Anthurium Gymnopus is an amazing Anthurium variety with bright-green colored alluring leaves. Its heart-shaped leaves are leathery to touch and have prominent veins. It is a tropical vining plant that can be grown indoors in beautiful planters or hanging baskets. It also blooms during spring and summer and produces unique flowers that consist of just a bract-shaped spathe and a spike-shaped spadix. Due to its pleasing appearance, it makes a great houseplant.
Due to its striking beauty and remarkable features, this plant has been cultivated to produce various hybrids. Each hybrid has its own different blooming color that makes it different from the other Gymnopus types.
Let’s learn more about this fascinating plant.
Anthurium Gymnopus Classification
- Family: Araceae
- Genus: Anthurium
- Section: Anthurium sect. Gymnopodium
Origin and Distribution
This plant is native to Cuba; however, it is abundantly found in Central and South America.
Anthurium Gymnopus Appearance
Foliage
It has long, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves. Its thick alluring leaves have a leathery texture. These leaves grow on sleek and thin herbaceous stems.
Blooms
This plant produces waxy flowers that consist of the extended petiole, spathe, and spadix. The flowers can be pink, red, white, or salmon in color, depending on the Gymnopus type.
Size
This plant has an average height of 12 to 18 inches long.
Anthurium Gymnopus Care
Since it is a tropical plant, Anthurium Gymnopus needs 60% humidity with 15°C to 30°C temperature. Indirect sunlight and bimonthly fertilization are necessary to maintain its growth rate. It should be watered at least once every week in spring, twice every week in summers, and every 10 days in winters.
Quick Guide
- Watering: Once a week in the growing season.
- Soil type and pH: Well-draining potting mix.
- Sunlight: Well-lit corner.
- Temperature: 15°C to 30°C.
- Humidity: 60%
- Fertilizer: Twice a month.
Here are all the steps explained in detail.
Anthurium Gymnopus Watering
You should be punctual with the watering schedule of Anthurium Gymnopus. Irregular watering is not favorable for the lush growth of its leaves. You should water this plant once every week in the growing season and once every 10 days in winters. During summers, it needs more watering due to high temperatures. You should water it more than twice every week in summer.
You can either use lukewarm water or ice cubes to water this plant. Using ice cubes for watering is beneficial for this plant as the cubes melt slowly and give more time to the roots to absorb the water. You should use 6 ice cubes once every week to water this plant.
Soil Requirements
To avoid root rot, you should plant this Anthurium in a well-draining potting mix. Avoid using sand in its growing media as it cannot hold moisture or nutrients for the plant. The best potting mix is the one that has potting soil and peat moss. Peat moss is good for increasing the drainage and aeration capabilities of the potting mix. It also holds moisture for the roots.
You can also use orchid mix for this plant. Orchid mix drains water quickly and maintains a good airflow, and it consists of bark, perlite, and sphagnum moss.
Anthurium Gymnopus Sunlight
Bright, indirect sunlight is one of the essential parts of Anthurium Gymnopus care. It needs bright sunlight to carry out photosynthesis and produce its food with it. In low light, the plant’s growth rate is slowed down, its leaves become dull and lose their green color as there is no photosynthesis going on in chlorophylls. It is why bright light exposure is necessary for the healthy growth of this plant.
However, this light exposure should not be direct. Direct sun is harmful to the foliage of this plant as it can burn its leaves. You should place this plant at least six feet away from a window so that it receives enough light but not direct exposure.
Temperature Requirements
If you live in a northern region, you should not grow this plant outdoors. This Anthurium, like the other ones, is not winter-hardy. It cannot survive low temperatures. The recommended temperature range for its proper growth is 15°C to 30°C.
During winters, you can move this plant to a greenhouse to keep it warm and healthy. And in extreme summers, keep it in a colder place, such as in a bathroom.
Humidity
Anthurium Gymnopus needs a similar humidity level in its surroundings as an Anthurium Veitchii or Anthurium Clarinervium plant. All these Anthuriums prefer to be grown in 60% or above humidity.
In its natural habitat, Anthurium Gymnopus grows in a rainforest, where it is surrounded by trees that transpire the whole day. The humidity there is around 100% due to maximum transpiration. So when grown indoors, this plant needs at least moderate humidity to grow.
Humidity inside a room can be increased by installing a humidifier or grouping some houseplants together. Or, place this plant on a pebble tray filled with water; the water will evaporate from the pebbles and increase the amount of moisture around this plant.
