Anthurium clidemioides

A small climber of wet lowland forest

Anthurium clidemioides occurs from Costa Rica through Panama to Colombia. It is a climbing epiphyte of wet tropical forest, recorded in Costa Rica from sea level to about 800 m and often in deep shade. Its short internodes and clinging roots keep the plant close to damp trunks and other supports beneath the canopy.

Care for Anthurium roots and climbing growth

• Climbing stem and propagation: Grow the thin climbing stem vertically on tree-fern fibre, cork or a slim mossed support, keeping each new aerial root against the support. Rinse the thin leaves gently and take cuttings with at least one node and active root.
• Light: Place in bright shade or well-filtered light. Shield the climbing foliage from direct midday sun and heat behind glass.
• Watering: Keep the root zone evenly moist, allowing only the surface to begin drying. Water the support sparingly where active aerial roots have attached.
• Temperature: Maintain steady warmth and protect it from chilling temperatures. Lowland growth slows quickly in a cold root zone.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Anthurium clidemioides

• Wilting above a wet or dry root ball: A dry support, a light pot and shrivelled small aerial roots indicate thirst; water the pot and moisten the rooted sections of the support. Yellow limp leaves above a damp heavy base call for a root and lower-stem check.
• Root loss and a stable crown: Firm roots should appear at the pot and between supported nodes. Remove hollow or slippery tissue using clean scissors reserved for plant work, keep the base in a snug airy mix and guide the small living roots onto a slim support.
• Insects and mites in protected creases: Thrips feed in the small opening leaves, while mealybugs and scale hide along the thin stem and root-producing sections. Use a hand lens to inspect every node. Isolate, clean the plant and support, apply a product labelled for the pest to the affected nodes and root junctions and repeat as directed while checking weekly.
• Tip burn and mineral build-up: Brown tips may appear after a dry support, salt accumulation or cold damage to aerial roots. Check base and support separately, flush the pot and maintain moisture only where live roots are attached.

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.