Anthurium Papillilaminum [5 Ultimate Care & Growing Guide]

Anthurium papillilaminum, a Panama wild plant, is prized for its signature olive green leaves, requiring a tropical environment to thrive.

Read on to find detailed information about Anthurium papillilaminum care and growing conditions.

Overview of Anthurium Papillilaminum

Anthurium papillilaminum is one of the thousand perennial plants native to South American rainforests that quickly increase in the wild but moderately at home.

Did you know that Anthurium papillilaminum was first collected in the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1983, which came from Panama wild forest?

Anthurium Papillilaminum [Ultimate Care & Growing Guide]

Always think about the Amazon rainforest setting to grow your Anthurium at home.

Maintaining the tropic-like warm climate is the key to achieving a healthy, signature leather-like leaf of Anthurium papillilaminum.

1. Sunlight & Temperature

Anthurium papillilaminum prefers indirect sunlight for 3-4 hours daily and naturally thrives in warm conditions.

However, it does not mean it will take full sunlight as direct rays scorch the leaves, and a temperature above 95°F will dry the plants, causing excessive transpiration.

On the other hand, the cold and low light stressed plant will exhibit yellowing, curled, and discolored leaves with stunted growth.

So, choose an east-facing window that receives early sunlight for 2 hours and use artificial grow lights for at least 7-8 hours in dark rooms.

Use heating pads and a frost blanket during low temperatures, and avoid draft places in the house with heating or cooling units.

You can still effectively grow them in USDA 9-10 zones, but ensure to bring them inside when the temperature drops below 50°F.

2. Water & Humidity

It may be challenging for novice growers to achieve the proper watering schedule that causes wilting or drooping leaves, root rot, and moisture-stressed plant.

Excess watering in highly humid areas can lead to severely moist soil, causing water-stressed roots to lack nutrients.

On the other hand, dried soil aided by low humidity indicates underwatering, causing stunted growth and brown leaf tips.

It is better to use a bottom watering approach or water only when the top 2 inches, or 60% of the topsoil, dries out to keep it moist.

Meanwhile, it is impossible to naturally achieve a high relative humidity level at home. Hence, you should use an electric humidifier or pebble tray to boost it.

3. Soil & Fertilizer

Anthurium papillilaminum requires well-draining, slightly acidic (5.5-6.5) soil rich in organic matter that retains enough moisture.

Moreover, keep the potting mix that suits tropical plants. However, it should not compact under immense heat and drought to prevent waterlogging.

Here are some potting mixes for Anthurium papillilaminum Anthurium Plant Planting Soil, Houseplant and Tropical Soil, and Miracle-Gro Indoor Mix.

But, be wary about fertilizing Anthurium for at least six months after potting it because a fresh mix already contains nutrients required by the plant.

And in case you fertilize, the Papillilaminum will undoubtedly suffer from overfertilization, showing signs of salt accumulation, burnt roots and stems, and stunted growth.

Alternatively, use balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to one-fourth strength monthly or slow-release granular twice in a growing season to witness large, olive-green foliage for the DIY.

Similarly, reduce fertilization when the plant goes into dormancy in fall and winter.

4. Potting & Repotting

Given the slow to moderate growth of Anthurium papillilaminum similar to Anthurium magnificum, they are fit to go in a 5 inches pot for about two years.

So, consider repotting it to a container 2″ significantly more than the previous container in early spring. This allows the plant to absorb nutrients from the fresh soil mix throughout the growing season.

Further, to repot a mature plant, moisten the soil the previous day and gently slide it with your hand. Wash the roots with distilled, room-temperature water.

Cut off extended, thin roots and those that look brownish, and fill an appropriate container with fresh soil mix.

Place the plant with a root ball at the same depth as the previous pot.

Fill the rest of the pot with the mix, and then water it thoroughly.

5. Occasional Pruning

Anthurium papillilaminum is not demanding about pruning despite its exotic appearance.

Still, you must prune them once in the growing season to remove the yellow, diseased, and damaged leaves.

Control the infestation at the initial stage by using neem oil or insecticidal soap. You can also keep them under running water and dry the plant later.

Also, the problems like root rot, leaf spot, and floppy leaves can appear in Anthurium papillilaminum caused by bacteria and fungi.

Isolate the damaged plant from other members and cut off the damaged leaves.

Use a copper-rich fungicide every six months to control future infections.