Anthurium Gymnopus Fertilizer
It is not a heavy feeder; there is no need to fertilize this plant with every watering. It should be fertilized only twice every month with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Organic fertilizer is also a great choice for this plant because it is released slowly and is available to the roots for a longer time. Slow-release fertilizer should be added every 3 to 4 months only.
Whether you use liquid fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer, you should dilute it first. Add half a tablespoon of fertilizer to a gallon of water to dilute it to 1/4th of its strength.
Grooming and Pruning
Pruning helps the plant in two ways: it removes the burden of saving already dead leaves; it fixes the plant’s leggy appearance.
So whenever you notice any yellowed leaves or notice some branches growing out of the way, take out your secateurs and trim your Anthurium.
This must be done from spring to summer. Pruning this plant in fall or winter slows down its growth rate even more as the plant is already into dormancy.
One other thing you need to keep in mind is that you should disinfect your pruning shears before using them on your plant. Because using unsterilized shears increases the risk of many infections.
How to Propagate Anthurium Gymnopus?
Anthurium Gymnopus is a lovely plant to have indoors. Its rich, green foliage sends out a tropical vibe and is pleasant to look at. Having two stunning plants around is always better than one, right? So why not propagate this mesmerizing plant and make a whole collection of it?
If you are a beginner who has never propagated a plant before, let us teach you through simple steps. Once you learn this guide, you will be able to propagate your Anthuriums like a pro!
- This plant is propagated through stem cuttings.
- The end of spring and summer are the best times for propagating this plant.
- First, you need healthy stem cuttings from the mother plant.
- Use disinfected shears to take a stem cutting from the plant that is several inches long.
- Make sure this cutting has at least 1 leaf on it.
- Leave this cutting for some time, so it develops a callous over the wound.
- Prepare a pot for it and fill it with a potting mix.
- Plant this cutting in the center and water it.
- Place the pot near a window.
- Take care of this baby cutting the same way you care for its mother plant.
Anthurium Gymnopus Basic Features
Growth Rate
This plant grows at a moderate to slow rate. Its growth rate is maximum in summer and decreases gradually as winter approaches. Low light and irregular watering are two common causes of slow growth during the season of active growth.
Anthurium Gymnopus Toxicity
It is a toxic plant whose leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals are poisonous for humans and animals. So, if your plant has shed any leaves, remove them quickly before your pet or toddler consumes them by mistake.
Drought Tolerance
This plant is forgiving when it comes to missed waterings. The foliage of this plant is drought-tolerant as it can retain water. If you do not water it for a long time, this plant goes dormant and stays in that resting stage until its watering schedule is brought back to normal.
Maintenance
This plant does not need daily attention or maintenance. You can grow it easily even if you do not have any experience growing a plant indoors. This low-maintenance plant stays happy with just minimal care and attention.
Dormancy
When the light levels are low, and the temperature is also below the average room temperature range, this plant goes dormant to save itself from similar unfavorable conditions. These dormancy days end with the beginning of spring when temperature and light levels increase to their normal values.
Common Problems and Their Solutions
Disease
Despite being resistant to many diseases, Anthurium Gymnopus can still get bacterial or fungal diseases. If it is overwatered, it will get root rot due to fungal growth. And, if it is placed in a room without proper ventilation, it will get bacterial blight. Both these diseases are dangerous for this plant’s healthy growth. These must be treated with a fungicide and by eliminating the root causes.
Anthurium Gymnopus Pests
This plant likes to grow in high humidity. But if its leaves stay wet continuously, they can attract pests, such as mealybugs, scales, aphids, and spider mites. It is why you should wipe the leaves daily to prevent any pest infestation. If your plant has got any of these deadly pests, spray its foliage with insecticide or wipe its leaves with rubbing alcohol to get rid of them.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anthurium Gymnopus
Does Anthurium Gymnopus Produce Berries?
Yes, it is a flowering plant that produces berries after blooming. Each berry contains four seeds that can be used to propagate this beautiful species.
Why Is the Half Side of My Plant Droopy?
It means one-half of your plant is not receiving enough light. You should rotate your plant so that every part of its foliage is exposed equally to the sunlight. Not only for this once, but you should turn its pot daily.
Where Can I Get Anthurium Gymnopus?
It is a rare Anthurium species that is hard to find. But you can buy one from the online nurseries as most of them ship plants worldwide.
Conclusion
Anthurium Gymnopus is grown indoors by many for its beautiful foliage and air-purification properties. This plant can filter the air through its leaves and remove all toxins, making it healthier to breathe. It is why this plant is one of the best houseplants that you can keep in your home. This low-maintenance, drought-resistant, easy-to-care plant can also be grown outdoors if you make the growing conditions favorable and fitting.
