Grow Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ in Your Home [5 Easy Hacks]

The fear of not being able to provide Anthurium Ace of Spades all the nourishment and care and destroying the plants might be keeping you from bringing them home. But trust me, Ace of Spade is not among the finicky Anthurium.

The large heart-shaped velvet leaves add beauty to any home, making it one of the most sought-after plants among indoor plant enthusiasts.

Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ Overview

Before diving into all about growing the Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades,’ let’s briefly overview the plant.

Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’- Care Hacks

Anthurium Ace of Spades is a climbing evergreen tropical plant developed through breeding and selection by horticulturists. 

This exotic hybrid has a beautiful broad leaf, making it a perfect ornamental addition to a plain room. Not to forget it easy-going nature.

1. Light and Temperature

Owing to its tropical nature, Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ can fit well in bright indirect light under warm conditions. 

The plant requires sunlight to maintain its foliage’s color and sustain its growth; thus, make sure the pot gets indirect or partial sunlight.

Direct sunlight could be a little too harsh for Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ as it could quickly get sunburned, and the leaves could get brown and crumble off.

Whereas too little light can lead to slow growth of the plant, and the magnificent leaves can lose their beautiful colors.

You can also keep the plant next to the east or even the west-facing window to get some light from the morning sun.

Make sure the plant receives enough sunlight. In situations where the plant doesn’t get enough light, we can also use artificial grow light of the best light color to let the plant thrive.

You can grow these Anthuirum outdoors in zone 11 and 12 as the temperature here barely goes below freezing point. 

For zone 10 and below, you’ll need a burlap cover as winter protection to grow the Ace of Spades outdoors. 

Although the plant can survive in low light, it is best to supplement it with artificial light in low light conditions.

Regardless, make sure to rotate the plant every few days for equal light throughout the plant.

2. Watering Schedule

The Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ loves to be in moist soil but doesn’t fancy staying in soaked soil.

The plant requires medium watering, meaning you can let the soil get slightly dry, mainly in the top 1-2 inches between each watering session.

Watering around 2-4 times a week during spring and summer would be fine. In winter, cut down the watering to about once a week, as you can let the soil go a bit drier.

You can even use a moisture meter to check the soil’s moisture or check with your fingers before watering.

Overwatering Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ is a big no, no. Overwatered Anthurium will rot the root leading to brown and mushy roots, and the stems will also be discolored.

Tips to Properly Water Anthurium Ace of Spades

• Always check the soil before watering.
• Use soft, stagnant water. You can go with rainwater or distilled water free from the toxic mineral found in tap water. Rainwater also has nitrates, which will help better grow the plant.
• Avoid overhead watering or splashing water on the leaves, leading to fungal and bacterial diseases on the plant.
• Due to its sensitivity to low temperatures, cold water might stress the plant and damage the roots. So, always use small amounts of soft, lukewarm water.
• In case the soil is well-draining, the watering frequency should be increased accordingly.

3. Warm Temperature

You will be able to grow a magnificent Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ in a warm environment of around 68-80°F throughout the year.

You can go lower temperature temporarily, but even for short intervals, a temperature below 50°F isn’t recommended.

As I said earlier, you don’t want to keep it in extreme temperatures, especially during the winter, as the plant can die due to frost injuries.

So, keep the plant indoors in warmer places to keep it healthy and last a lot longer.

Hot temperatures during summer, especially above 90°F, can burn the plant’s leaves.

Tips for Maintaining Ideal Temperature

• Keep the room well-ventilated, mainly during the spring and summer seasons.
• You can also use an artificial HVAC system to maintain the ideal temperature for the plant but ensure you don’t direct it towards the plant.
• During winter seasons, frost cover and heating pads can also be used to save the plant from cold stress.
• Bring it inside during colder days.
• Place young plants in a terrariumor amini greenhouse.
• During summers, mist the plant often to keep the plant from overheating.
• Avoid placing the plant near heat vents and radiators.

4. High Humidity

Like most tropical plants, humidity is one thing you can never skip while growing the Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’.

Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ Plant loves about 70 to 80% of humidity, i.e., they thrive in high humidity levels.

Generally, most of our rooms have a humidity of only about 20% to 40%, which is not enough for the plant to stay fresh and sustain its large magnificent leaves.

