Anthurium Plowmanii Care – The Complete Care Guide

Anthurium Plowmanii is a new trending plant that is getting a lot of attention these days among houseplant owners and seasoned gardeners.

And, if you are someone who just bought one home and wondering how to care for them, then this is the only article you need to read.

I will be covering everything related to anthuirum plowmanii so that you can grow this lush green plant safely without killing it in the middle.

The topics include,

• What is Anthurium Plowmanii?
• Anthurium Plowmanii Appearance
• Anthurium Plowmanii Care
• Best Place To Grow Anthurium Plowmanii
• Pruning Anthurium Plowmanii
• Anthurium Plowmanii Propagation
• Anthurium Plowmanii Toxicity
• Common Problems of Anthurium Plowmanii
• Lot’s more.

Without any more fluffs, let’s get started.

What is Anthurium Plowmanii?

Anthurium Plowmanii is a perennial evergreen tropical plant belonging to the genus Anthurium of the Araceae family. It is considered a large epiphytic or epilithic species in the Plantae kingdom.

It is because it can grow on soil, between rocks, or even on a tree. The growth form of this plant is a shrub and belongs to the Angiosperms plant division. Often the plant gets so huge in tropical evergreen forests that it drops on the ground and continues to grow there.

Anthurium Plowmanii is native to Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. A few common names of Anthurium Plowmanii are Bird’s Nest Anthurium, Anthurium Plowmanii Ruffles, and Anthurium Fruffles. 

This species was described by Thomas Bernard Croat in 1987 and was named in honor of botanist Timothy Plowman. They are leathery, green, and glossy, with leaves having ruffled edges due to their terrestrial tropical habitat.

Anthurium Plowmanii can grow to a giant size in just a few seasons if given proper care. The plant gives an irresistible look with the leaves spreading out laterally, forming rosettes, and especially if placed at the top of a high wall; the leaves will spread out like a tropical banana tree. 

This version of anthurium can be used as an indoor houseplant and can be grown in forests and gardens. A sub-variety of this plant is a variegated version of Anthurium Plowmanii.

Anthurium Plowmanii Appearance

The leaves of Anthurium Plowmanii are long green, slightly ruffled, and rippled with wavy edges measuring up to 135 cm long and 55 cm wide. The shape of the foliage is elliptical to obovate, apex acuminate, and base truncates or attenuate. 

Anthurium Plowmanii can grow up to 1.8 m tall and spread to approximately 1 m or 10-12 inches. The plant’s stems are erect and 2.5-6 cm in diameter. The flowers of Anthurium Plowmanii measure up to 22 cm long and 8 cm wide. 

It is green with a bit of splash of purple and spadix green to grey. It grows into bisexual cluster green spathe and spadix. The mature fruit colors of angiosperms and gymnosperms are red and carry a fleshy fruit type. 

The per fruit seed quantity of Anthurium Plomanii is generally 1 to 5. Since Anthurium Plowmanii is known for its gorgeous glossy leaves, that is why it is a go-to decoration at home. 

Anthurium Plowmanii’s life also lasts for about five years. But propagation can let it live for a few more years.

Anthurium Plowmanii Care

Anything in excess is wrong for Anthurium Plowmanii, just like how it needs water once in a while. A fair amount of sunlight but not directly since it can damage the leaves by causing sunburn. The plant will react to things that you will do excessively. Below are detailed reminders on how to care for Anthurium Plowmanii.

Soil Requirements

Anthurium Plowmanii works best with a porous potting mix. However, it can work on a variety of soils that have good water retention properties with good drainage.

Organic matters like sugar cane bagasse, wood shavings, tree fern chips, macadamia nut shells or coffee parchment, volcanic cinder, or an artificial medium like polyphenol foam and rockwood can serve as an excellent medium to hold roots and plant growth.

The potting mixture of Anthurium Plowmanii should be such that it lets the roots dry and not sit in wet soil. The repotting of your plant should be done in spring when it has outgrown its current pot.

Light

Anthurium Plowmanii usually grows best when provided shade. However, it is not advised to completely keep it away from sunlight as the plant may shut down the flower production. 

In case this happens, keep your anthurium plowmanii in an area where it receives more light and wait for flower production to increase. Ideally, give the plant a shady spot where it receives partial sunlight. Around 75% – 80% shade is suitable to grow them. 

If you place Anthurium Plowmanii indoors, it will try to take as much as the light you will give but not direct sunlight. Consider placing it on a windowsill between 5 to 8 feet from a window.

Keeping it in direct sunlight will burn its foliage and flowers. You should also consider placing it in an area with diffused but good light.

