Anthurium clidemioides

Origin and forest habit of Anthurium clidemioides

Anthurium clidemioides is native from Costa Rica through Panama to Colombia and grows as a climbing epiphyte in wet tropical forest.

Its fine stem, small leaves and frequent rooting points allow it to remain closely attached to trunks and other surfaces.

How to grow Anthurium clidemioides

• Use a narrow support: Cork, tree-fern fibre or a slim mossed surface keeps the stem close enough for new roots to attach. Secure the active tip loosely.
• Watch the pot and attached roots separately: Use a small pot with a fine, airy mix. The pot can dry quickly while a damp support stays wet longer, so check both before watering.
• Provide bright shade along the stem: Filter direct sun and protect the thin leaves from heat behind glass. Even light helps maintain short gaps between successive leaves.
• Protect the active tip: Cold glass, heating vents and rough handling can dry or damage the fine new growth.
• Propagate from an attached section: Take a cutting with a healthy node and an active root, then keep it warm and lightly moist until growth resumes.

Common problems with Anthurium clidemioides

• Leaves crisp suddenly and the stem stops extending: The pot, attached roots or both may have dried too far. Rehydrate them gradually, then check the pot and support separately before the next watering.
• The stem develops wide gaps between leaves: Increase filtered light around the active section and improve contact with the support. Make the light change gradually to protect the thin blades.
• The lower stem turns dark and soft: Stop watering and inspect the affected section. If the tissue is collapsing and the softness continues to spread, cut above the damage with a clean blade and root a healthy node in fresh airy mix.
• Even pale stippling with fine webbing — spider mites: Isolate the plant and inspect both leaf surfaces and the newest growth until moving mites or their fine webbing confirm the pest. Rinse the mature leaves and test the chosen product on a small area. If the test area remains sound, apply an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil formulated for spider mites on houseplants to both leaf surfaces, repeating it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course.
• Narrow silver scars with black specks — thrips: Check both leaf surfaces and the newest growth for slender moving insects or black specks beside fresh silver scarring. After confirmation, separate the plant from the collection and rinse the mature leaves. Test a houseplant insecticide formulated for thrips on a small area first, then apply it to both leaf surfaces and repeat the treatment at the intervals stated on the label for the full course.

Anthurium clidemioides is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Anthurium clidemioides: where the name comes from

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Clidemioides means “resembling Clidemia”, a genus now included in Miconia.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Anthurium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 828.

Paul Carpenter Standley first described Anthurium clidemioides in 1940 in Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, volume 22, page 3.