Anthurium villenaorum is a big, rare plant that is native to Ecuador and Peru. Homeowners love growing this plant because of how easy its care is. Hence, if you want a plant to add to your indoor collection, the Anthurium villenaorum is a great choice.
It has stunning foliage with teardrop leaves, vivid white or light green veins, and a velvetleaf illusion.
Anthurium Villenaorum Plant Care
Table of Contents
Light
Anthurium villenaorum plants grow well in medium to bright indirect sunlight. When they are in their juvenile state, they like less light than other anthurium species.
Since the Anthurium villenaorum plant grows as an epiphyte plant in Peru’s tropical regions, the forest canopy provides it with a significant amount of shade. This ensures that the plant does not receive direct sunlight.
Hence, if you live in a region with bright sunlight, ensure that the plant is kept indoors or under shade during the noon and mid-afternoon times.
However, Anthurium villenaorum plants thrive when placed in bright indirect sunlight from the east, especially in the morning.
If it receives too much direct sunlight, its stunning green leaves will lose their color and get bleached.
Hence, do not place your plant close to a south-facing window from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. If you have sheer curtains installed or know how to filter the light coming in, keeping your plants close to the window should not be a problem.
If you choose to grow the plant outdoors, remember to keep it in a semi-shaded area or a spot with partial shade. Remember, the plant thrives under bright indirect sunlight!
Temperature
The Anthurium villenaorum thrives in humid environments and warm temperatures. Since it is native to parts of Peru, it grows well in lower-elevation areas.
This means that Anthurium villenaorum enjoys consistent sunlight throughout the year and does not like freezing temperatures or snow.
Outdoors, the plant enjoys USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11, which is closest to its native area. Indoors, the plant enjoys temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees. Your plant should thrive as long as you keep the temperature above 10 degrees.
However, anything beyond that will slow down its growth, and it will start to get stressed out.
Since the Anthurium villenaorum is not used to the cold, it cannot tolerate anything less than 50 degrees.
This means that you must take the plant indoors during fall, especially if you live in an area that receives snow.
When indoors, prevent keeping the plant in an air-conditioned room or close to an open window, as the cold breeze can kill the plant.
Moreover, you must watch out for nighttime temperatures as temperatures can drop unexpectantly. Over time, this can destroy Anthurium villenaorum leaves.
Humidity
Another thing to pay attention to when taking care of Anthurium plants is how much moisture you provide them with. This includes watering the plant, as well as its humidity levels.
The Anthurium plant enjoys high humidity- the plant will thrive when kept in 65 to 75 percent humidity regions. However, even if humidity levels are 50 percent, it will still continue to grow. Remember that the Anthurium villenaorum plant is a slow-growing plant so remember to be patient with it.
This can become a struggle for people as most of us cannot tolerate high humidity levels, especially when the temperature rises and the day gets hotter. However, parts of South America and Southeast Asia are extremely hot, which is why Anthurium villenaorum loves this temperature.
Keeping everything in mind, you must take care of your Anthurium villenaorum plant so that it can thrive, regardless of the temperature outside your house. Since these plants enjoy high-humidity areas, you can grow them in tents, grow rooms, terrariums, and greenhouses.
We recommend using a digital hygrometer so that you can monitor humidity levels and ensure that your Anthurium villenaorum plant is provided with its ideal temperature. If you find that the temperature is too low for its liking, you can amp things up. Moreover, this will also help you understand what temperature promotes healthy growth.
Water
Anthurium varieties enjoy moist soil, particularly in the warmer parts of the year. However, they do not have exceptional watering needs that you need to stress about.
However, if you overwater these tropical plants, the roots will drown, and your once-healthy plant will develop root rot.
Since the Anthurium villenaorum is an epiphyte plant, its roots are not buried in soil when it grows in its native habitat. Instead, the roots merge with bigger plants and trees. This allows the plant to receive loads of oxygen and water from dew and rain.
If your watering schedule is not set and you end up giving your plant too much water, the roots will suffocate from the lack of oxygen since they will be underwater. Soon, you will start to notice signs of root rot.
In the summer months, insert two fingers into the soil and check if it is dry- only then water the plant. During the winters, it is important for the plant to be completely dry before it can be watered again. We recommend watering the plant twice a week when the temperature drops.
To sum it up, Anthurium villenaorum requires a strict watering schedule that is not too extensive or too limited. However, overwatering the plant is better than underwatering it. The soil mix should not be kept dry for too long as it will cause the plant to die.
If your plant faces the following problems, you may need to adjust how much water you are giving it:
Distorted and mottled leaves
Leggy growth
Curling leaves
Wilting leaves
Leaf yellowing
Potting Soil
Along with providing your Anthurium villenaorum with the correct amount of water, you must also use the correct potting mix to ensure that this tropical plant grows well and develop bright green leaves.
Remember, the plant’s health will be affected due to overwatering.
Hence, it is vital that the pot you use has sufficient drainage holes and the fresh potting mixture is breathable. Your soil mix should be airy, chunky, and lightweight. This will ensure that the roots get sufficient moisture and the excess water is drained effectively.