Temperature & Humidity

Due to its natural habitat, Anthurium Plowmanii grows best with day temperatures of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius and night temperatures of 21 to 24 degrees celsius. The temperature above 32 degrees celsius and below 16 degrees celsius will kill the plant.

The high temperature above 32 degrees celsius will result in drying out the foliage and ends with the fading of your anthurium plowmanii. It is also suggested not to place the plant near ventilator grills, heat ducts, and drafts.

Anthurium Plowmanii requires approximately 70% to 80% humidity. In case your houseplant is not receiving enough moisture, you can take a tray and fill it with pebbles and water. Now, place the pot on the tray. 

It will help your anthurium plowmanii to receive enough humidity and grow well. Refill the water if it evaporates. You can also use a humidifier to maintain the correct humidity for your plant. Or you can mist them too, but it would not be the same as a humid environment.

Watering

Watering Anthurium Plowmanii once a week will not kill the plant. In fact, you can water it when the soil bed is completely dry. Over-watering draws insects and bacteria that may cause the plant to wilt, and have yellow-pigmented leaves and fungus.

Anthurium Plowmanii is a drought-tolerant plant. So, it does not wilt even in high humidity places and with less water. Keeping the plant and soil bed dry will ensure the beauty of the plant.

Fertilizer

The fertilizer needs of the Anthurium Plowmanii are neutral. It demands feeding with high nitrogen content once a month in summer. The reason why high nitrogen content is preferred is that it encourages the growth of the leaves.

Best Place To Grow Anthurium Plowmanii

Anthurium Plowmanii can be grown with USDA Hardiness Zone 10b – Zone 11. If this plant grows in a forest, it attaches itself to a tree, making it a tree host. These can also grow in soil beds, containers, and even in between rocks. 

These are also raised outdoors and grew more in Florida, specifically in Miami and Orlando. The sizes of your anthurium plowmanii depend on the environment where it grows. The leaves can grow as big as 2 meters in the wild and 12 to 24 inches when grown at home. 

Since Anthurium Plowmanii is drought-tolerant, it is perfect for xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is landscaping that uses water-conserving methods. Because instead of grass, there are soil, rocks, and drought-tolerant plants.

Anthurium Plowmanii’s comfort temperature ranges from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18 to 24 degrees Celsius). It requires 70 percent to 85 percent of sunlight. Please note to be careful with direct sunlight exposure as it burns the leaves. 

A humidity level of around 70 percent to 80 percent ideally works perfectly since too low might cause disease for the plant. Since it is also an indoor decorative plant, a warm room is ideal with bright light and high humidity.  

Pruning Anthurium Plowmanii

Pruning helps plants create room for leaf growth, prevents pests, and healthy growth. Pruning also enhances plants’ shape. These are only a few things that pruning does to plants.

When pruning Anthurium Plowmanii, it can be tricky to tell which leaves are dead or alive when it blooms. If necessary, use tweezers to prevent injury to the healthy leaves or use any gardening materials. 

Pruning also helps the plant last longer since it would not waste much energy producing new leaves. Start pruning from top to bottom. Make sure to take discolored or dead leaves out. 

If you follow a pattern for cutting the leaves, make sure healthy leaves are not compromised. Caring for gardening tools is equally important too. At least wipe or wash the tool after use so diseases are not transferred from one plant to another.

Do not prune very often. It is better to create a schedule for easy tracking. Periodical trimming of dry and dead leaves is already ideal.

Anthurium Plowmanii Propagation

Propagation is one way of helping plants deal with environmental challenges. It also extends the plant’s life. This is also a cost-effective way to multiply the plants your garden has, whether it is for business or personal purposes. 

While propagating through the plantlets method, you will usually see young plantlets located at the roots of some fully grown plants. In splitting the plantlet from the big roots, always be careful not to damage healthy leaves, and it is best to use garden equipment too.

1. Carefully split the plantlet from the main root. Remember to do this on sunny days.
2. Transfer the plantlet to a nutrient-filled pot of your choice of soil.  

Another method of root sectioning might destroy the look of the plant; this is only suggested if your Anthurium Plowmanii has outgrown its bucket or container – to the point that it has holes already.

1. Again, remember to do this on sunny days. Remove the entire plant from its original container.
2. Split the root system until you see the thick stem at the base. 
3. Make small groups or divisions and check if each group or division has a couple of leaves.
4. Cut out the thick stem and split each group with a good amount of the roots.
5. Rest the divided plants for a day or two before transferring them to individual pots. Make sure to use a good amount of nutrients that will help the ‘new’ plants.

Another method of propagation can be done by cutting the leaves. Follow the below-mentioned steps to propagate the plant carefully.

