Anthurium magnificum, anyone?

[Missi]

Anyone grow this? I picked one up at the Members Day palnt sale at Fairchild a few years ago. The NSE Tropicals website says it likes to climb. I didn't think Anthuriums climb (like Philodendrons?!), can anyone confirm?  I thought they simply grow on branches, etc. in a bird's nest type form (all of them, not just the "bird's nest" Anthurium). I'm certainly no expert, though. The A. magnificum in the Rare Plant House/Conservatory at Fairchild almost seem to look like they run/cover, but maybe they just planted several individuals in the same area. Gosh, I really wish I knew someone in charge with the RPH/Conservatory at Fairchild. I'd love to know about the planning that went in to it  I digress, my single plant growing in a container with nothing to climb gets larger leaves as it grows them, without climbing (unlike Philos). Also, it doesn't get long and lean/flop over like a Philo with no tree or post to grab on to, so I'm a bit confused. 

[masatepino]

I have to of them growing in pots. they behave pretty much as the typical anthurium, they do not run or climb. I fear eventually they might fall over. But 7 years have passed and it is still upright.  Here they are called "tortuga" (turtle).

[tropicbreeze]

I have Anthurium scandens which is a climber. It seems a lot like Philos in its habits. Don't know A. magnificum but there are other climbing Anthuriums I've read about previously.

[Missi]

16 hours ago, masatepino said:

I have to of them growing in pots. they behave pretty much as the typical anthurium, they do not run or climb. I fear eventually they might fall over. But 7 years have passed and it is still upright.  Here they are called "tortuga" (turtle).

Can you please post recent pics? I'd love to see what 7 year-old potted ones look like. Also, mine doesn't keep leaves very long, so I'd love to see if it is just my specimen, or if it is just the habit of the species.

[masatepino]

Here they are. One is in a clay pot, which is not so good because it dries out rapidly. So it suffers normally a lot during the dry season, loosing most of the leaves. Now, after two months of rain it looks better. And the other bigger one is in the ground, but under the roof, so it normally stays too dry. I did not care so much for those plants. I think with better care or better placement the should thrive here in Nicaragua.

 

[XYZ]

 

There are a number of similar-looking Colombian and Ecuadoran terrestrial plants masquerading as Anthurium magnificum. All of them get quite large; most appear to be still undescribed. This one is one of those giant, indeterminate sp. that I grow in California:

This is a photo taken last year of a young plant of the true species as determined by Dr. Thomas Croat of the Missouri BG, grown by me from wild-collected seed in Antioquia, Colombia. The Huntington BG also has plants of the true species from a different Colombian locality. I have quite a few of the ones from Antioquia, including some very unusual wild hybrids.

I have hybridized this species quite extensively in Guatemala since I had a very good clone of the true species obtained from a Colombian plant collector. Most of these hybrids are kind of "blah" to me, but are definitely dominated by A. magnificum. I gave all of them away except for one that I quite like, A. magnificum x A warocqueanum. After many years it's just starting to get really big here. Growing it way too bright, but even still a beautiful giant hybrid, IMO:

The related group of species currently lumped by horticulturists as "Anthurium magnificum" can all easily produce 30"/75 cm+ leaves when mature. They do not like muddy growing media, so even though terrestrial it should be grown like an epiphyte. Not as showy nor as large as a perfectly-cultivated  A. regale, but still nice plants.

Missa: there are many species of climbing/hemiepiphytic anthuriums, including lots of quite desirable ones that are usually available in the rare aroid trade, such as A. warocqueanum, A. clidemioides, A. cutucuense, A. vanderknaapii, etc.

J

[Missi]

Here are my photos showing how they grow in the Conservatory/Rare Plant House at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. I believe mine was grown from seeds of these plants. Everything is so grown-in in the Conservatory, that I can't tell how they're growing! I will need to be a little more gently hands-on when I visit this year.

 

[Missi]

Here are just a couple of quick mobile shots of the newest leaf growth on my plant in pot at home. It is maybe 3-4 years old. I let it get too dry in the winter.