Are you looking for a beautiful elephant ear plant in burgundy to green shade? Say hello to Anthurium chamberlainii, the rare species found in the rainforests of Merida, Venezuela. This climbing vine with alluring foliage belongs to Belolonchium Anthuriums.
The leaves are thick and shiny with a long elephant ear-like shape and finely speeded veins. The juvenile foliage is deep burgundy which turns to dark green upon maturity. Growing up to a meter and a half in size, this is a nice and easy-to-care plant.
Ensure occasional watering with indirect light and this peep will become a nice choice for both indoor and outdoor plantations. Want to know more? Keep reading for a summarized guide about the Anthurium chamberlainii.
Anthurium Chamberlainii Classification
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Pothoideae
Genus: Anthurium
Species: A. chamberlainii
Genus Anthurium
This genus is native to tropical America and it is distinguished by its bisexual flowers and net reticulated leaf blades. Due to its colorful heart shape and full-year blooming capability, it is considered a sign of hospitality. More than a thousand species of flowering plants are included in this genus and many of them are famous for serving ornamental and decor purposes.
Features of Anthurium Chamberlainii Plant
Size
The plant gets 1.5 meters in size after being fully matured.
Leaves
The leaves are large, broad, and triangular. They change their color from burgundy/purple to dark green after maturation. Each leaf can grow up to 95 cm on a 1 meter tall, slender stem.
Flowers
The plant produces heart-shaped reddish-pink flowers that grow with stems and remain fresh for two to three weeks. Anthurium chamberlainii can bloom flowers throughout the year.
Toxicity
The plant is not toxic to touch but it can irritate the mouth and digestive system if consumed enormously. It is not safe for your pets because it has calcium oxalate crystals. However, seek immediate medical advice in case of an allergic reaction.
Growth
Anthurium chamberlainii grows at moderate rates and the growth is dependent on the availability of light.
Anthurium Chamberlainii Care
This plant needs an adequate amount of water and fertilizer. They are easy to grow and require nutrients for thriving. You should grow it in a well-draining pot and maintain the humidity at 50% and temperature between 22 °C and 33 °C.
Quick Guide
Water: Moderate or once a week.
Soil Conditions: Ideally grows in a perlite-based mix or orchid mix
Sunlight: Indirect sunlight or partial shade.
Temperature: Between 22°C and 33°C.
Humidity: 50%.
Fertilizer: Every 3 months in sufficient concentration.
Want to have this beautiful plant at your home? If yes, then firstly learn about “How to care for Anthurium chamberlainii.
Watering Requirements
These natives of rainforests like to stay in moist soils. The basic Anthurium watering principle works perfectly here. Drench the soil and wait for the upper three inches to get dry before watering again.
Just like other plants, the water demand depends upon the growth zone. A plant standing in the brighter sun and warm temperature needs more water in comparison. So, you need to observe the drying pattern of the soil to create a watering schedule.
According to a general estimate in average temperature, Anthurium needs to be watered about twice to thrice every two weeks. This is for the growing season of spring and summer.
On the other hand, the dormant plant does not need much water. Watering the plant about once every two to three weeks is enough to keep the plant alive.
Important Instructions:
Over-watering is very harmful to the majority of plants. It turns the soil to get soggy which attracts different kinds of diseases like fungus and root rot. If left unchecked, this condition has the potency to kill your plant. Hence, make sure you avoid over-watering and always wait for the upper layer to get dry before watering again.
In winter, the plant should not get chilled water. It is better to use lukewarm water. This will save the roots from getting a cold shock which can be harmful to the plant.
Soil Requirements
You have seen certain ornamental plants standing in water but Anthurium chamberlainii cannot be planted this way. You should plant it in a loose orchid or potting mix. The orchid mix is more favorable for its growth because it provides good airflow and drains out excess water.
Moreover, you can also use perlite and potting soil mixture to grow it. Perlite enhances the airflow to roots and provides a course for drainage to prevent root rot.
Light Requirements
The plant grows best indoors where direct sunlight cannot reach. It is endemic to wet forest canopies covered with dense trees and adapted to growing under dappled sunlight environments. You might think that low-light environments may suit its growth. However, it is not true because low light inhibits its growth and blooming.
Therefore, the best place to keep this plant is near the window facing the north or east side. Both sides receive early morning low-intensity sunlight.
Temperature Requirements
As told above Anthurium chamberlainii is native to the tropical region where the temperature is moderate. So, a house with a temperature varying between 22 and 33 is the best place for its growth.
This plant cannot tolerate temperature below 16 because its tissue gets cold injuries. Similarly, high temperature is not suitable for its growth.
You should never place it near a fan or in air-conditioned environments. Cold injuries make the leaf fall and death of certain parts of the plant.
Humidity Requirements
It has no hard and fast conditions for humidity. You can keep the pot in the room with a moderate humidity level of 50%. High humidity levels can be tolerated but lower ones harm its foliage. Under low humidity, the coloration of the plant is lost.
The use of a humidifier is recommended for favoring growth. However, if you can’t afford it, you can use a pebble tray under the pot.
Fertilizer Requirements
This plant needs nutrients in moderate amounts so it is recommended to fertilize it every two months. Also, you should use slow-release fertilizer that can stay in the soil for a long time.
Roots should get fertilizer first. You can dilute it with water and add it directly to the roots because dilution can decrease the strength and make the fertilizer suitable for Anthurium chamberlainii.
Maintenance Requirements
Pruning enhances the growth of Anthurium chamberlainii if you cut 50% of the blade when it has turned yellow. Cut the leaves along with the stem. However, make sure that you don’t pass any infection through gardening tools to the plant. Pruning from the center can kill the plant because young stems are cut down.
Anthurium Chamberlainii Propagation
The propagation method for it is the same as for other Anthurium species. It is done by stem cutting.
Season:
The best season for its propagation is early spring and late fall because the stem shouldn’t be cut when the plant is in the blooming phase.
You should follow this step-by-step method for propagation of Anthurium chamberlainii.
- Take healthy 4 to 5 inches long stem cuttings from the plant using sterilized gardening sheers.
- Make sure that the cuttings are leafy.
- You can root the stem cutting in two mediums
- water
- Soil
- If you want to plant it in water then take a pot with water and put the stem in it. However, make sure to change the water regularly.
- If you want to use soil as the plantation medium then choose a well-draining and moist pot for it.
- It takes six weeks to propagate and grow roots.
- After six months you can shift the cutting into a bigger pot for further growth.
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Summary
It is an evergreen herbaceous species with broad leaves that can grow approximately up to 10 inches in size.
This plant has a beautiful purple color that changes to lush green on maturation. It is endemic to moist forests and is a rare plant with no variants. Anthurium chamberlainii is a famous ornamental plant due to its heart-shaped look.
Maintenance and care of the plant are not difficult at all. It survives and grows well in indirect sunlight with moderate requirements of water, nutrients, and humidity.
You can fertilize it every two to three months. You just have to water it once a week and avoid overwatering. Lower humidity can kill the plant and high temperature can lead to cold death.
