How to Care for Anthurium Magnificum?

With large leaves and prominent veins, the Anthurium Magnificum is indeed a magnificent looking plant that will add an exotic and exuberant vibe to any indoor space.

Native to the warm climates of South America and Columbia, the Anthurium Magnificum has similar keeping requirements to that of the philodendron.

So, if you’ve grown philodendrons before, this plant should be just as easy for you to grow.

If you’re not familiar with any of these plants, my guide below will get you up to speed with everything you need to know about successfully growing an Anthurium Magnificum.

Size & Growth

This Anthurium plant can reach an average height between 2-5 feet. The dark green or silvery green leaves of the Anthurium Magnificum reach a length of 6 to 10 inches.

The prominent veins on the leaves are lighter, creating a remarkable contrast against the deep green color of the leaves. The texture of the leaves is also notable since they have a leathery feel to them.

The plant has a moderate growth speed and at the rate at which it’s growing, you don’t need to worry about repotting it too often.

Light Requirements

I mentioned how this plant has similar care requirements to that of the philodendron plants.

The similarity extends also to the light requirements of the Anthurium Magnificum — the plant does best in moderate light. More specifically, it enjoys bright light but only if it’s indirect light.

Because in its natural habitat it grows mainly as an understory plant, it’s shaded by other plants and trees, so it doesn’t get much direct light. Hence the need to protect the plant from direct sun exposure.

A bit of early morning sun or late afternoon sun isn’t harmful for the plant, but when exposed to direct sunlight during the hours when the rays of the sun are the strongest, even a couple of hours of sun can scorch the leaves.

Indoors, choose a location where the plant gets bright light. Avoid keeping the plant close to a south-facing window to prevent the leaves from scorching.

Periodically rotate the plant so that all sides of it receive light. If only one side gets enough light, the plant can grow lopsided.

Watering

Watering tropical plants can be a bit tricky because they don’t take well to having their soil dry out, but they also don’t like to be overwatered.

The Anthurium Magnificum is also like this. Overwater it and you’ll be dealing with root rot and a plant that’s about to wither away. Under-water it and you’ll notice shrivelled leaves and a wilting plant.

The key to watering this plant is balance. It needs constantly moist soil, but not soil that’s drenched in water. To prevent overwatering, follow these tips:

• Before each time you water the Anthurium Magnificum, poke your index finger into the potting mix. If the mix is moist, wait for it to dry a bit more. If it’s dry, water the plant.
• During the growing season, the plant needs water more often. During winter, you can cut back on watering.
• Use chlorine-free water to prevent damage to the plant’s leaves. If you’re watering with tap water, let the water sit overnight so that chlorine gas can evaporate.
• Use room temperature water to avoid shocking the plant if the water is too cold.

Besides meeting the plant’s watering demands, you’ll also need to know about the type of soil the Anthurium Magnificum grows in.

Soil Type

Anthurium Magnificum plants need a soil mix that retains some moisture without it becoming saturated with water. A well-draining and well-aerated soil is crucial to keeping the plant’s roots from rotting.

Soil mixes that contain sphagnum peat moss, perlite, charcoal, coconut coir and mulch are excellent for this plant that doesn’t like to be overwatered but also enjoys its soil to be slightly moist.

You can create your own Anthurium Magnificum potting mix by using one part perlite, one part peat and one part regular potting soil.

The perlite holds onto moisture to offer the plant enough hydration, while the peat allows the soil to drain so that the plant’s roots aren’t sitting in water.

Don’t use regular potting soil for this plant or any other tropical plant. Regular potting soil will hold on to too much water and it’s prone to compaction, neither of which is good for the Anthurium Magnificum.

Temperature & Humidity

Not a cold-tolerant plant by any means, strive to keep the Anthurium in a location where the temperature is constantly between 65 °F and 75 °F.

Anything lower than 55 F will cause tissue damage in the plant. Frost will downright kill the plant, so avoid it, even if for a short period.

