The Anthurium Pulcachense is a lovely little plant that symbolizes love and friendship in many cultures. This could be due to its medium green to dark green leaves that resemble heart shapes. The leaves also have striking veins on them. This is an exotic plant that almost feels leathery to the touch. It is particularly elusive due to the feel of its velvety leaves. This plant is unique in its leaf shape compared to other Anthuriums that are more rounded. Anthurium Pulcachense is an evergreen, meaning it stays green all year around. It makes a good houseplant for beginners since it is relatively low maintenance.
Additionally, the Anthurium Pulcachense is lovely to keep around since it will help to purify the air in your home. NASA even proved its air-purifying qualities. This exotic plant is native to Rio Huallaga in Peru. It typically grows in very wet environments and is found natively in an area close to Pulcache, thus giving it the name Pulcachense.
Contents
Size
This particularly slow-growing plant can bloom in the spring and summer months. A mature Anthurium Pulcachense can grow up to 14 inches tall, given the right growing conditions. The size of leaves is 22 to 46 cm in length. It also produces 6 to 7 mm of green circled berries.
Water
Anthurium Pulcachense is a pretty drought-tolerant plant since it can hold water in its leaves. This plant loves to have moist soil but not soaking wet soil. Ideally, you should water this plant once a week. To avoid overwatering that could invite unwanted pests and fungus, test the soil with your finger and only water once the top 2 to 3 inches of soil have dried out.
In the summer, you may find that the soil dries out faster, and thus the plant will require more frequent watering. Anthurium Pulcachense will need the least watering during the fall and winter periods when it is going dormant. If you find that the leaves are turning brown, this is a signal from your plant that you are watering it too much.
Light
In its natural environment of the tropical rainforests of South America, Anthurium Pulcachense grows until the shade and protection of other large plants. Its wide leaves evolved to collect the maximum amount of filtered light from the bottom of the rainforest floor.
In a home environment, this plant continues to love bright, filtered light. Consider putting this plant in a well-lit area of your home. Although it will tolerate low light environments, it could hinder your plant’s growth since it is already slow growing. Try to avoid putting this sensitive plant in direct sunlight. If you start to notice that there are brown scorch marks on the leaves, this is a sign from your plant that it is receiving too much direct light and needs to be moved into a filtered light or shaded situation.
Temperature
Since Anthurium Pulcachense is native to the tropical rainforests of South America, we can assume that this plant loves a warm climate. It is recommended to keep this plant in a warm area of your home and move it away from windows during the winter months. You should keep the plant at a temperature of 20 to 40 degrees Celsius. Any colder or warmer, and your plant will not thrive.
Humidity
Anthurium Pulcachense is native to the tropical climates of Peru and thus loves a high-humidity environment. Your plant will stay the lushest with humidity levels of around 60% to 70%.
There are various options to maintain these humidity levels for your plant. You could invest in a humidifier. However, a humidifier could cost you more than you were planning for. Luckily, there are other low-cost options. Alternatively, you could spray the plant with a mister several times a week. You could also consider putting this plant on a tray of rocks filled with water to increase the humidity levels.
Since this plant loves high humidity, it makes it a perfect contender to be put in a humid room such as the bathroom. Make sure that wherever you place it, the area is well-ventilated so that you do not invite any unwanted pests or fungus. If placed in a humid environment, you will achieve the most ideal growing conditions for this slow-growing plant.
Soil
Anthurium Pulcachense is tolerant of many soil types. Since it is native to the tropical rainforest, we can expect that it loves nutrient-rich soil. Any regular store-bought potting mix will do. You could consider adding perlite or pumice to increase drainage within the soil.
If you add perlite, use equal amounts that you would soil. By keeping the soil well-draining, you will minimize the risk of root rot or other unwanted conditions most commonly caused by an excess of water.
If you can test the pH of your soil, try to keep it around 6.5. Although this is slightly acidic, it is the ideal temperature for your beloved plant. This plant is particularly susceptible to root rot and disease, so you should ensure that the soil and pot are well-draining to prevent this phenomenon.
Fertilizer
Anthurium Pulcachense will tolerate most fertilizers. You can use an all-purpose fertilizer but consider diluting it not to shock your plant. Only consider adding fertilizer during the growth periods of summer and spring. Adding fertilizer during the dormant months of winter and fall will do you no good since the plant will not need it then. Be cautious about adding too much fertilizer. If you add too much fertilizer, Anthurium Pulcachense will develop brown spots on its leaves. If you choose to use extended-release fertilizer, you can add it to the soil mix about every 3 to 4 months. The best time to add fertilizer is before the blooms to promote maximum bloom and growth potential.
Repotting
Anthurium Pulcachense needs to be repotted every 2 to 3 years. You might also consider repotting if you start to notice that the soil is waterlogged. Other common signs you will want to look for to tell If your plant needs repotting are roots coming out of the drainage holes or cracks in the container.
Your plant will only grow to as big as its environment will allow, and since this is already a slow-growing plant naturally, you will want to report it to allow for maximum potential growth.
The best time to repot your plant is during the early spring to encourage the most growth. If you choose to repot it during the cold of the fall and winter months, you could shock your plant to death since it will already be dormant during this time. It is best to repot it during the warmth of the summer and spring months.
Propagation
Anthurium Pulcachense is relatively easy to propagate. Instead of using seeds or buying an entirely new plant, you can use your existing plant to create more plants. The most straightforward method of propagation is propagation by division. To propagate by division, simply take the plant out of the pot, shake the loose soil off, and divide up the roots. Gently separate the intertwined roots and put them into new pots. Ideally, the plants will grow to fill their new space.
Toxicity
Anthurium Pulcachense is toxic, so it is recommended to keep it away from children and pets. This plant is better enjoyed from a distance. The leaves contain oxalate crystals and can cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested. Contact medical assistance immediately if you or one of your family members ingests this toxic plant by mistake.
Pruning
Anthurium Pulcachense does not require frequent pruning but benefits from some occasional pruning. During the winter, you might start to notice that some leaves are turning yellow or brown. Do not fret. Simply wait for them to fall off or use sterilized scissors to take them off yourself.
Summary
Anthurium Pulcachense is a lovely little house plant that will brighten up any home. Native to the tropical rainforests of Peru, it feels like bringing the rainforest inside with this captivating plant. What is not to love with leaves that are soft to the touch with an elusive green tone?
This slow-growing plant needs ideal growing conditions to survive, such as bright filtered lighting, nutrient-rich and well-draining soil, and a pretty humid environment. This plant should be repotted about every 2 to 3 years and is relatively easy to prune.
Anthurium Pulcachense is perfect for any beginning house plant lover since it is relatively low maintenance. Additionally, it is super easy to propagate so that you could have a whole army of them. It should be noted, however, that this plant is extremely toxic if ingested and should be kept far away from children and pets. The most beneficial feature of this lovely plant is that it will help purify the air in your home, as proven by NASA.
Where to Buy Anthurium Pulcachense
If you are interested in owning your own Anthurium Pulcachense or want to check the price, the Anthurium Pulcachense is available for sale from a seller on Etsy.
