to the development of the young plant.
When the roots have grown several inches, you can go ahead and plant the offshoot in a pot.
Once your new plant is established in fresh potting mix, you can return to your regular maintenance routine.
Take care to avoid exposing the new plants to excessive direct sunlight, as this can cause damage to both the mature leaves and any new growth.
If the new sections were grown in water before being potted, keep their potting mix slightly more moist than usual for a few weeks after planting them. This is simply to help them acclimatize to growing in potting mix and avoid too much transplant shock.
Anthurium clarinervium plant care
Soil
Choosing the proper soil for your Anthurium clarinervium is extremely important.
The soil must be loose and well-draining, because root rot and other conditions caused by excessive moisture are a real concern for these plants.
They also require acidic soil with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5.
Orchid bark potting mixes are the best choice for these plants, because they contain the most nutrients.
The pot you use for the plant is just as important as the soil, because no matter how well-draining the soil may be, if the pot has no drainage holes, water will still be retained inside the pot and the plant’s roots will become waterlogged.
Light
Your new plant’s lighting conditions can make or break it. Anthurium clarinervium is finicky and sensitive to its environment, and direct sunlight can cause your plant’s foliage to burn and scorch. It is extremely sensitive to the effects of the sun and heat.
This means that it should be kept away from windows that receive a lot of direct light, and also should not be placed directly under grow lights.
The best option is filtered sunlight. If you have an east-facing window, place your plant there and it will get plenty of filtered sunlight. A window with a north-facing orientation will also suffice.
If you live in a place with little to no sunlight for a few months a year, you can supplement the plant’s light requirements with a grow light, but make sure that it is not too close to your plant.
Watering
Watering your Anthurium clarinervium is very similar to watering any other houseplants. You do not want to overwater it; nor do you want it to become dehydrated.
During the growing season, make sure that the soil around the plant is moist but not wet. In the warmer seasons, it will require more water than during colder months. Depending on factors like local climate and weather conditions, the plant will typically need watering about three times a week.
Outside of the growing season, you will not have to water your plant as frequently; the soil retains water more easily during the colder months. Thus, you will probably only need to water your plant about twice a month.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for Anthurium clarinervium varies depending on the time of year.
During its growing season, it likes temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, although it can survive in temperatures as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the rest of the year, the plant can withstand temperatures as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it should not be exposed to temperatures any lower than this, or it might freeze.
Humidity
Anthurium clarinervium thrives in humid environments. The humidity should be at least 60 percent or higher, with 80 percent being the ideal level.
This plant’s growth is accelerated by high humidity. Its leaves will become brighter and greener as the warm season progresses.
There are a couple of approaches you can take to ensure that your plant receives adequate humidity in your home. The simplest method is to place a humidifier in the same room as the plant. There is no work involved for you, and no significant upkeep.
If a humidifier is not a feasible option, you can use a water pebble tray. Just place the plant’s pot on top of the pebble tray and, as the water evaporates, it will moisten air around the plant as well as the soil in the pot.
You can also place your Anthurium clarinervium next to other humidity-loving plants. This way the plants will create a microclimate around each.
Fertilizer
These plants do not require nearly as much fertilization as the majority of other plants.
When the growing season begins, fertilize the plant every two months or so. For the rest of the year, fertilize it once every six months at the most.
Always use half-strength, indoor plant fertilizer on your Anthurium clarinervium. Ideally, the phosphorus concentration should be higher than that of all the other elements.
An Anthurium clarinervium that is fertilized too often may end up with a buildup of mineral salts in its soil, which can be problematic. Every three to four months, flush the soil around your plants with water to keep mineral salts from building up.
Conclusion
Anthurium clarinervium is a majestic houseplant that has large, heart-shaped leaves run through with white veins. The top side of the leaves have a velvety texture, adding to the plant’s luxurious and unique look and feel.
If your mature plant is not looking healthy, or if you just want to have more of the same plant, it helps to know how to propagate it. Propagation allows you to take a cutting from the original plant and grow a new one in case you are unable to save the parent plant.
Anthurium clarinervium also makes a great gift for friends and family, and propagating your parent plant means you can give someone a gift without spending any money at all.
Propagation of this plant is most successful by division of the rhizomes, or sections, of the parent plant. You can plant these rhizomes directly into fresh potting soil, since they already have substantial roots, but if you want to let the roots grow out a bit more first, you can let the section root in a container of water for a few weeks.
Either way, once you have planted your new Anthurium clarinervium in a pot, you can resume your usual care routine as you would for a mature plant.
Image: istockphoto.com / Firn