Anthurium Villenaorum is a compact rare species native to Peru and Ecuador. It is a much sought-after houseplant due to its easy-going nature. Hence, this herbaceous evergreen variety is the perfect choice for your indoor plant collection as it is extremely easy to care for.
This slow-growing, rare plant habitually grows in and on trees in its natural habitat. The foliage is its most stunning feature, with velvetleaf illusion and prominent veins on the teardrop-shaped leaves.
Anthurium Villenaorum Classification
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Pothoideae
Genus: Anthurium
History
The Villenaorum is a small rare plant with little details known about its history. It is an intermediate tropical species that stems from Peru and Ecuador. The plant, due to its exceptional appearance, has immense ornamental value and is widely used as a houseplant.
Genus Anthurium
The genus Anthurium contains diverse varieties of flowering plants. It is one of the largest genus of the Arum family, with over 1000 known species to its name. Varieties of this genus stem mostly from the northern regions of Argentina and Mexico. The genus also touches some areas of the Caribbean as well.
Features of Anthurium Villenaorum Plant
Structure
The plant has eye-catching large veined leaves with a relatively short stem. Its velvetleaf outlook gives this variety a royal appearance. This epiphytic species does not have very impressive flowers, but the stunning leaves make up for this shortcoming substantially.
Size
The Anthurium Villenaorum is a slow-grower but can achieve momentous growth once fully matured. The plant can achieve a mature width of 1.5 meters, while the leaves can grow almost 29 inches in width. A fully grown Villenaorum may grow as much as 1.8 meters tall.
Leaves
The leaves of this particular variety are a stunning feature, unmatched by any other species in the genus Anthurium. They are an elegant oblong heart shape with impressive green color.
The noticeable white venation on their leaves makes them stand apart from all other Anthurium varieties. Leaves of this plant surely take the spotlight with their significantly large size and velvet-like texture.
Flowers
Unfortunately, if you are looking for a variety with impressive flowers, the Anthurium Villenaorum is not for you. It blooms during the spring and summers with whitish green non-fragrant spathes, modified as flowers.
Toxicity
The Villenaorum is considered highly toxic for both humans and animals. Due to the toxic nature of this plant, all components must be handled with extreme precaution during propagation or repotting.
You must pay special attention to keeping this variety out of your pet’s reach as it is not rendered pet safe. It is also pivotal to keep young kids and toddlers at a safe distance from this species.
In case you come into contact with its poisonous components, immediately consult a paramedic. Pain in and around the mouth region including the tongue and neck are common toxicity symptoms.
Dormancy
The plant goes into an inactive stage during the cold winter months. During this time it does not require much to survive as it is in its rest phase. It is best to keep watering and fertilizing at bay throughout the dormant period
Anthurium Villenaorum Care
This rare, slow-growing variety is endemic in Peru and Ecuador and also distributed in regions of Central and South America. The plant has basic care and growth requirements for its maintenance.
Coming from tropical regions, a high humidity index is crucial to a happy Villenaorum. Read on to find a detailed description of the care guidelines for the Anthurium Villenaorum.
Quick Care Guide
Water: Twice a week
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight or partial shade
Humidity: Above average, about 60 to 70%
Temperature: 18 to 25 degrees Celsius
Fertilizer: Nitrogen-rich fertilizer, twice a month
Place Requirements
The ideal location of the plant should be a bright indoor area with an ample amount of diffused sunlight. Also, this variety thrives best in highly humid environments. Hence, make sure to put it somewhere where it receives plenty of moisture.
Water Requirements
The watering requirements of the Anthurium Villenaorum plant vary from moderate to high. In ideal environmental conditions, watering it once or twice a week is just about it. In hot and intense climates with higher temperatures and strong sunlight, you might have to increase the watering frequency.
To avoid over-watering, the rule of thumb is to water only when the top 1 inch of soil looks and feels dry. Spacing out two consecutive waterings is, therefore, a good practice to adopt.
Be wary of under-watering the plant, as it is poorly tolerant to water scarcity. The plant usually gets a wilted or droopy appearance and also displays color changes in response to water stress. An underwatered plant may appear anywhere from yellow to white to gray.
Important Instructions
Varieties of this genus are very susceptible to root rot as a result of excessive watering and Anthurium Villenaorum is no exception. This plant prefers frequent light waterings instead of heavy soakings all at once.
Carefully develop a watering schedule for your plant to adequately fulfill its moisture requirements. Make sure to let the excess water drain out through the drainage hole of the plant pot.