Anthurium Papillilaminum: Growth Habit and Foliage

The Anthurium papillilaminum is a moderate to slow-grower that grows a few inches every active season.

Leaves mature into 90 cm dark-green, leathery foliage with prominent white veining around the base with a plant height of 6 feet.

You can quickly identify a papillilaminum from another Anthurium by its dark olive green leaf tinged with red to violet red.

The upper surface has a velvet blade with the collective veins lying close to the edge of the leaf blade.

Unlike other Anthurium, papillilaminum is not known for flowers, but you will notice erect spadix inflorescence longer than leaves in the growing season.

These are harmless, but you can trim them to ensure the nutrients are passed onto the leaves.

And since the flower is rare, the chance of getting papillilaminum seeds at home is equally scarce.

Toxicity of Anthurium Papillilaminum

Anthurium papillilaminum is known to be toxic to both pets and children.

It will mainly trouble the oropharynx of the animals like cats and dogs, causing oral irritation, pawing at the mouth, drooling, and vomiting.

It causes swollen lips and tongues and breathing difficulty in young children.

Therefore, place the plant in a hanging basket or on top of the shelf to keep it away from the reach of toddlers and pets.

Contact the immediate hotline for aid if you notice any of the above symptoms.

• Animal Poison Control Center (APCC): (888) 426-4435
• Poison Control: (800) 222-1222

Propagating Anthurium Papillilaminum

Thankfully, Anthurium Papillaliminum can easily be propagated through stem cutting and root division at home in spring.

Papillilaminum can also be grown from seedlings, but acquiring seeds is tricky, and propagation will usually take longer.

Hence, choose stem or root cutting for a more effective propagation.

1. Propagation by Stem Cutting

Stem cutting involves rooting the stem in an appropriate potting medium.

But first, you need to take the cutting without hurting the parent plant.

• Wait until the risk of frost eliminates to get cutting. Better to start in early spring.
• Select a healthy, green-looking stem with at least one leaf.
• Use a sterilized pruning shear or scissor to cut horizontally or vertically between two nodes.
• Snip just below the node leaving as little stem as possible.

1. Using Potting Mix

Directly root the stem in a potting mix.

• Apply rooting hormone to the cutting’s end to speed up the rooting process.
• Get a tiny pot (3 inches), fill it with the potting mix above, and pre-moisten it.
• Gently insert the cutting into the mix and cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to lock in moisture and humidity.
• Place it in a well-lit location with indirect sunlight and a temperature around 70°F (21°C).

The stem cutting will produce feeder roots within 2-3 weeks.

2. Using Water Medium

Use a water medium instead of potting mix to root the stem cuttings, known as hydroponics.

• Get a small jar or clear, transparent glass and fill it with distilled water instead of regular tap water.
• Submerge the stem cutting into the water and place it in a warm surrounding with sufficient indirect sunlight.
• Replace the water every five to seven days or when it starts browning.

You would witness new roots within 2-3 weeks that are at least 1″ long indicating the time to transplant the cutting into a container with a potting mix.

Take visual reference from the video!

2. Propagating by Root Division

Wait until the plant’s last dormancy stage to obtain root cutting.

• Carefully remove the plant from the pot without damaging the roots.
• Wash off all the dirt with distilled water.
• Choose a young and fresh root instead of the thick central root system.
• Cut a section with a stem intact using a sharp pruning shear or scissor. Let the fresh cutting dry out for a few hours before repotting.

• Prepare a pot with the appropriate potting mix and carefully insert the cutting roots into the mix.
• Remember, the root must be placed under the soil not more than 2 inches.
• Moisten the potting mix and place it in a warm location with ample indirect sunlight.

The root will start producing new feeder roots within a few weeks.

Anthurium Papillilaminum: For Sale

After having a thorough knowledge of caring for the Anthurium papillilaminum, you are ready to bring the rare variety home.

FAQs About Anthurium Papillilaminum

How do I identify my Anthurium papillilaminum?

The distinguishing feature of Anthurium papillilaminum lies in its velvety green foliage hanging in a less cylindrical petiole with collective white veins on the elongated leaves’ surface.

Is Anthurium papillilaminum a hybrid?

No, Anthurium papillilaminum is not a hybrid, but a parent to different hybrid varieties like ‘Anthurium papillilaminum x magnificum,’ ‘Anthurium carlablackiae x papillilaminum’ and ‘Anthurium papillilaminum x Dressleri.’