Anthurium Chamberlainii Flower Care

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by Admin

Anthurium Chamberlainii is a rare, uncommon anthurium species. It is member of the Araceae family and in the wild, it is climbing epiphyte.

The plant is a favorite among collectors because of its changing colors. It also has stunning dark colored leaves which are valued when it comes to anthuriums.

When young (juvenile), its leaves will start out as dark burgundy in color and turn into a deep green color when it matures. They will likewise get quite large reaching 38 inches in length and 28 inches wide.

The plant is native to Venezuela , particularly in Merida. This is why it is rare and hard to find. Although it is now being cultivated in some tropical regions around the world.

Table of Contents

Anthurium Chamberlainii vs. Anthurium Moodeanum

It is worth mentioning that the Anthurium Chamberlainii and the Anthurium Moodeanum are commonly mistaken for one another. In large part, this is because they look very much alike.

Their leaves have similar shapes, veining and even colors.

Thus, it is important to know the difference between the two if you’re looking to get one or the other.

The Anthurium Chamberlainii features heart-shaped leaves that are dark burgundy during its juvenile state then turn dark green as it matures.

It also produces flowers which have a pink colored spathe and yellow-green spadix.

On the other hand, the Anthurium Moodeanum has darker deep purple-black leaf colors. The plant also has a more prominent mid vein that starts from the very top to the bottom of the leaf.

Anthurium Chamberlainii Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Anthurium Chamberlainii needs medium to bright indirect light to grow optimally. That’s because in the wild, the plant lives under the forest canopy where the direct rays of the sun barely touch it.

As such, it does not have a lot of tolerance for strong, intense light or direct sun.

This means you want to keep it away from mid-day sun as well the harsher summer rays.

On the other hand, while the plant can tolerate some low light, it is not the best location for it either. That’s because past a certain point, the plant’s growth will slow down.

Like other houseplants, it relies on light for photosynthesis. Therefore, when illumination gets low enough, its growth will slow or get stunted.

Also, low light will cause the plant to produce fewer blooms.

Therefore, when it comes to location, the plant appreciates being near an east facing window. This gives it a lot of light that is not too strong. Also, it does not mind early morning direct sunlight (before 10:30 a.m.). In fact, the plant will grow faster with this kind of gentle bright light.

Another option is a north-facing window provided that it does not get too dark in that location, especially during the winter.

Temperature

The Anthurium Chamberlainii is a warm-weather plant. This is due to its native habitat which is in the tropical regions of South America, more specifically, Venezuela.

As such, it enjoys sunny weather that is moderate to warm, preferably between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, it can tolerate about 10 degrees lower than daytime temperatures without any problems.

Just as importantly, avoid leaving the plant in locations where it will experience temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

It cannot tolerate a lot of this and will eventually sustain cold damage if left there for prolonged periods of should the temperature continue to drop.

As such, it is hardy to USDA Zones 11 and 12. In these locations, you can keep the plant outdoors without any issues even through the winter. That’s because these regions have sunshine and moderate weather during that time.

In contrast, bring it back indoors, if you experience snow or frost as the plant won’t get through freezing winters outdoors.

Humidity

The Anthurium Chamberlainii has an ideal humidity of 50% and higher. This means that it prefers staying somewhere that doesn’t have dry air. Again, it gets this from its native environment as Venezuela experiences warm and humid climate.

If left in low humidity, you’ll notice its leaves lose their deep colors. This is an easy to way know that the room you’re keeping it does not have sufficient humdiity.

Alternatively, I do suggest getting a digital hygrometer if you have a or plan to have a few houseplants. Most houseplants are tropical in nature. That means they enjoy a good amount of humidity.

Therefore, keeping a hygrometer around will tell you what the humidity is on any given time in any room in your home. This makes it easy to know when certain plants need extra attention.

In case, the air gets too dry, you can invest in a humidifier, if that’s in your budget.

If not you can opt to mist the plant a few times a week, group it with other houseplants or place it on top of pebbles on a water tray.

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How Often to Water Anthurium Chamberlainii

The Anthurium Chamberlainii needs watering at least once a week during the warmer months. Although how often will depend on how hot it gets where you live and how much sunlight it receives (based on the location you put it).

The more sun it gets, the faster soil will dry. Similarly, the hotter the weather is, the sooner the soil dries up. On the other hand, the higher the humidity the less water it will need.

As such, watering can range from once every 7 to 10 days to be as frequent as once every 2 or 3 days. It really depends on your home’s environment.

In tropical regions like South America or Southeast Asia, growers will water the plant every other day or so. But, that’s because it is really hot there as both regions are very near the equator.

On the other hand, make sure to scale back on watering during winter as the plant does not need as much water. On average, it only needs to be watered once every 2 weeks.

Again, how often will depend on how cold it gets and how little light there is.

The other thing is to give it a deep, thorough watering when you add moisture. This means soaking the entire root ball so the roots get enough hydration. Stop pouring once you see liquid trickling down from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Then allow the soil to completely drain after that.

Another option is to water from the bottom. You can use a saucer or container filed with water and let the soil absorb the moisture for a few minutes.