Signs of Low Humidity in Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

• Leaves turning yellow or brown
• Leaf Scorch
• Curling leaves
• Wilting Stem or Leaves

Tips for Maintaining Ideal Humidity Levels

• Misting
  • • Misting is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to give the plant the moisture it wants.
    • Just spray the plant’s leaves a couple of times a week, and you are good to go.
    • But high moisture and high temperature might lead to fungal disease development.
• Investing in a Humidifier
  • • If you don’t want to spend your time doing the hard work, you can invest in a humidifier.
    • It will help your Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ stay fresh and grow efficiently.

• Grouping the plants
  • • Another great way to add humidity is to group all your plants in one place.
    • By creating your small private jungle, the water evaporation from the leaves of the plants will help increase the humidity.
    • But this also does increase the chance of pest and disease infestation
• Pebble Tray
  • • Creating a pebble tray is an effective way to increase the humidity.
    • The pebbles hold the water above the plant, and as the water evaporates, it creates moisture around the plant.

5. Well-Draining Soil

So, the most crucial part, what would that be other than soil, right?

Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ grows best in slightly acidic soil to neutral with a pH level of around 6.1-7.3.

The plant’s roots don’t prefer compact soil that retains water for long, and soil with poor air circulation is also a NO.

Adding sand and perlite to the potting mixture also helps in aeration, whereas adding the orchid mix increases fertility.

You can also DIY your potting mix to achieve the best conditions for your plant. Some of the most accessible DIY mixes are,

• 2 parts orchid mix
• 1 part peat
• 1 part sand or perlite.

Another easy mix for the plant is using 1 part sand and 1 part cocopeat.

Here are some commercial Soil Mix suitable for Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades.’

• Burpee Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix
• Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
• Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix

6. Diluted Fertilizer

So, when it comes to leafy plant-like Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades,’ it doesn’t require constant nourishment.

Every 2 to 3 months, from March to September, you can add regular all-purpose fertilizer, which will do the job.

Leafy plants like the ‘Ace of Spades’ will generally do better with high phosphorus fertilizers. But you always need to dilute the fertilizer to its 1/4th strength before adding it to the plant.

During the winter season, when the plant goes dormant, you can also go without fertilizing the plant at all.

You can also get high-phosphorus plant fertilizers from Amazon:

• Indoor Plant Food by E Z-GRO
• Triple Super Phosphate 0-46-0 Easy Peasy
• SEA-90 Organic Fertilizer

Tips to Properly Fertilize Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

• Make sure to water the plant before fertilizing the plant. Adding fertilizer to dry soil might burn the roots.
• Do not go overboard with the fertilizer, leading to fertilizer burns on the plant and salt buildup on the soil.
• You can also go with organic fertilizer for your Anthurium.
• Layer the compost to the top inch of the pot and gently work with the potting mix. Slowly the organic compost will get with the overtime acting as a slow fertilizer.
• Since this fertilization takes longer, you can add compost to the pot every once or twice a year. The best time to add compost is when the plant gets into its growing season during the early spring.

Anthurium Ace of Spade: All About Growth Rate

Similar to fellow varities like Anthurium crystallinum and Anthurium clarinervium, do not expect the Ace of Spades to grow fast. 

It is a slow grower taking almost 2 to 3 years to develop fully.

If you still want a faster pace from your plant, then placing a pole in the pot will help increase the pace by a bit.

The center of attraction, the plant’s heart-shaped leaves grow up to 2 feet in width and about 2.5 feet in length. As the leaves grow, they go from red to dark green.

You will notice silvery-white venation in a new leaf against the resounding green foliage.

Talking about the plant itself, it also doesn’t grow much, with only about 2 to 3 feet in height, making it a great addition to your indoor garden.

Ace of Spades does produce a narrow purple-brownish spathe, but it is more cherished for the breathtaking foliage than the spathes’ fragrance.

8. Potting and Repotting

When talking about pots for Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades,’ the plant prefers a pot with a low, plastic pot with good drainage, and you can use pot sizes of around 5-8 inches.

One benefit of growing ‘Ace of Spades’ is that it makes your job slightly easier as you don’t have to transplant it frequently.

Generally, you will need to transplant the Anthurium only once every two or three years. While repotting, always repot during early spring when the plant enters its growing season.

Signs to Repot Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

• The plant outgrows the pot,
• It has withered leaves even after regular care,
• The root veins outgrow and become visible.