Over time, the roots of the Anthurium villenaorum plant will find a perfect balance of water and oxygen that makes them grow well.
You can choose an aroid mix if you want to pick up a soil mix from your grocery store. This is perfect for Anthurium varieties as it fulfills their requirements. You can also make your own soil mix to grow a healthy plant. The best part is that this may also prove to be more economical.
Here is what you will need:
Orchid mix: 2 parts
Peat moss: 1 part
Perlite: 1 part
Fertilizer
Anthurium villenaorum requires fertilizer during the growing season, but it does need too much. You should only aim to provide the plant with the nutrients it requires without overwhelming it.
Overfeeding Anthurium plants will only lead to fertilizer burn. Moreover, if you continue to overfeed it, the plant’s dark green leaves will change color and become paler by the day. Hence, remember to follow the instructions on the fertilizer you are using. Remember not to fertilize the Anthurium villenaorum leaves too often.
To be safe, you can also dilute your fertilizer so that it is half as strong. You can also look for a fertilizer that is made especially for anthuriums for the best results.
You only need to feed your Anthurium villenaorum plant with fertilizer once when it is actively growing, usually in the blooming season.
Do not feed your plant during the winter or fall months, as this will affect its healthy growth. Since this is a slow-growing plant, you can get away with fertilizing the Anthurium villenaorum plant every three months.
Pruning
Based on its living condition, the Anthurium plant can grow anywhere between 1.5 to 6 feet. This mainly depends on how much fertilizer, sun, and humidity it gets, the kind of draining compost used, and how big the pot it is growing in.
Moreover, Anthurium villenaorum leaves grow wide and can be more than 2 feet long. These leaves are beautiful to look at, and as long as they are cared for properly, the plant will grow to be healthy, and the leaves will be dark green in color.
Keep in mind that your Anthurium villenaorum may seem like a small plant initially, it will grow in spread and height as long as you remain patient.
However, you only need to prune the plant when its leaves become too wide or bushy. Trimming can help limit the size of the plant.
Anthurium Villenaorum Propagation
There are a few ways to propagate the Anthurium villenaorum. You can choose how you want to propagate these indoor plants based on the method you enjoy.
The quickest and simplest way to propagate Anthurium villenaorum is by stem cutting or taking a part of the plant that contains the roots.
If you choose to go with the former method, you will have to wait for the stem cuttings to root.
With the latter propagation method, you will have to take some time out, as finding a section with the plant’s stems, roots, and leaves can be a little tough.
However, since the latter method already contains the roots, your new plant will grow quickly. Regardless of the propagation method you choose, both of them work well.
Stem cutting is simpler, as you do not need to repot the entire plant. Moreover, you do not have to reduce your plant’s size either.
The stem cutting can then be propagated in soil, sphagnum moss, or water.
Here is how to propagate the Anthurium villenaorum using stem cuttings:
Look for a stem that has at least one leaf and is 4 to 6 inches long.
Your cutting tool must be sterilized before you cut the stem. You can use cotton and rubbing alcohol to clean the tool.
Take some well-draining potting mix and put it in a container.
Carefully place the stem cutting into the soil after you make a hole in it with your hands. The stem should be buried 1 to 1.5 inches deep. You can also use white triangular petioles to support the plant and ensure that it remains upright.
Water the Anthurium villenaorum until its soil is moist. This needs to be done every day. However, the soil should not get soggy so ensure that you do not end up overwatering your plant.
Store the plant in a high-humidity area that is well-lit that receives indirect light. Remember, direct sunlight will destroy the healthy stem.
In 4 to 6 weeks, you will find that the cuttings have grown roots and they are able to support the plant themselves.
If you want to propagate the Anthurium villenaorum, you will have to place the cuttings in a glass container instead of using a soil mix. Here is what you will need to do for water propagation after this step:
Let the plant remain in warm temperatures.
Within 3 to 5 weeks, you will find that the cutting has grown roots in the water and you will be left with a new plant.
Since the plant is placed in water, you will be able to see how much the roots have grown. Hence, if something goes wrong, you will be able to switch things up immediately. When in soil, it takes homeowners longer to figure out that something is not right with the propagation process.
However, with water propagation, the cuttings will have to be transferred from the water to a soil medium later. If your plant was in soil from the start, you would not have to bother yourself with this hassle.
Repotting the Anthurium Villenaorum Plant
It is recommended to repot the Anthurium villenaorum after every one or two years in potting soil. However, you must also take note of the plant’s health and whether it is showing any signs that would cause you to repot it.
Based on the kind of environment your plant grows in, it can grow slowly or quickly. However, this is not important- what is important is that the Anthurium villenaorum plant is healthy and happy. As long as you remain consistent and patient with your care, your plant will produce beautiful foliage and continue to grow bigger.
However, during this time, remember to keep an eye on the plant for any bacterial wilt. Uninfected plants are happy plants and will yield results faster than those with bacterial blight.
