Anthurium radicans

A creeping terrestrial from Brazil’s Atlantic Forest

Anthurium radicans is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Bahia and Espírito Santo in eastern Brazil. It grows terrestrially in moist rain forest, spreading along the shaded ground through a creeping rhizome. Its roots remain in the loose surface layer of an extremely humid forest biome rather than attached high in the canopy.

Growing Anthurium indoors

• Leaf care and propagation: Guide the rhizome across the surface of a wide pot and pin new nodes lightly against the mix until they root. Rinse the textured leaves and propagate by cutting a rooted rhizome section with at least one healthy leaf.
• Substrate and repotting: Acclimate Anthurium radicans with the nursery root ball intact long enough to understand its moisture use and the condition of the moist but aerated terrestrial root zone; choose the later repotting moment from new roots and steady leaf expansion.
• Light: Provide bright filtered light, keeping the low-growing leaves away from direct midday sun.
• Watering: Keep the mix lightly moist and water when the surface begins to dry. Direct water into the substrate while keeping the exposed stem aerated.
• Humidity and airflow: Maintain high humidity with gentle airflow across the creeping stem and leaf undersides.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Anthurium radicans

• Yellow leaves with changing pot weight: A pot that lifts easily with dry mix beneath the leading rhizome and flexible leaves needs even watering from end to end. Yellow soft growth over a heavy damp pot, or darkening beneath one node, points to root or rhizome stress.
• Root failure around the crown: Healthy rooted nodes stay firm and carry pale active roots. Remove soft or hollow roots using disinfected pruners, keep the rhizome on the surface of a wide shallow airy mix and pin only firm nodes in place.
• Treating confirmed pests and rechecking: Thrips can scar new leaves close to the growing tip, while mealybugs and scale hide beneath rooted nodes. Look over the exposed rhizome and every node. Isolate, remove visible pests, treat beneath the leaves and around each junction with a labelled product and check weekly through the label-directed treatment cycle.
• Browning that starts at the edge: Crisp edges may start with fast drying in a shallow pot or salt accumulation. Check the whole pot, water evenly from end to end and flush with low-mineral water while preserving drainage around the exposed stem.
• When a leaf spot keeps expanding: Dry fixed marks may start with contact or sun. Wet or yellow-edged lesions that expand need isolation, dry foliage; keep water away from the exposed rhizome.

Anthurium radicans 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 radicans: where the name comes from

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. The epithet radicans means rooting or producing roots and refers to stems that can root at their nodes.

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

Karl Heinrich Emil Koch and Friedrich Adolph Haage first described Anthurium radicans in 1855 in Index Seminum of the Berlin Botanic Garden, volume 1854, issue appendix, page 10.