Steps to Repot Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

• Get a slightly bigger(1-2 inches) pot than the previous one.
• Cover the drainage hole with a mesh to let the soil from escaping.
• Use a potting mixture similar to the previous one.
• Now, rinse the plant’s roots to check for any signs of root rot. In the case of brown roots, use sterilized shears to remove them.
• Place the plant gently in the potting mix and fill the container with the potting mix.
• Finally, water the plant thoroughly, and you are good to go.

Minimal Grooming for Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

Another job off your shoulders, the plant doesn’t need any frequent pruning as you would expect in other plants.

You only need to prune the plant if the leaves get old or dry. But you don’t need to prune the size of the plant unless you want to have a desired shape or size.

While pruning, always prune with sterilized shears to reduce the chances of infectious disease. Start by removing wilted, brown, and damaged leaves.

You can also yank the leaves that have been out of their natural shape. But don’t overdo it, even during heavy pruning. At least keep 3 to 5 leaves on the plant.

You may be wondering, but at what season should I prune? If you are pruning it, the best time would be during the beginning of spring and even early summer.

Pruning is also crucial to keep the plant healthy. Cutting off the damaged or unhealthy leaves will save the plant’s energy to produce healthy green foliage.

Is Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ Toxic?

YES, it is toxic to both pets and humans, as it contains calcium oxalate crystals.

Be careful while handling the plant, as it can cause temporary irritation, itching, and redness on the skin.

It is hazardous when ingested, leading to nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues. Keep Ace of Spades out of reach of children and pets.

It would always be better to consult or rush to a doctor if ingested.

In case of intoxication contact the American Association of Poison Control Centre, AAPCC at 1-800-222-1222 for humans and ASPCA at (888) 426-4435 for pets.

Propagation Methods for Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

Stem cutting and root division are the two preffered way to propagate the Anthurium plant. 

Propagation by stem cutting is an easy and convenient way to propagate the plant. 

Besides, summer is the best season for the propagation, thus wait till it arrives. 

1. Stem Cutting method ‘Using Soil’

• Choose a stem longer than 3 inches and with some leaves on it,
• Cut the stem using a disinfected sharp knife,
• Remove the leaves from the bottom of the stem and leave around two to three leaves at the top,
• Prepare a separate pot with the potting mixture,
• Place the stem in the middle of the pot and water it,
• Place the pot in indirect sunlight, and keep watering it.

Following this step-by-step guide, you will be able to see new growth in just a couple of days.

And in about 1-2 weeks, as the root starts developing, you can start treating it like an adult Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ plant.

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2. Stem Cutting method ‘Using Water’

The stem-cutting method using water is similar to the technique using a different medium to propagate the plant.

• Start by selecting a healthy stem with at least 1 or 2 nodes and a leaf. You can also select the section with aerial roots, as they are pretty effective while growing in water.
• Cut the 4-6 inch section below the node or aerial roots with sterilized shears or knives.
• Take a clear jar and fill it with water. You can use any jar, but with a clear jar, you will be able to see the growth better.
• Place the stem cutting into the water by submerging the nodes or the aerial roots. The leaves should not be touching the water.
• Change the water once or twice a week, and in a few weeks, you will be able to see healthy amounts of new roots growing.
• When the roots get to about 2 to 3 inches, you can plant them into a pot with a proper potting mix for the plant.
• Water the plant regularly, and then you are good to go.

3. Root Division Method

Follow the steps below for proper rooot division and propagation of Anthurium Ace of Spades.

• Gently remove the Ace of Spades from the planter and clean the dirt till the central stem is visible.
• Look for easy-to-separate offshoots and roots and divide the plant into two halves with succh that root system is attached to both each division.
• Allow the division to sit in a dry area and form callus over the divided part. 
• Now, plant the root divisions individually in a container with well-draining potting mix. The stump should be visible, i.e., above the soil surface, when planting.
• Keep the soil moist soil and maintain high humidity by placing plastic bags with holes over the individual plants.
• Make sure not to over feed the plant untill they get used to their new home. And there you go with two beautiful Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’: For SALE

Being a rare hybrid plant, Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ is generally not easily available and is sold out in most stores. Also, they are on the pricey end. 

Here are a few online store to check for Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades.’

FAQs about Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’

Why does my Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ have dull leaves?

The leaves looking dull and losing their glossy shine is mainly due to lack of humidity. As tropical plants require higher humidity levels. so, make sure you provide enough humidity and moisture to the plant.

What does a dying Anthurium look like?

A dying Anthurium exhibits the signs like brown spots on the leaves and stem, and the root also might be rotting.

It can be due to various factors, including overwatering or bacterial diseases.