Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii

A cultivated cross with one affinity-marked parent

This hybrid combines a plant resembling Anthurium besseae with Anthurium forgetii. The abbreviation “aff.” records botanical affinity while keeping the first parent’s identity open, an important detail rather than a decorative part of the name. A. forgetii grows in humid low-elevation forest in western Colombia; the other half of the ecological picture remains broader because its exact species identity, breeder and place of crossing are unrecorded.

Care for Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii

• Light: Place in bright filtered light. Acclimated plants can take gentle morning or evening sun; hot midday light can mark the velvet surface.
• Watering: Water when the upper 1–2 cm of substrate begins to dry. Soak the root ball evenly, drain it fully and keep the moisture rhythm steady while a leaf is expanding.
• Humidity and airflow: Aim for 65–80% relative humidity with gentle air movement. Dry water from the leaf surface promptly.
• Temperature: Keep at 20–28 °C, with the root zone above 18 °C. Protect the plant from cold glass, draughts and sudden temperature drops.
• Substrate and repotting: Treat the existing container as the reference point for Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii: observe drainage, pot weight and the response of the fine-rooted velvet-leaf root ball, then schedule repotting around active roots instead of an arbitrary number of days. Later, use a pot only 2–3 cm wider and a fine, open mix of coco coir or peat, small bark and pumice or perlite.
• Feeding: Feed with a dilute complete fertiliser while the plant is producing leaves and roots. Continue at a lower rate whenever light and active growth slow, then return to the normal rate with fresh roots or a new leaf and flush the substrate with plain water every 4–6 weeks.
• Velvet leaf care and propagation: Keep expanding velvet leaves away from contact and remove dust only after they harden, using a dry soft brush. Propagate from rooted offsets or a node-bearing stem section.

Yellow leaves, damaged roots and creased new leaves

• A drooping crown or yellow blade: A dry light container explains the wilt; water slowly through the pot, then empty all runoff. Wilting in wet mix suggests oxygen loss around the roots; hold the next watering while you inspect the root zone. One ageing leaf at the base is common when newer growth remains healthy.
• Restoring stability after root loss: Firm pale or tan roots still support the plant; minor surface staining is less important than firmness. Remove clearly hollow or slippery root sections with clean scissors; use a close-fitting container and keep the fresh mix lightly moist. Before cutting Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii, 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.
• A crisp margin on new or old growth: Crisp tips after a light pot can follow an uneven watering cycle. When moisture is adequate, edge damage often comes from salts, heated glass or weak roots; move the leaf away from heat, flush the mix and inspect roots if damage continues.
• Darkening with a translucent edge: Contact damage and mineral residue stay dry on the leaf surface; compare the same area again the next day. A soft expanding mark along the margin needs immediate attention; move the plant away from others, stop splashing and seek advice if the edge keeps moving.
• Fresh roots before the next leaf: A damaged root system may leave the centre motionless even after the original stress has passed; look for new root activity before expecting another leaf. Use bright filtered light and a stable 20–28 °C range; wait for new root or leaf activity before changing feeding.
• Pests in grooves, lobes and junctions: Thrips damage appears as silver feeding lines and dark waste spots; a dull field of tiny pale dots points more strongly to mites. Search folded new leaves and dry sheaths and the full lower leaf surface; repeat the inspection on neighbouring leaves. Quarantine the plant and apply a houseplant product whose label names the pest; keep to the product label for repeat timing then inspect new growth at seven-day intervals for a full month.
• Creases on new leaves: Soft new leaves can crease where they touch nearby foliage. Give each blade open space, maintain stable moisture and wait until it hardens before brushing the surface.

Pet warning for Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii

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

The botanical names behind this plant

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.

Besseae honours the plant collector Libby Besse, who made the original collection. Thomas B. Croat described Anthurium besseae in 2005 in Novon 15(1): 84–85.

Forgetii honours Monsieur Forget, the collector named in the original account. Nicholas Edward Brown described Anthurium forgetii in 1906 in The Gardeners’ Chronicle, series 3, volume 39: 161.

In this hybrid formula, “aff.” means the first parent shows affinity with Anthurium besseae but has not been confirmed as that species.