I really thought a long time before I decided to buy this plant. But I found it at what I consider a reasonable price for it, and was able to buy it in person and select my plant, so I decided to give it a try. I know several people who are trying to grow this either as a houseplant or a vivarium plant and not having very good luck. And these are experienced aroid growers. So I was leery. But I also like a challenge.

My first step was to do my research before I bought it. There is not a lot known about Anthurium metallicum, so there is not a lot in the literature regarding its cultivation, or its growth in situ in the wild. But I was able to glean the most pertinent points and think I can accommodate its culture, or I would not have bought it.

This plant was first described to science way back in 1860 by Linden and also later by Schott. It was never really nailed down exactly where it was collected however and information about it was scant in the record. It is a member of the Anthurium section Cardiolonchium, the 'velvet leaved' anthuria.

An article in 'Aroideana', Vol. 28, 2005, p. 81-85 by J. Jacome and TB Croat provided a new look at the plant and also clues to how it grows int he wild.

This plant is endemic to Colombia, meaning in ONLY grows there naturally, although it is cultivated in Peru and in Ecuador and elsewhere. Specifically it is from the Dept. of Cundinamarca, growing in area of San Antonio, Bosque contiguo al Salto del Tequendama, where it grows as a terrestrial or a hemi-epiphyte, erect or semi erect, in mountain ravines and along trails. It produces long adventitious roots like a Monstera deliciosa that dangle and trail down to soil at elevations of 5000 feet and above. As an aside, Cundinamarca translates to 'Condor's Nest'.

So one can infer from that description that
A/ higher elevation/Condor's Nest = can tolerate cooler temps
B/ Higher elevation = humidity in the form of clouds and mists so high humidity
C/ hemi-epiphyte with adventitious roots = very well draining mix with the capability to let roots grow down from a height = hanging basket culture

Also after talking to the nursery owner, who is from Ecuador and learning how they grow the plant, I learned that in Ecuador where they live and are based, the night time temperature almost never drops below 65F, and the daytime temps are between 70-80. Daylight there is equal, 12 hours day, 12 hours night. So I know that the summer might be a bit warm and I will need to provide adequate cooling. Thus I can be guided on placing my plant near the area of greatest air circulation in the greenhouse.

Its a small specimen but hopefully it will thrive and I will be able to give updated photos and tips on what works (or if it croaks, what didn't work LOL) on my journey toward raising it

It is absolutely beautiful! I hope it grows well and healthy!

You can;t see but it has 4 leaves, 3 hardened off and one very new

It's beautiful! I've heard tales of this but never seen one in person. The back of the leaf is such a pretty color. I'm excited to hear updates on it!

This is the new plant coming off the old stem section that was propagated. The old stem of the mother was HUGE. They had a couple of large mother plants there that had huge very old trunks


That is how they propagate plants for sale...section up a stem with several nodes, plant it and new plants come off the nodes. When they are large enough they sell them.

This plant is already trying to make adventitious roots so I am going to let it acclimate to the GH for a few days then transfer it to the coir lined basket I bought and put it into bark, aliflor, perlite and whatever of this peaty mix they have it in doesn't fall off readily

That looks like it's at least a couple of inches thick. How cool. It looks kind of like a green spine.
I've been thinking about this plant today...how warm does it get in your greenhouse in the summer? Because if they can keep a mother plant alive there in Florida then I have no doubt you can do it too.

Well.....they just moved here LOL. I think I can do it. I have always had very good luck with Anthurium warocqueanum, which is supposedly hard to grow and finicky...I'll give it me best shot!

Got this jewel all repotted in my chunky mix after it had acclimated for a bit and it has rewarded me with this beautiful new leaf

It looks great in that basket!

Its so much more happy

this is awesome! i love looking at these "fancy" anthuriums. the few i have unfortunately aren't doing too hot so i'm hoping that if i can have them hold on until spring, i will put them outside to recover.

Hello Gina,

Any recent update on your A. mettallicum specimen would be much appreciated.
How long did you let her acclimate prior to propping up in your medium?

Any further tips for this specimen to endure the summer heat?

Oh this one is doing great! I bought this from Ecuagenera (USA, not the one in Ecuador) and they pot stuff in a really heavy dense medium. I usually keep them in that in the greenhouse for a couple weeks before I change them over to my substrate, just to let them acclimate. They keep their greenhouses at a minimum of 70-72 at night, mine are kept at 60F on the coldest nights. So I let things cook for a bit and just am really careful with the watering not to overwater. I can go out and take a new photo. I think its going to handle the heat fine, actually...it has already been above 85 here for a couple weeks, once this pesky cold snap is past it is supposed to climb right back up.

This is the updated photo. Its quite happy! The last new leaf is all hardened off, and very green and 'velvety'. And these small plants here in the substrate are seedlings...I popped some Anthurium vittarifolium seeds in this and a few other baskets to use as nurseries. They germinated and should be growing pretty well soon.

Whoaaa!!!! Gina the plant looks immaculate. A challenging specimen to grow indoors for sure. Perhaps a grow tent or greenhouse would be more suitable.
One cannot oversee the vittarifolium in the background

I am pleased it is doing so well. I envisioned it acting like the Dracula orchids I (foolishly) attempted to grow once. Just melting. But its actually very sturdy so far. Aren;t those seedlings cute? The plant that had seeds is indeed very near this one.

It looks GREAT! Amazing job with that one! Well, all of them, really! I'm glad to see this one thriving!

Me too! I am also excited that my Grex-avium is getting a new leaf! And the leaves on this pebble anthurium are getting a lot bigger, it has new growth too. Betsy at Ecuag. warned me that this was a challenging plant, that it was tough to acclimate, and REALLY needed SHADE. Having grown an Anthurium splendidum before (which is quite similar to this plant) I knew the challenge....so far this one is thriving

I thought this was an A. splendidum at first glance. Personally love corrugated leaves. But those plants always seem to be far more challenging. Wonder what initiated the leaves to corrugate in the first place - do they occur in flora growing at an elevation to capture every drop of moisture in the air.
Similarly, the P. lynnhannoniae is as finnicky. Do you have this specimen as well, Gina?

How did you manage to adapt the grex-avium, aside from maintaining it in a shade with high humidity?

I actually bought this one as lynnhannoniae but knew it was not that plant because lynnhannoniae is not corrugated in this manner. I consulted some research biologists who are in the aroid field and they believe that my plant is actually A. furcatum. Which is also very picky and actually grows in conditions very much like lynnhannoniae.

Grex- avium has actually been easy. Its growing as an epiphyte out in the open, gets sun not shade.