This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
This post is all about Anthurium Vittarifolium care.
Plant collectors usually love exotic plants. If you’re a plant collector, then Anthurium Vittarifolium is a plant that you need right now for your collection.
Anthurium Vittarifolium is a rare and unique trailing house plant.
Most trailing house plants people are familiar with have vines that cascade down. Anthurium Vittarifolium, on the other hand, has very long, narrow leaves that hang down from its pot.
In fact, this plant is different from most Anthurium plants because most Anthuriums grow straight up.
Because of it’s cascading nature, the best way to display it is in a hanging basket. Placing it on a ledge is another way to enjoy it.
This plant’s long, leathery green leaves look like neckties and have a ridge going down the middle.
The leaves can actually grow up to 2 meters or 6.5 feet in length!
It might need to grow in a native rainforest habitat to reach those lengths, but you’ll see long leaves on this as a house plant, too. They are absolutely gorgeous and definitely give off jungle vibes.
Anthurium Vittarifolium is native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. As such, you can expect this plant to require lots of humidity and indirect sunlight.
If you’ve been lucky enough to get your hands on this rare house plant or are considering investing in one, keep reading for the best Anthurium Vittarifolium care tips.
Anthurium Vittarifolium Care – Quick Guide
Light: Medium to bright indirect light (1500 to 2500 LUX). Avoid direct sun.
Soil: Well-draining, chunky, aerated soil. Top dress with sphagnum moss.
Watering: Once every 3 days. Keep soil slightly moist. Do not let the soil dry out completely.
Humidity: Thrives in humidity greater than 70%.
Temperature: Warm. 65º – 85ºF / 17º – 29ºC. Avoid frost.
Fertilizing: Slow release NPK 13-13-13 every 2 to 3 months
Anthurium Vittarifolium Care – In-Depth Expert Guide
Light Requirements
Provide your Anthurium Vittarifolium with medium to bright indirect light.
That is 1500 to 2500 LUX on a light meter.
Considering the fact that this plant grows under the canopies of large rainforests, Anthurium Vittarifolium will do best under shade.
Never give this plant direct sunlight.
On the other hand, do not leave your Vittarifolium in a location with low light for long periods of time. Doing so will slow it’s growth down tremendously.
The best way to know if your plant is getting enough light is to monitor the growth of flowers.
If flower production has stopped, then move your Vittarifolium to a location with more light.
If keeping this plant indoors, be sure that your Vittarifolium receives lots of bright indirect light.
Keep it in a bright location of your home without letting sunlight directly land on it. You can do this by keeping it away from windows. Another way is to diffuse the light coming through the window with a sheer curtain.
Soil
Your Anthurium Vittarifolium needs chunky, well-aerated soil for best growth. This allows their roots to hold on to humidity. It also allows for good drainage since this plant needs to be watered often.
A chunky and well-aerated soil mix will also provide the roots with something to grip onto. This is important because of the way this plant grows – downward and cascading. The weight of the downward growth can cause overbalance and so the roots will need chunky soil to hold on to.
If you’re looking for the best medium to grow your Anthurium Vittarifolium, try our recipe for the best aroid soil mix. It is chunky and aerated, and also provides lots of nutrients for all of your aroids.
Related Article: The Only Aroid Soil Mix You’ll Ever Need
Expert Tip #1: Anthurium Vittarifolium loves sphagnum moss. Top dress your soil with sphagnum moss to retain humidity around the roots and the main stem area. The plant will push roots through the sphagnum moss and back down into the soil.
Watering
Anthurium Vittarifolium is a rather thirsty plant and does not like to dry out.
It actually requires more frequent watering than other aroids.
So if you’re a collector of other aroids, keep in mind that your Vittarifolium needs a little more attention in the watering department than your other plants.
We generally recommend that you water your Vittarifolium about every 3 days.
However, the best way to know if your plant needs to be watered is to test the soil with your finger or with a moisture meter.
You want to make sure that the soil is slightly moist most of the time.
If you notice yellowing leaves, that is a sign of overwatering. When this happens, just back off a bit with the watering.
The leaves will go back to green after a few days.
Just keep in mind that this particular plant does not like to be completely dry.
If you are underwatering this plant, you will notice that the leaf tips will turn brown, dry and crispy. And then this will spread up the leaf.
Like everything in life, balance is key to a healthy plant.
Luckily, this is a very forgiving houseplant and it will bounce back quickly once you correct your mistakes.
Expert Tip #2: Use a pot with several large drainage holes at the bottom. This will ensure that water drains away from the roots. Allowing roots to sit in water will cause root rot.
