Anthurium Crystallinum x Magnificum: A Beautiful Blend of the Best (Top Care Tips and Tricks)

Anthurium crystallinum x magnificum cultivar brings you the best qualities of both crystallinum and magnificum.

As a hybrid plant, crystallinum x magnificum will display features of both anthurium species at random. Your specific plant may contain stronger genetics of one variety or the other, but as we’ve covered Anthurium crystallinum in depth already, this article will be dedicated to the specific qualities, care and maintenance of Anthurium magnificum.

History

Anthurium plants were discovered in 1876. The French botanist Eduard Andre brought anthuriums, along with other exotic tropical plants back to an intrigued public in Europe. The popular species magnificum goes by the common names laceleaf, tailflower and flamingo flower. Its origins can be traced back to tropical regions of Colombia

Symbolic Significance

Like other anthurium varieties, the large heart-shaped leaves of magnificum give off romantic and friendly vibes. Emblematic of enduring, long-lasting friendships, magnificum makes an excellent gift especially meaningful due to its rarity. If you’re lucky enough to possess one of these tropical wonders, try practicing its symbolic meaning by taking some cuttings and sharing them with friends. What could be a better way to bond with a fellow plant lover than by sharing this elusive, exotic beauty?

Health Benefits

Aroid plants are renowned for their air-purifying qualities and magnificum is no exception. Their giant leaves will help rid the air of toxins while contributing large amounts of oxygen into your living space. This is a welcome benefit as we are all increasingly burdened by polluted air, dust and chemicals.

Distinct Features

Magnificum has a similar appearance to other popular Anthurium varieties crystallinum and clarinervium. Yet there are a few distinct features that sets it apart from the rest.

Magnificum has large (up to 18-24 inch long!) heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are dark to medium shades of green, starting out a golden color and greening up as they mature.

Magnificum shares the lithophytic, or terrestrial, nature of Anthurium clarinervium. It will only produce subterranean roots, unlike crystallinum which develops aerial roots.

The petioles, the slender portion of the leaf that connects it to the main stem, are the most unique identifiable aspect of magnificum. Instead of being rounded and cylindrical like most plants, magnificum petioles have a unique square shape. There are four distinct sides of the petiole and at its base are wings at each of the corners.

Growth Habit

Broad, distinctly heart-shaped leaves start off a golden shade and gradually change to ,medium or dark green. The glossy, leathery leaves are detailed with stunning white veins that run along the surface.

A single leaf can reach a length of 24 inches, prominent and majestic.

Due to their tropical native environment, magnificum will thrive with high temperatures and humidity. They grow more quickly than crystal anthurium and will reach taller heights. If carefully maintained, magnificum will grow for years producing massive leaves and might just grow to be taller than you!

Magnificum will rarely flower. The blossoms could be considered a bonus, or just snip them off as they form to concentrate all the plant’s energy into the impressive leaves.  It’s safe to say that anthurium plants have gained their mass following due to their unique foliage.

Conditions

Magnificum is easy to care for when provided with ideal conditions. It is possible to find a sweet spot and achieve the perfect environment. Read on to learn how to dial in all of these variables to get the most out of your crystal anthurium.

Soil

When it comes to the growing medium you use for your magnificum, it should have a few certain qualities. The potting mix should be light, well-draining and retain moisture well all at the same time.

The indoor plant potting soil sold at most nurseries and grow stores should work fine enough for your magnificum. Check for these quality ingredients listed on the bag:

• Peat moss
• Coconut coir
• Perlite
• Vermiculite
• Mycorrhizae
• Compost
• Humus
• Earthworm castings

But if you’d like to save a little money, want the best quality medium and are feeling a bit adventurous, why not make your own mix?

Your magnificum deserves it, and will repay you with uber-impressive foliage displays.

The formula for making the best indoor potting mix is

• Two parts organic matter (soil, compost, worm castings, humus)
• One part drainage (perlite, vermiculite, coarse sand, rice hulls)
• One part water retention (peat moss, coco coir)

The organic content will add substance holding the mix together. It will also slowly break down and feed your plant over time.

The drainage elements will keep the media from sticking together, allowing water and oxygen to pass through freely.

The moisture retention ingredients will ensure that your roots don’t easily dry out. Coco coir and peat moss both absorb water well but also keep their light and airy consistency.

Buying these ingredients in bulk and making your own mix will be cheaper and supply you with a bunch of the perfect blend should you want to acquire more plants, propagate or transplant your magnificum. It’s always nice to have extra medium on hand, especially for us plant lovers.

