Cheers to another easy-to-care Anthurium with its bold foliage, the Anthurium radicans. This native of the rainforests in Brazil and Ecuador was officially described around the middle of the 18th century. It is an epiphyte in nature and loves to climb upon nearby trees or supports. The dark-green, heart-shaped, prominently-veined caudate leaves grow on the tips of long petioles.
Besides the foliage, the beauty of the plant is enhanced by reddish flowers that bloom throughout the year. Overall, the small size and attractive appearance make it a nice choice for both indoor and outdoor plantations.
Apart from this, the plant is extensively hybridized to form a large variety of beautiful but sterile hybrid Anthuriums. Still with us? Keep reading to know more about the care and maintenance of the Radicans Anthurium plant.
Anthurium radicans Classification
Family: Araceae.
Genus: Anthurium.
Species: A. radicans
Genus Anthurium
This is the largest genus of the Aroid family, introduced back in 1829. It comprises more than 1000 flowering plant species including epiphytes and terrestrial growers. These American natives commonly hail from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Argentina.
The edged foliage and specific flowers associate various combined common names with these plants. These names include flamingo flower plants, tail flowers, and lace leaves.
Common Name
- Anthuriums Malyi.
Features of the Anthurium radicans Plant
Size:
This is one of the shortest of all species found in the genus. The size depends upon the space available and does not exceed above 20 to 25 inches. However, you may notice a taller plant when growing around support to climb.
Leaves:
The beautiful shiny leaves can get about 3 to 5 inches in size. Numerous soft and water-retaining stems grow from the base and support a leaf individually.
Flowers:
The plant blooms beautiful showy flowers in all the seasons. These flowers can be red, maroon, or pink in color growing spirally on a spadix. They have a surprisingly long life of about 3 to 4 months. After drying, these beautiful flowers dry out and fall giving space to the new blooms.
Toxicity:
Just like all other Anthuriums, Radicans too are toxic in nature. Close contact can cause skin allergy while ingestion leads to diarrhoea, nausea, and ulceration of the mouth area. Thus, keep kids and pets away from the plant.
Resilience and long life:
This pretty Anthurium will grow more than you consider. In perfect care and a proper environment, this peep will grow and thrive for years.
Anthurium radicans Dressleri
Radicans are cross-bred on large scale to make a variety of beautiful and unique hybrids. One such hybrid is its cross with Anthurium dressleri, making the plant Anthurium radicans Dressleri. Both the parents show their prominent features in the hybrid. However, the main feature is its foliage, with all the leaves growing in unique shapes.
Just like all the other Radicans hybrids, this one too is sterile. So, don’t expect them to flourish generation before dying.
Anthurium radicans Care
You will be glad to know that you are reading about an easy-peasy plant. Yes, it comes with all the beauty of its foliage and lives without demanding much effort. This is surely a simple no-fuss plant, pretty suitable for beginners and busy folks.
Quick Guide:
Water: Low to average.
Sun: Bright to the medium indirect sun.
Humidity: Average to high.
Let us have a detailed understanding of ‘How to grow an Anthurium radicans’:
Water Requirement
The water needs of Radicans are just like the majority of other Anthuriums. It likes to stay in moist soil needing medium to low water. The basic principle of watering the soil after the upper 2 inches get dry works best here.
The frequency of watering is region-specified and depends upon features like temperature, humidity, and sunlight. In warm areas and season, you may need to water about twice to thrice every week. Alternatively, in moderate temperatures, watering the plant about once or twice a week is usually enough.
In a cold environment, the growth rate of the plant is quite low. You don’t need to water unless the soil gets dry. So, watering the plant about once every fifteen to twenty days is usually enough.
The thick glossy foliage has a good tolerance for mild droughts. So, it can bear minor neglect due to your busy routine. The main thing you need to avoid is over-watering. This is one of the main culprits to create root rot, fungus, or even kill the plant. So, avoid it strictly to keep your plant healthy.
Sunlight Requirement
Bright to the medium indirect sun and dappled shade is what keeps this Anthurium happy. However, the plant needs to avoid direct sun as it can scorch out the delicate foliage.
