Description
- Common names:
- Crystal Anthurium, Crystallinum, Crystal Laceleaf, Anturio Cristalino, Anturio de Cristal
- Botanical name:
- Anthurium crystallinum
- Description:
- A breathtaking tropical aroid featuring large, velvety heart-shaped leaves in deep emerald green with striking silvery-white veins that create a crystalline appearance.
Features
- Pet & Babies safety:
- Toxic to All Pets (keep out of reach)
- Rarity:
- Rare Collector's Plant
- Form factor:
- Upright Bush, Variegated Leaves, Architectural, Velvety Texture
- Air Purifier:
- Good Air Purifier (7/10)
- Origin:
- Colombia and Peru
- Aesthetic advantages:
- Living Room Statement Piece, Home Office Desk, Plant Collections, Bohemian Style, Tropical Interior Design
Care Guide
Care level:
For Experienced Owners+
This tropical beauty requires consistent humidity, specific watering routines, and careful attention to light conditions. Best suited for plant enthusiasts with experience caring for aroids and who can maintain stable tropical conditions.
Light:
Medium / Indirect Light+
Thrives in bright, filtered indirect light near an east or north-facing window. Direct sunlight will scorch the delicate velvety leaves, while too little light will slow growth and diminish the striking white veination.
Water:
Keep Soil Moist+
Water when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch, maintaining consistently moist but never waterlogged conditions. Use room-temperature filtered water to prevent leaf tip browning, and ensure excellent drainage to avoid root rot.
Humidity:
Requires Misting+
Requires high humidity levels of 60-80% to maintain healthy, velvety foliage. Use a humidifier, place on a pebble tray with water, or group with other tropical plants. Mist regularly and avoid dry, drafty locations.
Temperature:
Prefers Warmth+
Thrives in warm temperatures between 18-27°C / 65-80°F with consistent conditions year-round. Avoid cold drafts, air conditioning vents, and temperatures below 15°C / 60°F which can cause leaf damage and stunted growth.
Hardiness zones:
Indoor Only+
This tropical aroid is strictly an indoor plant in most climates and cannot tolerate frost. In USDA Zones 11-12, it may be grown outdoors in sheltered, humid locations, but is best kept as a prized indoor specimen elsewhere.
Fertilizing:
Feed Monthly+
Feed with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer (20-20-20) at half strength monthly during the active growing season from spring through early fall. Reduce feeding in winter when growth naturally slows.
Repotting:
Repot Every 2-3 Years+
Repot every 2-3 years in spring using a chunky, well-draining aroid mix containing orchid bark, perlite, and peat. Look for roots emerging from drainage holes or slowed growth as signs it's time to size up one pot.
Cleaning:
Wipe Leaves Regularly+
Gently wipe the velvety leaves weekly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and maintain the plant's ability to photosynthesize efficiently. This also helps showcase the stunning silvery veination and prevents pest issues.
Propagation:
Division+
Best propagated by carefully dividing the rhizome during repotting in spring, ensuring each section has healthy roots and at least one growth point. Stem cuttings can also root in sphagnum moss with high humidity and warmth.