Light

Keep in mind that magnificum evolved in a jungle setting where filtered light is the norm. This means that they do not tolerate direct sun well and they burn easily when exposed. They will gladly accept all of the bright, indirect light you can give them though.

An east-facing window works quite well because it will offer plenty of bright morning sun, which is gentler than afternoon sun. Let it take in all of the indirect rays, but if the sun shines directly through, move your magnificum away from the window or hang a curtain to filter the strong beams.

Pay attention to what your leaves are telling you. If they wilt and start to yellow out, it’s more than likely they’re not getting enough light. If they have brown scorch marks, they were probably touched with too much sun and got burnt.

Magnificum can be supplemented with grow lights if there isn’t enough bright indirect light in your home. Grow lights can also help keep your plant perky throughout the dim, depressing winter season. Keep your magnificum under lights for 12 hours a day if you don’t have space near a sunny window.

If you choose to move your magnificum outdoors in the warm months, make sure it’s in a completely shaded area near trees or tall shrubs.

Temperature and Humidity

The best path to making your magnificum comfortable in your home is to emulate its native tropical climate. Warmth and humidity are paramount. Cold, even cool temperatures won’t be tolerated. Dry air will lead to problems as well.

Keep temperatures above 65 degrees at all times. But the small window of a sweltering 75-85 degrees will make your crystal anthurium feel right at home. It will even accept temps into the 90s as long as its out of direct sun and the humidity is within the preferred range.

Make sure to keep humidity levels above 50% at all times to ensure your magnificum is getting the moisture it needs.

Adding a humidifier to the growing space will help maintain high moisture levels. Bathrooms tend to be the most humid room of a home, so if there is a window with bright indirect light, it may be a good option for your magnificum.

Consider making a pebble tray to increase the immediate humidity surrounding the plant. Add pebbles or small stones to a saucer or planting tray and fill it with water. Set the container on top of the pebbles, so the tray will catch the runoff from watering. It will eventually evaporate, keeping the environment humid and comfortable for your magnificum.

Care and Maintenance

Like most common houseplants, magnificum is easy to care for with the right approach. But knowing the right timing for watering, fertilizing, pruning, propagating and transplanting is critical.

Read on to learn about all of these factors affecting your plant’s life cycle and how to keep them in harmony in order to get the most out of your magnificum.

Water

Another crucial preference of magnificum is moist, well-draining soil. The roots love to be moist but won’t tolerate standing in cool, soggy soil. This can lead to stress, root rot, the appearance of unwanted pests, fungal diseases and death.

The best way to know if your magnificum needs to be watered is by physically checking the soil. Using your finger, push into the soil about 2 inches deep. If it’s dry down to this point, you can safely give it a slow, deep watering.

A moisture meter is a great tool that accurately measures the amount of water in the medium; especially helpful when you’re just getting used to watering a new plant.

If the leaves start to turn yellow, get droopy and there are signs of fungus gnats or foul smells around the base of your plant, then you’re watering too much.

Magnificum are susceptible to root rot. It sets in quickly and it’s extremely difficult to salvage a plant from this affliction. Let your plant dry out if it’s had too much to drink.

If the leaves have brown edges and tips that curl up and feel crispy, your plant needs more water.

Underwatering will shock your plant and stunt its growth and foliage production. When watering an underwatered plant, do it gradually to let the dried-out medium rehydrate. Let the plant and pot rest in the runoff water in its tray for 10-15 minutes. The roots will have time to absorb sufficient water to rehydrate.

After rehydrating the soil and roots the surface of the medium can be scraped or scratched at with a small gardening fork. This will break up the compacted soil, allowing better water and airflow down to the roots.

Fertilizer

Anthurium magnificum grows at a slow pace but can reach heights of 5-6 feet tall. Like most other houseplants it will appreciate a few feedings during the growing seasons of spring and summer. A regular feeding once per month during the growing season will help maximize magnificum’s growing potential.

Water soluble fertilizers are convenient and it’s easy to find balanced, organic varieties. Fish emulsion and liquid seaweed are great fertilizers. They contain all the nutrients your plant needs with little risk for burning, as they are gentle and all-natural. Mix these fertilizers into water at about half the recommended strength and apply them to the soil around the base of the plant.

Slow-release fertilizers are also useful. Usually, they’re granular in form and can be turned into the top couple inches of the planting medium and watered in. Over time they’ll break down, gradually feeding your anthurium plant.

As with liquid fertilizers, don’t overdo it with granular feeds. Less is more, you can always adjust your feeding routine based on your plant’s response. But overfertilizing can burn the plant, stunt its growth and even kill it.