For this, use a well-draining soil mixture and keep the drainage hole free of any blocking debris. The key to a healthy plant is to maintain a consistent watering routine to save it from water stress.
Sunlight Requirements
The Anthurium Villenaorum is a sunlight-loving plant, but be careful not to put it under direct sunlight. Diffused light or partial shade is best suited to this Anthurium species.
The ideal spot for it is a well-lit area indoors, several feet away from a window. Do not make the mistake of placing the plant in the complete shade as it may lose its vigor and fresh color.
Temperature Requirements
Native to the tropical regions, the Anthurium Villenaorum prefers temperate conditions to grow. It is not a big fan of temperature fluctuations and is weakly tolerant towards extremely cold climates. The temperature range best suited to it is between 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Maintaining a relatively constant temperature is the best thing you can do for your leafy companion. Avoid placing it near heating or cooling vents, to save this delicate species from temperature instabilities.
Putting the plant outdoors during the cold winter months is a big no, as it can damage its foliage. Try putting in a greenhouse instead, if you have one, to maintain the temperature within tolerable limits for the plant.
Soil Requirements
The diverse Villenaorum species is adaptable to an array of growth media. It can grow with equal ease in soil-based and non-soil growth substrates. The key is to watch out for a well-drained and aerated substrate.
You can use sphagnum moss to grow this plant if you are going for non-soil options. Another useful alternative to soil can be a perlite-based potting mix. For this mix equal proportions of potting soil, perlite moss, and orchid mix.
Humidity Requirements
Moisture is Villenaorum’s best friend. It is native to the tropical rainforests and loves a damp and clammy environment to grow in. A high humidity level of 60 to 70 % is ideal for its growth.
To increase humidity around your plant, you can use a humidifier or lightly mist the leaves at frequent intervals. Clustering your indoor plants is a technique that also results in increased moisture levels for all of your moisture-loving plants. Placing the plant in a bathroom, laundry, or kitchen is also a clever way to maintain high humidity levels for your plant.
Fertilizer Requirements
This plant does not have very frequent fertilizing requirements. However, be mindful of the strength of the fertilizer you are using. The roots of this variety are very delicate and may be prone to fertilizer burn if the concentration is too high. Always dilute the fertilizer to one-quarter of its original potency.
Fertilizing once or twice a month during spring and summer is just fine. During fall and winter, you might want to decrease this frequency as the plant’s requirement for nutrients lessen. Also, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer before the blooming season will help produce high-quality and abundant flowers.
Pruning Requirements
The compact Anthurium Villenaorum does not require frequent pruning due to its small size and slow growth rate. However, for maintaining a certain size and removing discolored old leaves, grooming is a good option. Also, remove infected or diseased leaves to restrict the infectious spread to other parts of the plant.
While pruning the plant, be very precise and always use sterilized gardening equipment. Since the plant is toxic, wear gloves during grooming sessions.
Repotting Requirements
After repotting the plant once you buy it, you only need to do so again when the plant roots grow excessively in size. When you see a noticeable bulge at the sides of the plant pot, consider shifting it to a larger container. You can repot the plant during any time of the year, but it is advisable to do so in springtime.
Growth zones
The ideal growth zones for this variety are recommended as USDA growth zone 10 to 11.
Anthurium Villenaorum Propagation
The Anthurium Villenaorum can be propagated in a variety of ways. You can propagate this species either in soil or water. Both methods differ slightly in their execution. You can adopt whichever method is suited to your conditions.
Soil Propagation Method
For the old-fashioned gardener, this method is most suitable. Simply cut a stem with at least one leaf on it and plant it in a potting mix. Maintain the required conditions for the plant and water it consistently. You will observe new shoots sprouting from the cutting in four to six weeks.
Water Propagation Method
If you prefer to grow your Villenaorum in a soilless medium, you can go for water propagation. Take a plant section with roots on it and place it in a jar of distilled water. Make sure to remove all soil and debris from the roots before immersing them in water.
Alternatively, you can also take a cutting without roots for water propagation. The cuttings start giving out new shoots within six weeks. An added benefit of this technique is the aesthetic factor associated with it.
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Summary
The Anthurium Villenaorum is a stunning epiphytic variety with gorgeous foliage and a basic care routine. With its exquisite appearance, it can easily make anyone stop and stare and is, therefore, a must-have for you.
The plant is exceptionally easy to grow and maintain and can grow on its own. The detailed and easy care guide in this article makes it a piece of cake to grow your own Anthurium Villenaorum.