Anthurium Chamberlainii Potting Soil

The Anthurium Chamberlainii is an aroid. Therefore, the best soil for it is an Aroid mix.

That said, as long as you use loose, airy, well-draining potting mix, it will be happy and stay healthy. It also prefers soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5.

The most important thing to keep in mind with water and soil is that the plant cannot be left standing in water for long periods of time.

Otherwise, it will experience root rot.

Thus, overwatering and waterlogged soil are serious issues you want to avoid by all means

You can create your own DIY potting mix for Anthurium Chamberlainii by using equal parts of:

Peat
Perlite
Pine bark

If you don’t like creating your own potting mix, and would like buying it instead, go for an aroid mix if you can find it. Different stores will carry their own blends. But they serve the same purpose.

Another option is orchid mix although you may want to monitor how this works out because the results an vary depending on the components. Have some sand on hand just in care the mix retains too much water. If it does, add a few handfuls and see how it responds.

Avoid using regular potting soil on its own as this often retains too much moisture which will leave the roots with wet feet.

Fertilizer

The Anthurium Chamberlainii is not a heavy feeder. Therefore, it does not need a lot of fertilizer. But it does need nutrients.

So, try not to skip the plant food. Although you can, this will cause it to grow slower and produce fewer flowers.

You can use a liquid houseplant fertilizer once every 2 months during its growing season. Dilute it to half strength when you apply. Similarly, don’t fertilize the plant if the soil is dry, make sure to water it first.

This way, the concentration of the chemicals is not too strong. Too much fertilizer salts will damage your Anthurium Chamberlainii’s roots.

Pruning

The Anthurium Chamberlainii is a moderate grower and will get to about 3 to 4.5 feet over time. It takes about 2 to 3 years to reach its mature height.

It is also important to note that how fast the plant grows will vary depending on how much light it gets. The more light it receives, the faster it will grow to the same plant with less illumination.

That said, since the plant’s beauty is in its leaves and flowers, pruning is not high on the list of things to do.

Often, only the yellow leaves or those that have been damaged need to be pruned.

How to Propagate Anthurium Chamberlainii

The easiest way to propagate Anthurium Chamberlainii is through stem cuttings. The best time to do so is during spring to early summer. This way, the new plant will grow quickly and gets an entire growing season (in the case of early spring) to grow before the cold weather comes (and growth slows down).

Here’s how to propagate Anthurium Chamberlainii using stem cuttings.

The more important thing with stem propagation is choosing the right kind of stems. Here, you want to get a healthy stem with at least 1-2 nodes and a few leaves on it.
If you can get a stem with these requirements that’s perfect. And if the stem has aerial roots, even better.
Use a sterile pair of garden shears, large pair of scissors or knife to take a 4-6 inch stem cutting. Cut below the node (and aerial root if any).
If you’re propagating in water, place the cutting in water with the nodes (and aerial roots) in the liquid. Remove any leaves touching the water. But, leave the top leaves intact. Also, change the water once a week.
If you’re propagating in soil, bury the nodes in the soil but keep the aerial roots above (or out of) the soil. Use well-draining soil and water regularly to keep the soil moist. But avoid overwatering the potting mix.
It takes about 3 to 6 weeks for roots to grow. Although, with water propagation, you’ll be able to watch the progress. Thus, after the first week or so, you should see small bits of white roots start coming out from the aerial roots and nodes.

Anthurium Chamberlainii How to Repot or Transplant

The Anthurium Chamberlainii needs to be repot once every 2 years on average. This can be slightly earlier if your plant is growing quickly. Or, take closer to 3 years if your plant is growing slowly.

The important thing is to wait until it has outgrown its pot before doing so.

Moving it to a larger pot ahead of time often causes more problems than it helps due to the excess soil volume when wet.

So, the best time to repot your Anthurium Chamberlainii is when you see its roots are coming out of the pot or they’re wrapping round the root ball.

This is a sign that they want more space.

The optimum time of the year to repot is during spring to early summer.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

The Anthurium Chamberlainii is toxic to people and animals. Therefore, it is not pet-safe and should be kept out of reach of curious cats and dogs.

Ingesting parts of the plant including the stems, flowers and foliage can lead to irritation, pain and other digestive tract issues.

Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

The Anthurium Chamberlainii is fairly resistant to pests. And with proper care (and cleaning its leaves regularly), you may never need to deal with any pests during the life of the plant.

However, like all houseplants, there’s not guaranteed way to keep these insects away. Therefore, you always need to watch for them and inspect your plant.

Aphids, scale, spider mites and mealybugs are the most common pests that will attack the plant.

The easiest way to get rid of them is to spray them off with water once you see them. You can likewise use neem oil or insecticidal soap spray.

Diseases

The Anthurium Chamberlainii can get both bacterial and fungal diseases. This is especially true if there’s too much water. As such, avoid overwatering, waterlogged soil and damp environments.

Its love for high humidity means there’s already extra moisture in the air. Therefore, avoid increasing the risk of diseases by adding too much water or over-misting the plant.