1. Check the lower leaves near the base and pick a strong, green leaf that has a root growing at its node.
2. Make diagonal cuts into the stem below the leaf. By cutting enough depth, the leaf should split up from the roots.
3. Put the stem in a jar with water to help with rooting. Place the jar under grow lights to maintain good humidity.
4.  Within two to four weeks, you will see young roots at the bottom of the leaf.

Anthurium Plowmanii Toxicity

Oxalic crystals are biomineral in plants, showing as crystals of different shapes. The crystals can be harmful to humans and pets. These oxalic crystals are present in Anthurium Plowmanii plants too. 

Can you remove oxalic crystals from the plants? The answer is no since it is already in their tissues. The Anthurium Plowmanii is a little harmful to humans and pets. Because if eaten, it can create itchiness in the mouth, throat, and intestinal tract. 

The toxic sap of Anthurium Plowmanii is used to poison fish. If the plant leaves are squeezed, it can create an irritating vapor, which is also known to cause vomiting, sneezing, coughing, and sometimes redness of the eyes. 

It is highly encouraged to wear gloves to protect your hands when pruning the plant since it may cause minor skin itches. And do not let your pets unattended near Anthurium Plowmanii.

Even though Anthurium Plowmanii is toxic to humans and pets, it also has medicinal attributes that have been used in folk therapy for centuries. The plant is known to be anthelmintic or can destroy parasitic worms like tapeworms or roundworms and has anti-inflammatory characteristics which can reduce inflammation. 

Common Problems of Anthurium Plowmanii 

When taking care of plants, it is common to encounter problems caused by either bacterium, too much sunlight exposure, or overwatering. Below are a few things to watch out for in caring for Anthurium Plowmanii.

Anthurium Plowmanii can get burn-like spots on the leaves that are caused by the spread of bacteria, often caused by overwatering. This symptom might not be visible at first, but once it appears, the whole plant is susceptible to infection. 

It is best to cut off affected leaves immediately. Discard the leaf and clean the tool used, so infection does not spread. 

Your plant can also get yellow-pigmented regions caused by over-watering. Since Anthurium Plowmanii is a drought-tolerant plant, many diseases may occur by overwatering.

A lot of unwelcomed insects live in these dying leaves too. So, to prevent plant diseases, always cut off the affected leaf with a clean tool and dispose of the leaf properly and avoid overwatering. 

Anthurium Plowmanii also invites insects such as ants and whiteflies because of its sugary sap. The overwatered ground is one cause why pests gather near the plant.

Also, overwatering will lead to root rot which may be fatal for your plant if untreated.

Spraying insecticides once a week also helps lessen and prevent pests from coming near the plant. In addition, since overwatering draws these insects into the plant, only water occasionally.

Another problem, powdery mildew, is caused by a fungus called Podosphaera Xanthi. New spores immediately form and spread this plant disease in dry and warm places. 

Since Anthurium Plowmanii thrives in warm places, too, spraying potassium bicarbonate every one to two weeks helps get rid of this disease. It is a fungicide that exterminates the powdery mildew spores quickly and is approved for organic growing.

Anthurium Plowmanii can also get mealybugs. These are insects found in moist, warm places. They are considered pests since they feed on saps of different types of plants. It also acts as a transmitter for several diseases.

To remove these mealybugs, insecticides can be used and sprayed at least once a week. Try to test the insecticide in a small part of the plant first for any burning reaction. Let it stay for two days and continue with the rest if there is no plant effect.

Another way is also dabbing a cotton ball soaked in 70 percent alcohol solution in water. Try to dab it in a small part of the plan first to see if there is any burning reaction to the plant. If not, continue to remove them gently to avoid damaging the stems.

Dish soap can be used too in killing these mealybugs. Try a homemade spray made of dish soap and water on a small portion first before going for the whole plant. Repeat as needed at least once a week. 

Wrapping Up

If you are looking for a plant that can be pretty and needs a little attention, Anthurium Plowmanii is what you are looking for. Keeping in mind the plant’s natural habitat is already a guide to knowing what type of care it needs. 

Anthurium Plowmanii does not need checking every day. It might react to anything you excessively do, so try pruning, watering, or trimming it in moderation.

When the plant receives the right care it needs, Anthurium Plowmanii is effortlessly an eye-catching indoor decoration. It is a summer-loving plant; just try to keep it dry, and you are eliminating half of the issues you are about to get. 

Sources

To back up the information we provide in our articles, the Plantials team only uses high-quality sources published in peer-reviewed university or scientific research journals.

1. Leaf Spot On Anthuirum Plowmanii, CAB Direct
2. Propagation Of Anthuirum Plowmanii, University Of Lampung
3. Anthuirum Plowmanii Leaves, ISHS Acta Horticulture