One way to know when it is time to repot your plant is when you find the roots growing out from the bottom of the pot. One way to check is by lifting the root ball and finding roots wrapping themselves around the soil. When the pot becomes too overcrowded with roots, it is a sign that you need to shift your Anthurium villenaorum to a bigger pot.
If you do not do this quickly enough, you will find that the roots start popping out of the surface and onto the top of the soil.
Here are some things to remember:
If you want the plant to continue growing, you must repot it into a bigger pot.
If you want to halve the size of your Anthurium villenaorum, you can divide it into different pots. This will allow you to enjoy as many small Anthurium villenaorum plants as you want around the house.
Is the Anthurium Villenaorum Toxic to Dogs and Cats?
The Anthurium villenaorum is toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. However, it is not toxic when touched but only when it is ingested.
Hence, you can feel free to touch the plant whenever you want. However, if you have sensitive skin, we recommend being careful, as the cap can irritate some people’s skin. If this happens to you, wear gloves before pruning Anthurium villenaorum.
Since the Anthurium villenaorum is poisonous, we recommend keeping your children and pets away from it as they may chew parts of the plant when you are not looking.
If this happens, rush your pets or children to the nearest hospital.
Common Problems that Your Anthurium Villenaorum Plant May Face
Diseases
One of the most common issues with Anthurium plants is that if you are not careful with the amount of water given to plants, diseases and infections may become a recurring problem. The most serious issue that the Anthurium villenaorum may deal with is root rot.
Root rot should not be taken lightly, as if it is not discovered quickly, it can completely destroy your plant.
Hence, it is vital that you do not overwater your plant or use waterlogged soil.
Moreover, an abundance of moisture can also lead to fungal and bacterial diseases that can affect the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots.
Pests
Due to its sap, you may find insects attracted to your Anthurium villenaorum. The most common types of sap-sucking pests include mites, thrips, and mealybugs.
Mealybugs
Not only do mealybugs stunt the growth of your Anthurium villenaorum, but they can also cause the leaves to curl and become yellow.
Mealybugs transfer diseases from one plant to another. This means that if the Anthurium villenaorum is infected, mealybugs will find their way to other plants in your house or garden and suck the sap out of them too, destroying them in the process.
Thrips
Thrips feed on the sap that Anthurium villenaorum produces because it is their main food source. These small insects can cause distorted leaves, making it difficult for the infected anthurium to recover, especially if you do not find the thrips before they cause damage to the plant.
We recommend isolating your plant and using neem oil on it to get rid of the thrips. Remember to check the underside of the leaves and look at the plant carefully. Since thrips are so tiny, they will be difficult to notice, and you may miss them if you are not attentive.
Bacterial Wilt
One of the most obvious symptoms of bacterial wilt is chlorosis, also referred to as the yellowing of leaves. This bacterium finds its way through the plant’s veins, causing your once beautiful, green foliage to become brown.
When your plant is infected, and you cut its stem, you will notice a brown slime oozing out. If you are not careful and your plant keeps getting infected, it will begin to wilt.
Ralstonia, a kind of bacterium, causes this wilting. Even though Anthurium villenaorum likes high-humidity areas, these bacteria can grow in greenhouses and other kinds of warmer areas.
Here is what you can do to keep your plant safe from this disease:
Stick to a strict hygiene routine and sanitize all your plants often, including the ones that are uninfected.
Use a phosphorus acid fungicide.
Always sterilize the tools you use on your plant. Infected tools are one of the major causes of the spread of diseases from one plant to another. Hence, it is vital that you disinfect the gardening tools you use on a regular basis.
Things to Remember When Dealing With Pests
The pest infestation will not usually start small, and since these pests are so tiny, you will not notice them till your plant experiences a full-fledged bacterial infection.
Hence, it is absolutely essential that you investigate your plant often and look at it closely.
If the infestation spreads, it will be difficult to control it. The bigger the pest infestation, the more sap your Anthurium villenaorum will lose. This will also lessen the water and nutrients that your plant requires to thrive.
Since pests feed on the Anthurium villenaorum juices, you will find that the Anthurium villenaorum leaves look pale and start wilting.
You may also find brown or yellow patches in areas where the pests have eaten through your plant.
To treat your treat and get rid of the infestation, you can use neem oil, insecticidal oil, or horticultural oil on the Anthurium plants in your house. However, remember to read the instructions on the label closely.
If you use concentrated products, we recommend diluting them so that the Anthurium villenaorum is not damaged further.
Anthurium Villenaorum Care Conclusion
The Anthurium villenaorum is a beautiful plant that produces gorgeous foliage and is fairly easy to care for. Since it has a unique appearance, get ready to have strangers and friends stop dead in their tracks just to admire the beauty of this plant.
If you are a plant lover who does not have too much time for high-maintenance plants, the Anthurium villenaorum is perfect for you.
It does not require too much maintenance, and as long as it is provided with the right conditions, it can grow well on its own. For further instructions, follow this guide and learn how to take care of your Anthurium villenaorum.