This Anthurium's huge leaves help it stand out in any home. Its huge, gorgeous, velvety leaves are criss-crossed with bright silver veins, and when it flowers it sends out green bracts around the tail-like flower stem that gives this Genus its name. It loves bright light, and likes its soil to be loose and airy; as an epiphyte growing on trees, it usually gets lots of air to its roots and isn't used to having them soggy! Choose this stunning tropical plant and take good care of it and it will reward you with gorgeous, deep green foliage, with large, heart-shaped leaves and a lovely velvety texture. What's not to love!
Scientific Name Anthurium clarinervium (flower-tail plant with white veins)
Common Name Giant Lace Leaf, Queen Anthurium, White-Veined Anthurium, Velvet Cardboard Anthurium
Origin Native to South & Central America, especially Southern Mexico, where it was first found. Light This plant will love a bright spot in your home- make sure it gets indirect light in summer, as hot sun could scorch it at this time of year, and then let it get a few hours of direct sun in autumn and winter. Water Let the top third of soil dry out between waters, and make sure to reduce watering in autumn and winter. Make sure your water is room-temperature, and if using tapwater, leave it to stand for 24 hours to allow the chemicals in it to settle.
Humidity This plant likes slightly higher-than-average humidity, and will appreciate the introduction of a humidity tray
Soil Use a light, airy, well-draining soil which also retains moisture well. One designed for Anthuriums or Orchids, or a mix containing added bark, coir and perlite, will work well here. Repot every couple of years in Spring as the plant grows.
Food Feed every four waters in the growing season, reduce to every six in autumn and winter. Temperature Likes warmer temperatures over in the day, must stay between 15-24°C; watch the temperature especially in winter, as if it's too cold for too long it will get damaged permanently.
Pet-safe No, this plant is toxic to pets and small humans.
Sprouts Top Tips A clear sign of distress in this plant is yellowing sections of leaves with brown halos; it has many possible causes so here are the main issues to check up on:
Is it too dark? This will also stop the soil drying out quickly. If you have mould on top of the soil this is probably what the problem is.
Are you watering with cold water? Make sure you use room-temperature or warmer water. If you're using tapwater let it stand for 24 hours first. Are you fertilising the plant? If it isn't getting enough nutrients it won't be able to grow healthily!
This month we have been busier than expected, which is obviously amazing. We have worked with some amazing businesses, including a very nice doughnut cafe thats opened on College Green that you need to check out. We have welcomed Jazz to the team, she's already settling in amazingly. And we look forward to the end of the year for that ever so special quarter that is very very important to retailers like us up and down the country.
We have launched our first (hopefully monthly) ‘Letter from the Founder’ blog post. I talk about a string of bad luck, from water gushing from various ceilings in my life to a break-in, and also reflect on the incredible work we have done to win two awards earlier this year. I look ahead to what’s coming up in August, projects we are working on with our clients, and some thoughts about the rest of the year. And I give an insight into my brain, why I am who I am and why I’m so thankful for all the opportunities, passion and excitement that running Sprouts has given me as a founder and as a woman.