You can place it near some window while making sure it is getting enough light. An east or west-facing window where the plant receives at least 70 to 85% of the dappled sun is ideal for indoor plantation. On the other hand, Outdoor peeps can do well under some large shady plant or a tree. Just make sure to keep it safe from direct sun, especially long exposures of peak hours.
Soil/Substrate Requirement
Well-drained and loose soil with high organic content proves best for the plant. You can add a simple orchid mix to the soil to enhance the strength and fertility of the plant. Besides, adding sand and perlite to the growing mixture helps to enhance drainage.
The soil should be acidic with a PH between 6.1 to 6.5. Experts recommend adding a teaspoon of vinegar to regulate the acidity of the growing mixture.
Temperature Requirement
Anthuriums generally like to stay in moderate temperatures. They have low resistance for both fierce and freezing temperatures. So, make sure the plant is placed at a pleasant temperature, ideally between 65 to 85 F.
People living in moderate climates can keep them outdoors throughout the year. However, in regions with colder winters, the plant should stay indoors before it gets cold in the fall.
Humidity Requirements
High humidity is what keeps the foliage of your Anthurium radicans fresh and green. An estimated level of around 70% moisture is required in the air to keep the foliage healthy
. In a dry climate, you can follow any of the different measures to enhance moisture. These measures include using a pebble-water tray under the pot or a humidifier around the pot. Also, you can group a few plants to enhance the collective moisture around all of them.
Fertilizer Requirement
Use a graded fertilizer in mild concentration every month in spring and summer only. Although these plants are evergreen, yet fertilizing in fall and winter is strictly prohibited. Over-fertilizing can scorch put the foliage and even kill your plant. Hence, make sure you are using proper mild dosages, not more than a month between spring and summer.
Pot Requirements
These climbers need to have a supporting pole or totem in the pot. Just make sure there are drainage holes to avoid any standing water at the base. You can also make use of them for terrariums, patios, and outdoor plantations.
Repot Requirements
These plants grow at a slow to moderate rate. So, just skip the annual repotting requirement. . You have to repot when the roots grow out from the drainage holes at the bottom. This situation usually occurs after an estimated period of about 2 to 3 years.
In some cases, the plant may demand repotting earlier. This will be shown by the leaves turning yellow and falling without other possible reasons. A quick repot will be a preferable situation in this regard.
Hardiness Growth Zone
USDA growth zones of hardiness are 9 to 11. So, the plant is hardy in these regions for outdoor plantation throughout the year.
Anthurium radicans Propagation
Stem-cuttings are a popular method of Anthurium propagation. The days between the mid of spring and summer are ideal for a successful process. However, you may plant the cuttings up till the end of the summer.
Method:
Let us have a step-by-step guide to make some new Radican plants.
- Take a sterilized knife or gardening shears to cut about 6 to 8 inches cuttings from a healthy plant. Make sure there are around 2 to 3 leaves at the top of each cutting. It is better to get a few individual cuttings to ensure successful propagation.
- Dip the lower ends of the cuttings in growth hormone. However, you may skip this step in case you don’t have the product available.
- Plant these cuttings about 3 inches deep in the potting mix. Afterward, water the soil mildly and place the pot at some warm spot in indirect sun.
- Mist the soil about two times every week or right after the upper soil gets dry.
- These cuttings will develop baby roots in about three to five weeks. You can finally transfer them to your desired place. You can even let them be in the same pot if it is of a suitable size for the plant.
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Summary
Anthurium radicans is an evergreen tropical perennial plant from the famous Araceae family. This is among the short Anthuriums, getting not more than 20 to 30 inches in size. The shiny dark-green and prominently veined leaves grow on their petioles. A part of these bold leaves, the plant produces beautiful showy flowers in maroon to purple shades throughout the year.
This epiphytic climber grows equally well in pots, terrariums, and outdoor plantations. All this easy-to-care plant needs is indirect light, high humidity, and mild watering. Just be careful about the toxicity of the plant and keep it away from kids and pets.
