Hello,

Last march I purchased a pair of Anthurium Clarinervium (2 leaves each) in the same pot, with some roots that were already starting to come to the surface and get out of the pot.

In May, I noticed that the roots were starting to come out of the drainage holes as well, so I decided to repot the plants, and separate them. Also, the plants had put out a new leaf each, so the pot was starting to look crowded.

In June, I noticed that one of the plants that I repotted, the one with the smallest rootball, was showing some damage on the older leaves. At first, it was just some yellowing on the sides, but then the damage expanded inwards.





On the damaged part, and before it dries up, the leaf is floppy and almost see-through, and it loses its velvety texture and its thickness.

The new growth, however, looks very healthy. The stem is long, and the leaf is the biggest so far, and still growing.



Does anybody recognize the symptoms ?

Concerning the way I care for it, the plant is a few feet away form a south facing window, and gets bright indirect light the whole day (it's summer where I live). I water it once a week, abundantly till water comes out of the drainage holes, then I wait for a few minutes before putting it back into its decorative pot. The soil stays always moist, which is what is recommended on the descriptive card that came with the plant. The humidity is always over 50% now that's summer (it can go up to 70% when it rains outside), and during spring I used a humidifier to keep the humidity of the room at around 50%.

I read on some forum that those symptoms might be explained by root damage. I had indeed repotted the plant a couple times the same week, because I did not like the store-bought potting mix (I felt it was retaining way too much water), so I added some perlite to it the second time... I felt it was better, but I still think that it stays too moist between waterings.
For this reason, I was thinking about changing the soil again soon, but I haven't done it yet fearing for more root damage... and also not really knowing what a better mix would be like (I was thinking of adding orchid bark and lava rock to make the soil lighter and airier).

I have to say that the new leaf and the twin plant do not show any damage and look very healthy. The other plant, in particular, even put a flower out. Since I care the same way for the two plants, I do not think that it might be overwatering.

As a side question, would you have a recommandation for the ideal soil mix for Anthurium Clarinervium ?

Thanks in advance,

spellkun

I am not sure who would have recommended that you always keep the soil of Anthurium clarinervium moist. That is the problem, its too much water.

In nature, Clainervium grows on Karst formation in only a very thin layer of poor soil, effectively as a lithophyte. It sends roots into he cracks in the rock formation, and when water from rain filters through, it takes up that water.

Adding lava rock, LECA, Pumice, Perlite and bark as amendments would be beneficial.

Thank you @Gina1960,

Right now the soil is about 40% perlite, 60% potting mix.

I'll try with something like 20% potting mix, 20% perlite, and the remaining 60% I'll mix bark, lava rock and LECA.

That should give a small base of water retaining soil, and then lots of air pockets where the roots can enter. How does that sound ?

Spellkun

Sounds good. Also, adjust your pot size to just contain the existing roots. No extra media

Understood, thank you !

spellkun