Anthurium cutucuense

An epiphyte of Ecuadorian cloud forest

Anthurium cutucuense is endemic to Ecuador’s lower Andes, including the Cordillera de Cutucú. It climbs as an epiphyte in cool, persistently humid cloud forest, with records around 1,400 m and others from roughly 1,800–2,300 m. Mossy trunks, regular mist and filtered mountain light define its natural setting.

Care for Anthurium roots and climbing growth

• Light: Give bright filtered light without direct midday sun or trapped heat. Keep the upper stem within the same cool, humid air as the root zone.
• Watering: Maintain even moisture in the pot and attached aerial roots. Water when the surface starts to dry and let excess leave the container immediately.
• Substrate and repotting: Acclimate Anthurium cutucuense with the nursery root ball intact long enough to understand its moisture use and the condition of the climbing stem and attached roots; choose the later repotting moment from new roots and steady leaf expansion. Later, use a ventilated pot, fine bark, chopped sphagnum or coir and pumice, together with a slim moisture-holding support.
• Feeding: Feed at very low concentration during visible growth and flush with plain water occasionally. Strong fertiliser can damage cool-growing roots.

Problems and solutions for Anthurium cutucuense

• Droop and yellowing at the same time: A light container, dry support and shrivelled aerial roots indicate thirst; moisten the pot and attached root zones. Little change in pot weight or soft dark node with yellowing indicates root stress. Heat can also cause limp foliage while moisture remains adequate.
• Trimming confirmed failed roots: Healthy roots feel firm at the base and supported nodes. Remove hollow or slippery roots using a clean sharp cutting tool, use a ventilated fine airy mix and secure active roots to a slim moisture-holding support.
• Inspecting nodes, veins and leaf backs: Thrips and mites hide in the deeply textured foliage, while mealybugs can settle at nodes. Isolate, clean hardened leaf recesses and the support, apply a product whose instructions cover that pest. Follow the labelled interval between applications and look for fresh feeding marks weekly until four clean checks have passed.
• Marginal browning and root moisture: Brown margins may begin with dry roots, salts or sustained heat. Check pot and support moisture separately, use low-mineral water and restore 16–24 °C with cooler nights and constant airflow.

Anthurium cutucuense 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.

How did Anthurium cutucuense get its name?

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Cutucuense means “from Cutucú”, referring to Ecuador’s Cordillera del Cutucú.

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

Michael T. Madison first described Anthurium cutucuense in 1978 in Selbyana, volume 2, page 256.