Anthurium Luxurians is a rare aroid found in the rainforests of South America. It is a small, adorable plant with broad, deep-green leaves and short stems. The small-sized, attractive foliage of this Anthurium makes it a great indoor plant for tabletops, shelves, and nightstands. Despite being a rare species, it is easy to maintain, and it is why indoor gardeners so love this plant.
Anthurium Luxurians Classification
- Family: Araceae
- Subfamily: Pothoideae
- Genus: Anthurium
Origin
This plant is native to the rainforests of ecuagenera and Colombia. It was formerly known as Anthurium splendidum due to its close resemblance.
Anthurium Luxurians Appearance
Foliage
The large, bullate-shaped leaves of this plant are dark-green in color and have a rough texture. The leaves have raised blades between the veins, so each part appears as a cut diamond. These leaves change color from pale porcelain color to deep-green as they mature.
Size
This plant can get 15 inches tall, and its leaves are 15 to 23 inches long.
Anthurium Luxurians Care
Anthurium Luxurians should be watered weekly and fertilized every 3 to 4 months. It should be planted in 100% sphagnum moss or a peat-based potting mix. You must keep it under bright, indirect sunlight in a room with a temperature range of 17° to 25°C.
Quick Guide
- Watering: Once a week.
- Soil type: 100% sphagnum moss.
- Sunlight: Indirect sunlight.
- Temperature: 17°C to 25°C.
- Humidity: 60-80%.
- Fertilizer: Slow-release fertilizer every three months.
Follow this detailed guide for keeping your Anthurium Luxurians Ecuagenera healthy and alive.
Anthurium Luxurians Watering Requirements
Anthurium luxurians should be watered weekly with lukewarm water, but you can also water this plant with ice cubes. Some gardeners prefer the ice cubes method as the ice cubes melt slowly and give more time to the roots to absorb water. You should place six ice cubes in its pot to water this Anthurium.
Its soil should be kept moist all the time in summer, so water it thrice a week on hot days. But in winters, water it only once every two weeks and allow its soil to dry between waterings.
Soil Requirements
Luxurians grow best in a soilless medium. It can be grown in 100% sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is an excellent growing medium for this plant because of its water-holding property. It also holds onto nutrients and releases them for the roots when necessary.
You can also grow it in potting soil. However, you should also add a layer of peat moss and perlite into the potting soil. These two ingredients increase drainage and aeration of the soil. To maintain the acidity of the soil, spray diluted vinegar on the surface. Add only two drops of vinegar to a gallon of water to prepare a diluted vinegar solution.
Anthurium Luxurians Sunlight
This plant needs to be placed in indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight is not good for its healthy growth because it burns and scorches the leaves, turning their tips and edges brown and wilted. However, the light must be bright. So, choose a well-lit spot for your Luxurians.
Windows are the best places for the placement of this plant. This plant can be placed near an east or north-facing window. These two windows do not receive intense sunlight throughout the day, so they are safe for this plant. You can also place it near a south-facing window but always cover them with sheer curtains.
Temperature Requirements
It prefers warmer temperatures to grow indoors. The ideal temperature range for this plant is 17°C to 25°C. It is why it can be grown only in the USDA growth zones of 10 and above.
During winters, relocate this plant to a warmer spot or a greenhouse. Protect it from the freezing temperatures so that it does not get any chilly injuries.
When the sun is at its peak in mid-summer, move it to a colder spot with optimum humidity. Never place it in the way of an air conditioner or a fan.
Humidity
This plant needs high humidity to transpire properly. You should regulate the humidity level in a room where this plant is growing around 60% to 80%. This relative humidity is easy to achieve by placing a humidifier indoors. If you place this plant’s pot on a pebble tray filled with water, the moisture level around it rises through evaporation. It compensates for the humidity needs of this plant.
Certain humidifying plants also increase humidity when grown indoors. So if you have any of these incredible humidifying plants at home, group them to raise the humidity level naturally.
Fertilizer
This plant is not a heavy feeder, so do not fertilize it every week. Its fertilization should be done after every three months in the growing months. You should use a slow-release fertilizer to feed this plant. This slow-release fertilizer should be first diluted to 1/4th of its strength before adding it to the plant. Do not fertilize it in winters when the plant is in dormancy.
A balanced fertilizer is suitable for this plant. But if you want more blooms, go for the one with high phosphorus. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for healthy blooms and more growth.
Grooming and Pruning
The foliage of this Anthurium variety does not need pruning unless it has leggy branches or yellow leaves. Pruning should be done in the growing season only. If you want more growth on your plant, trim and pinch the bottom branches. Do not disturb the center or top branches as they are young growth. If you prune the young growth of your plant, it will likely die soon.