Humidity
Anthurium Vittarifolium loves humidity. It will thrive if you can provide it with at least 70% humidity most of the day.
If you live in a tropical climate, the humidity outdoors and in your home should be adequate for your Vittarifolium.
However, if you live in a location with cold winters or dry summers then you will need to provide your plant with ample humidity.
You can do this by using a humidifier around your plant, or by misting the plant with water.
Also refer back to Expert Tip #1 to give your plant more humidity.
Temperature
Anthurium Vittarifolium is a tropical plant that requires warm temperatures. Between 65º–85ºF or 17º-29ºC is just right.
This plant is not cold hardy and will die if exposed to frost.
Therefore, if you live in a colder climate, be sure to keep your Vittarifolium indoors and out of the cold.
That being said, also be sure to keep it away from radiators or heaters.
Extremely high temperatures will also be detrimental to your Vittarifolium because it will lose moisture.
Keep this from happening by giving it lots of humidity and water.
Fertilizing
Anthurium Vittarifolium has delicate roots and therefore needs slow-release fertilizer. A quick-release fertilizer can damage the root system.
We’ve found the best type of fertilizer for Anthurium Vittarifolium to be a slow release fertilizer with NPK 13-13-13 every 2 to 3 months. The directions on the package will let you know exactly how much and how often to fertilize your plant. We also like to supplement with fish emulsion weekly to bi-weekly at 1/4 dilution.
It is totally fine to rely on the soil to provide enough nutrients for your plant. However, giving it fertilizer will ensure that your plant grows to its maximum potential. The result will be a large and healthy plant.
Anthurium Vittarifolium Care – Questions and Concerns You May Have
What do I do with flowers on my Anthurium Vittarifolium?
Anthurium Vittarifolium will produce flowers every so often.
The flower is a white spadix about 2 inches in length from what looks like a stem.
The flowers are not useful to the plant unless you want to use the seeds for propagating.
If propagating from seed isn’t in your plans, then simply cut off the flowers. The flowers can actually drain energy from the plant. Cutting them off will allow the plant to focus energy on growing more leaves.
How do I prune Anthurium Vittarifolium?
The first thing to remove from your Vittarifolium are the flowers.
Like we mentioned above, the flowers will drain energy from your plant.
If you want to propagate from seeds, remove the seeds first and then cut the flowers off. This way, your plant can focus it’s energy on making those pretty leaves.
When pruning leaves, simply look for any discolored, wilted or dead leaves. Then, cut them off without damaging any healthy parts of the plant.
Anthurium Vittarifolium’s leaves don’t shed too often. You may want to prune off some leaves if the plant begins to look overcrowded and for aesthetic reasons.
Expert Tip #3: Sterilize your cutting tools before pruning. This will help prevent bacterial disease on your plant. Simply wipe, spray or dip your pruning tools in 70%-100% isopropyl alcohol to sterilize them.
Is my Anthurium Vittarifolium susceptible to diseases?
Anthuriums, in general, can be affected by bacterial disease called bacterial blight.
Some signs of bacterial blight include yellow, water-soaked wounds along leaf edges that later form dead v-shaped areas.
This happens when a species of Xanthomonas bacteria enters pores on the leaves through wounds.
Wounds on leaves can be created by insects or through pruning.
To prevent bacterial blight, try to keep the leaves dry when watering and sterilize knives and clippers before pruning.
Luckily, however, this specific Anthurium has not given us much trouble in terms of diseases. It seems to be pretty resistant and resilient even when we find ourselves neglecting it.
What pests are on my Anthurium Vittarifolium?
Your Vittarifolium can be affected by common house plant pests such as spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, thrips, and whiteflies.
If you happen to notice tiny insects or spiders on your Vittarifolium, you can take a few measures.
First, you can dislodge them with short, sharp blasts of water from a garden hose sprayer.
You can also try a plant soap or oil. These are natural and won’t harm the plant or pollinators.
The best way to keep pests in check is to regularly inspect your plants. This way, you’ll be able to treat them as soon as the problem starts. It’s better to be proactive instead of having to deal with a full-blown infestation.
Luckily, this particular Anthurium seems to be pretty resistant when it comes to pests. We recently had mealybugs on some of our plants. But for some reason, our Vittarifolium did not have any on it.
Related Article: Get Rid of Spider Mites in 5 Easy Steps
Now you’re prepared with the best tips on Anthurium Vittarifolium care. So go and enjoy all the beauty this plant has to offer. It is truly a unique plant for your collection and we hope it brings you years of enjoyment.
You’ll Also Love: