Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Araceae
Anthurium formosum
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Anthurium formosum
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~30–50% dry
Substrate
Airy + fast-draining • Light moisture buffer • Bark-based • Medium-chunky
Temperature
Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Epiphyte or subshrub with thick roots.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 70 cm • Max. spread: 70 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Native from Nicaragua to northwestern Venezuela
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Anthurium formosum
Glossy ovate blades, long petioles, and a thick root system define Anthurium formosum. Mature plants can develop a broad, upright-spreading outline, so this species needs a stable pot and enough open space around the leaves.
Large blades with a deeply lobed base rise on long petioles, with strong venation spreading from the petiole into the leaf. Its habit as an epiphyte or subshrub points to an airy, moisture-retentive substrate with strong drainage and open aeration around thick roots.
Large-leaf structure of Anthurium formosum
- Leaf shape: Large ovate blades with a deeply lobed base.
- Surface: Glossy green leaves with a broad, firm leaf texture.
- Root structure: Thick roots that need oxygen around them after watering.
- Growth habit: Epiphyte or subshrub from wet tropical habitat.
- Native range: Nicaragua to northwestern Venezuela.
- Indoor setup: Stable pot, open substrate, and space around the long petioles.
Roots, petioles, and spacing for Anthurium formosum
Anthurium formosum develops broad leaves and a substantial root system. The petioles lift the leaf blades away from the crown, and the thick roots need a potting mix that holds light moisture while draining quickly. A heavy, airless substrate can keep the root zone wet for too long and weaken the plant from below.
Give the leaves space as they expand. Large glossy blades can bend, tear, or mark when pushed against shelves or neighbouring pots. Turning the pot occasionally keeps growth balanced toward the light source.
Care for broad-leaf growth in Anthurium formosum
- Light: Bright filtered light gives the broad leaves strong light exposure while reducing direct-sun scorch risk.
- Watering: Water thoroughly, then let excess water drain away fully. The mix should stay lightly moist, not saturated.
- Substrate: Use a chunky, moisture-retentive aroid mix with bark, coarse fibre, and mineral aeration.
- Humidity: Higher indoor humidity helps large new leaves expand evenly.
- Temperature: Warm, stable conditions reduce the risk of cold-wet root stress.
- Pot stability: A heavier cachepot or stable nursery pot helps balance the long petioles and broad blades.
- Spacing: Keep enough room around the plant so expanding leaves and petioles do not bend against hard surfaces.
Troubleshooting Anthurium formosum
- Unstable pot: Large leaves and long petioles can shift the plant’s weight as it grows.
- Soft roots or yellowing: Usually linked to dense substrate, poor drainage, or cold wet conditions.
- Brown edges: Dry air, uneven watering, or root stress can mark the leaf margins.
- Scorch: Direct sun can leave pale or brown patches on the glossy blades.
- Mechanical damage: Broad leaves need clearance from shelves, windows, and neighbouring plants.
Pet and handling safety for Anthurium formosum
Anthurium formosum is not pet-safe. Chewed leaves or stems can cause irritation because Anthurium species contain calcium oxalate crystals. Wash hands after heavy handling if sap contacts the skin.
Botanical background of Anthurium formosum
Anthurium formosum Schott was first published in Oesterreichische Botanische Zeitschrift 8: 181 (1858). It belongs to Araceae and is native from Nicaragua to northwestern Venezuela, where it is associated with wet tropical forest conditions. The genus name Anthurium comes from Greek roots meaning flower and tail, a reference to the spadix.
A stable pot and open substrate let the thick roots, long petioles, and broad glossy leaves develop evenly indoors.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
FAQs about Anthurium formosum
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