Anthurium ‘Arrow’

A cultivated name centred on leaf shape

‘Arrow’ circulates as a horticultural name for plants selected for their pointed foliage. The cultivated name and pointed-leaf form are well established, while the breeder, parentage and nursery of introduction remain unrecorded in its horticultural history. Its story is consequently one of cultivation and selection: the leaf form can be described directly, while a particular wild species, country or forest habitat cannot be attached to the line with confidence.

Care for Anthurium ‘Arrow’

• Light: Give bright indirect or filtered light, with mild early sun only after gradual acclimation. Protect thin leaves from hot midday exposure.
• Watering: Water when the upper 2 cm has begun to dry. Wet the mix evenly, drain thoroughly and check moisture deeper in large pots before watering again.
• Humidity and airflow: Keep relative humidity around 60–75% with gentle airflow. Higher humidity is useful during leaf expansion when the air remains fresh.
• Temperature: Maintain 20–28 °C and keep the root zone above 18 °C. Avoid cold draughts and abrupt temperature changes.
• Substrate and repotting: Let Anthurium ‘Arrow’ settle in the original container first, using pot weight, root activity and clean new growth through the well-aerated root zone and emerging foliage to decide when a later repot will cause the least disruption. Later, use a pot only slightly larger with bark, coir or peat and pumice or perlite.
• Feeding: Apply a dilute complete fertiliser whenever the plant is growing. Use a lighter dose only when light and active growth slow, then resume the normal rate with fresh roots or a new leaf and rinse the substrate with plain water every 4–6 weeks.
• Leaf care and propagation: Wipe the arrow-shaped leaves gently with a damp cloth and dry the petiole joints afterwards. Use rooted basal shoots or a stem section carrying a live node for propagation.

Yellow leaves, root stress and leaf damage

• Drooping with yellow foliage: A light container, dry upper root zone and flexible leaf point to thirst; water deeply and leave the pot to drain completely. A heavy-feeling root zone, damp mix and soft yellow leaves point to wet-root stress; wait before watering again and examine the centre of the root ball.
• Soft roots and the remaining firm tissue: Keep cream or tan roots that still feel firm. Trim hollow, slippery or foul-smelling roots using a clean sharp cutting tool, then use a stable close-fitting pot with an airy mix and keep the stem at the surface. Before cutting Anthurium ‘Arrow’, photograph the root system and confirm failure by texture; preserve every firm section, sterilise the tool between cuts and keep the crown stable while new roots develop.
• Browning along the leaf edge: Brown tips may begin with irregular moisture, low humidity or salts. Check moisture deeper in the pot, then flush salts with low-mineral water and move the leaf away from hot glass.
• A dry bruise or enlarging dark spot: Dry tan marks that stop expanding may begin with impact or sun. Separate the plant if a soft wet mark develops a yellow moving edge; keep it dry and photograph it daily.
• Small or delayed new leaves: Weak light can stop the next leaf even when the pot looks healthy. Keep bright filtered light and 20–28 °C; a firm new root or leaf is the recovery sign.
• Thrips, mites and hidden feeding sites: Silver scars with black specks point to thrips; cottony mealybugs gather at petiole bases. Isolate, remove visible insects, treat concealed sites with a houseplant product carrying the correct label, follow the labelled interval between applications and look for fresh feeding marks every seven days for four weeks.
• Water at the leaf joint: Water held where the arrow-shaped blade meets its petiole can leave a dark mark. Wipe the joint after cleaning and give each new leaf enough side space to open freely.

Anthurium ‘Arrow’ and pet safety

• Not pet-safe. This plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause immediate pain and irritation if chewed.

The name Anthurium ‘Arrow’

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Litteratur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 828.

‘Arrow’ is a direct descriptive cultivar name for the long triangular blade and sharply tapered point. The word captures the mature silhouette even though the breeder and original nursery remain unrecorded.