The most tried and true fertilizer though is a well-broken-down compost. Top dress the container with fresh compost every spring and be sure to incorporate more into the new container whenever repotting or transplanting your magnificum. Compost, if well-decomposed, won’t burn your plant, will add nutrients and help condition the medium, leading to a more robust plant.

Pruning

You won’t have to worry about any complicated pruning rules or practices when it comes to your magnificum. In fact, because they grow slowly, not much pruning is required at all.

The only time you should cut anything is when leaves begin to fade, yellow or die. It will keep it looking nice, make way for new growth and prevent the plant from using its energy on unhealthy foliage.

Another way to keep the foliage in tip-top shape is to wipe them down from time to time. Naturally, dust will fall and collect on the leaves. This can inhibit photosynthesis and transpiration, negatively affecting overall health.

Make it a point to regularly wipe the leaves with a clean, damp towel to keep them shiny, happy and healthy.

Propagation

Once you have your very own magnificum you’ll definitely want more! The tropical plant can be propagated in a couple different ways.

The best options for propagating this elegant beauty are root division and stem cuttings. Read on to find out how!

Root Division

Separating your anthurium into smaller individual plants through root division should be a regular part of the repotting process.

When your plant is getting too big for its pot, consider transplanting it into another container and breaking it up into smaller pieces. This will not only rejuvenate your magnificum but will give you more plants!

Carefully remove the plant from its container and brush off excess soil stuck on the roots. Look for an area of natural separation where you’ll be able to easily pull the plant into two or more parts. Gently and meticulously untangle the roots and gently pull the plants apart.

Plant each magnificum division into a new pot, mix in some extra compost and water well. Pamper them for the next couple of weeks by keeping the roots moist and making sure they don’t get excessive bright light.

Stem Cuttings

Making a new plant out of a single stem cutting is a fascinating prospect. It’s quick, easy and efficient. Many cuts can be taken from a single plant in one sitting. Transplant shock is also avoided through this method.

Wearing gloves is advised due to the skin-irritating calcium oxide crystals contained in the plant.

Identify a few strong, healthy stems to propagate. Using a sterilized knife or shears, cut right below a node. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone and plant it into a medium with good drainage and moisture retention, similar to the mixture mentioned above. The light, breathable blend will encourage new root growth.

Set the new plants in a warm and humid place to get them off to a strong start. The cuttings can remain in that container for a while until they develop new roots and begin to thrive. But once you see new growth start to emerge from the young plant, it’s possible to pot them up into a larger container.

Transplanting

Being root bound is not a huge hindrance to the health of magnificum. They grow slowly and roots will tolerate some crowding in their container. But if the roots start peeking out the drainage holes of its pot, then you should prepare to transplant it into a larger container.

Repotting allows the roots to expand, leading to new growth and a larger, more impressive foliar display from your anthurium magnificum. That and you get the opportunity to replenish the soil with fresh ingredients and nutrients.

Choose a container that is about twice the size of the current one but not so large that excess water can collect and linger. This will give roots plenty of space to spread.

Prepare the new container and soil ahead of time to minimize the bare root’s exposure to the air. The quicker you get it potted back up, the lower the chance for transplant shock.

Always water a freshly transplanted magnificum well into its new container. Yellowing leaves and temporary drooping may occur after transplant, but provided the conditions are right, it will bounce back quickly.

Reference this quick step-by-step guide for transplanting/repotting your anthurium magnificum:

• Gently remove the plant from its container by loosening the roots. Turn it upside down and carefully slide it out, pulling softly only from the base of the plant.
• Brush off excess soil from the roots.
• Lightly comb through the roots to untangle them.
• Take your container filled about halfway with fresh potting mix.
• Set the plant into the new pot and spread out the roots so it’s sturdy and seems to stand on its own.
• Line up the crown of the plant with the top of the container so it will sit above the soil line.
• Hold the plant in place and adjust potting mix to get it at the right level.
• Fill all of the gaps and cover the roots with the soil blend up to a couple inches below the rim of the container.
• Firm the medium around the roots to anchor the plant.
• Water well until it runs out of the drainage holes.

Where to Find

The hybrid of crystallinum x magnificum seems to be quite rare based on its prices online. I’ve seen prices over $300 per plant! The high demand and low supply make it possible to charge these prices. You’re better off checking local or regional nurseries or specialty tropical plant sellers.

Many online retailers carry pure Anthurium magnificum and they seem to be easier to come by. Although still rare and often out of stock through online retailers, magnificum will be much cheaper than the hybrid version. Check Facebook marketplace or use a quick internet search to find imported plants in good condition. Consider going in on a plant with a friend to reduce the cost and propagate it later on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)