These are some helpful tips that you should keep in mind while pruning your plant:
- Always wear gloves. These will protect you from any infections or scratches.
- Always disinfect your gardening shears before using them on your plant.
- Never prune your plant in winters.
How to Propagate Anthurium Luxurians
This gorgeous plant species is propagated through its stem cuttings or division method. Anthurium Luxurians seeds can also be used to grow its baby plants and increase their collection. You can propagate this plant through its seeds if you love watching a plant grow from scratch. But if you are an impatient gardener, you can always propagate it through other quick methods.
Propagation through Stem Cuttings
- This method involves taking a healthy stem cutting from the plant using sterilized shears.
- This cutting must be several inches long with a mature leaf on its top.
- You should allow this cutting to form a callus before you plant it into the soil.
- Prepare a separate pot for this stem cutting by filling the pot with a potting mix.
- Plant the cutting into the center of the potting mix and water it.
- This baby stem cutting will start to grow once it gets out of its shock.
Propagation through Division:
- It is the easiest propagation method for Anthurium Luxurians.
- All you have to do is divide the plant into two parts to produce its copies.
- But first, untangle its roots using your fingers.
- You should also look for any infected rhizomes. If it has any, remove them.
- Both the divided parts must have rhizomes on them.
- Plant both these parts in separate pots.
Anthurium Luxurians Basic Features
Growth
It grows at a moderate to slow rate but grows steadily. Its growth rate increases when kept in ideal growing conditions. One of the main factors that can reduce its growth rate is poor light exposure. So, you should place it in a spot with bright but indirect light for faster growth.
Anthurium Luxurians Toxicity
The leaves of this plant contain calcium oxalate crystals. It is why this plant is toxic for humans and animals. You should keep it away from the reach of children and pets. You should also wear gloves while handling this plant because if your skin comes in contact with the sap of its foliage, it can get a severe allergic reaction.
Drought Tolerance
It is a drought-tolerant plant whose thick, leathery leaves can retain water for droughts and days of low water availability. If several waterings are missed, this plant saves its foliage from dying by going into dormancy and using up the conserved water.
Anthurium Luxurians Maintenance
Like Anthurium Gymnopus and Anthurium Angamarcanum, Anthurium Luxurians is also a low-maintenance aroid. It requires little effort to look after this unique Anthurium species when it is grown indoors. This plant does not fuss about anything, and it is why it’s a perfect plant for beginners!
Dormancy
This plant is not winter-hardy, so it goes dormant in winters to save itself from the extreme weather outside. During these days, its growth rate slows down to almost unnoticeable, and its care requirements lessen even more. Avoid fertilizing this plant in its dormant stage.
Common Problem and Their Solutions
Diseases
This plant is disease-resistant, but it can still get root rot and bacterial blight. Both these diseases are deadly to the plant, so you should be extra careful in protecting your plant against them.
Root rot is caused by overwatering when fungal growth increases in the roots. Its prevention is simple: just don’t overwater your plant. You can treat this disease by trimming the infected parts and allowing the plant to dry before watering.
Pests
Mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids are the most common pests found near this plant. These pests hide under the leaves, so you should always take a closer look at the foliage to locate these pests. If your plant has any sap-sucking pest, rub its foliage with essential oil or rubbing alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anthurium Luxurians
Is Anthurium Luxurians a Hybrid?
It is not a hybrid itself, but it is used to cultivate other remarkable hybrids. J. Vannini crossed this Anthurium species with Anthurium dressleri to produce Anthurium luxurians x dressleri and with Anthurium papillilaminum to produce Anthurium papillilaminum x luxurians. Both these varieties are now grown worldwide as houseplants.
Are There Any Other Varieties of Luxurians?
Besides the two hybrids mentioned above, this Luxurians Anthurium has another beautiful hybrid, Anthurium luxurians x radicans. It was cultivated by the botanist Selby BG.
Can I Grow This Plant Outdoors?
If you live in tropical regions where the temperature does not fall below 17°C or does not rise above 25°C, you can grow this plant outdoors. But if the temperature fluctuates from this range, move this plant indoors.
Conclusion
Anthurium Luxurians is an evergreen species of the aroid family that has beautiful foliage that looks almost artificial. This gorgeous plant is easy to grow, so it can be grown by beginners or those who do not have a green thumb. Because it is a natural air purifier that keeps the air clean, it is grown widely as an indoor houseplant. Many people keep it in their living rooms, kitchen, or bedrooms to improve their air quality and live in the vicinity of nature.