Temperature shock can be induced even by simple things like cold drafts or a cold window, so protect your Anthurium from such variations in temperature.

Extremely hot temperatures such as the direct action of a heat vent should also be avoided.

As for humidity, as any plant that grows in a warm climate, the Anthurium needs moderate to high levels of moisture.

If you want a thriving plant, you’ll need to invest in a humidifier that will meet the humidity demands of this plant.

Alternatively, you can use a humidity tray. Simply fill a tray with pebbles and water and place the pot on top of the pebbles, so that the bottom of the pot isn’t touching the water.

As the water evaporates, it naturally increases humidity around the plant. You may need to increase humidity in dry seasons or during periods of drought.

Misting the plant is another method to increase humidity, but I’ve found this can be a hit or miss. Plus, it increases the chances of fungal disease outbreaks on the leaves.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing your plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the growing season will help it develop larger leaves and ensure steady growth. In winter, it’s enough to fertilize your plant only once.

Don’t use a full-strength fertilizer to avoid burning the roots of the plant. If you do accidentally use more fertilizer or don’t dilute the fertilizer, you’ll need to either flush the soil under running water, or replace the soil altogether.

If you fertilize the plant correctly, it will not only grow larger leaves, but it will become lusher.

Potting & Repotting

The roots of the Anthurium don’t mind being a bit pot-bound. That said, you’ll still need to replace the potting mix every 2-3 years ideally, even if you don’t see the roots of the plant sticking out the drain holes.

The best time to repot is in spring. Avoid disturbing the plant during winter. Try to schedule any repotting to the beginning of the growing season instead.

When choosing a new pot for your Anthurium Magnificum, you should focus on picking a pot that’s only a size bigger. There are no benefits to oversizing the pot of your plant.

How to Propagate Anthurium Magnificum?

Propagating the Anthurium Magnificum comes with little challenges — the plant is easy to propagate from stem cuttings.

Here’s how to choose good stem cuttings and how to root them:

• Pick a section of the plant that’s healthy and pest-free
• Cut a section that’s about 3-6 inches, cut below a leaf node
• Stem cuttings have a higher chance of rooting if they have 2-3 leaves on
• Root in water or moist potting mix
• Keep in a warm location, out of direct light, but in a bright spot
• Roots should form in a couple of weeks

If you’re rooting in water, make sure to replace the water every 3-4 days. Don’t allow any leaves to fall into the water or become immersed, or they’ll rot.

Here are are few common questions about Anthurium Magnificum:

Is the Anthurium Magnificum Toxic to Pets?

Yes, the Anthurium magnificum is a plant that’s toxic to cats and dogs. The calcium oxalate crystals, which can also be found in pothos and philodendrons, in the sap of the plant can cause severe irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. It’s not only toxic to pets, but also to humans as well.

Why are the Leaves of the Anthurium Magnificum Turning Yellow?

Soil that’s constantly saturated with water can cause the plant’s leaves to turn yellow. Check to see if the soil of the plant is moist, smells bad or fungus is growing on top of the soil. All these signs point to overwatering and possible root rot issues.

The way to deal with this problem is to change the potting mix completely and discard any selections of the root that are rotting. If the rotting is advanced, you may not be able to save your plant anymore.

How Much Does the Anthurium Magnificum Cost?

The Anthurium Magnificum usually costs about $20-$40, depending on the store, the size, and the health of the plant. Some bigger and older plants are sold for even $500 on online auctions. This might come to you as a surprise, but there are other exotic plants such are philodendrons, which are even more expensive.

Wrapping Up

Similar in its care requirements to philodendrons, the Anthurium Magnificum is easy to grow and an enjoyable plant to have around.

Its dark green leaves with light veins create a plant that draws your attention immediately. And the rarer variety with silvery green leaves it’s a sight to behold.

Provide enough light, warmth, and humidity, and be careful when watering this plant. Just like philodendrons, it’s easy to overwater these plants, which is their number one killer.