Anthurium Regale (Growing & Care #1 Hacks!)

The Anthurium Regale is a beauty. With large, heart-shaped leaves and deep pale veins, it’s no wonder that the Regale is so popular… despite being quite rare!

In terms of care, the Anthurium Regale is on the slightly trickier side. If you’ve tried your hand at Anthuriums before, the Regale shouldn’t be too much trouble if you follow our lead. 🙂

On the other hand, we don’t recommend the Regale for absolute beginners. If you’re new to Anthuriums, start with a Anthurium Crystallinum and work your way up.

Here are the key care aspects:

• Humidity is absolutely critical. At a minimum, 60% is needed for a healthy plant; 80% is ideal.
• Keep temperatures to 60-78 degrees F (16-26 degrees C).
• Use an airy soil mix by adding orchid bark. Typical commercial mixes are usually too dense.
• Water only when the topsoil is dry, using the soak and dry method.
• Fertilize sparingly. We like using slow-release pallets to protect sensitive roots.

Let’s dive into the details!

Where does the Anthurium Regale come from?

This terrestrial plant hails from North East Peru, in the upper Amazonian area. They live at relatively low elevations but enjoy mild temperatures and a humid environment.

The Regale is a part of the Aroid family and one of over 1,000 Anthurium species.

Caring for your Anthurium Regale

Light

Choose any bright spot in your home that receives plenty of indirect light. East or North-facing windows work well.

For this particular Anthurium, avoid direct light altogether – it is too harsh for your plant. To filter bright direct light, you can use a shade cloth.

Water

Use the “soak and dry” method to water your Anthurium Regale.

• Check the top 2 inches of soil is dry before watering.
• Water slowly and deeply, trying to avoid wetting the leaves.
• Water until the soil is saturated and excess water escapes from the drainage holes.
• Empty the saucer.

Simple!

Using this method, you’d probably have to water your plant once or twice a week, depending on the seasons, climate, and evaporation rate. During the colder months, watering frequency naturally falls as growth slows, and evaporation rates also fall.

Humidity

The Anthurium Regale is very picky about high humidity levels. Living in the tropical part of Peru, the Anthurium Regale loves a humid climate.

Creating a climate of around 60-80% humidity is ideal.

Unfortunately, most indoor atmospheres are around 30-40% humidity. The most convenient way is to use a humidifier for a needed boost.

Alternatively, you can use a pebble tray to increase the ambient humidity around your plant.

Air Circulation

Ensure your plant has a little bit of air circulation. Placing it near a ceiling fan or balcony is a good idea. But don’t go overboard, or you’ll risk creating a draft.

Temperature

Keep temperatures to 60-78 degrees F (16-26 degrees C). Anthuriums like to be kept in a narrow temperature range, so we don’t recommend trying to grow the Anthurium Regale outdoors.

Mild, stable indoor temperatures help this plant thrive.

Flowering

Despite sometimes being called the “flamingo flower” plant, the Anthurium Regale is NOT known for its blooms. They aren’t showy or spectacular.

In the wild, Anthurium Regales produce inflorescences consisting of a small yellow-green spathe (boat-like modified leaf) and a central spadix. Flowers are tiny and numerous, growing along the length of the spadix.

Growth

Anthurium Regale has a moderate growth rate. In normal conditions, they take slightly longer to grow compared to other Anthuriums.

However, ample indirect light and high humidity levels (60-80%) boost growth rates significantly.

When kept indoors, Anthurium Regale grow up to 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters). Their majestic leaves can span up to 3 feet (91cm). Amazing!

Soil or Growing Medium

We find typical commercial mixes to be a bit too dense and suffocating for Regales.

Instead, we like using orchid potting soil as a base. Then, lighten the mix by adding perlite and orchid bark.

Mix together:

• 2 parts orchid mix
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part orchid bark

This chunky recipe has done us well. Remember, airflow to the roots is especially important for Anthuriums, as they are susceptible to root rot.

Fertilizer

Anthurium Regale is a light feeder with sensitive roots. But they do benefit from the occasional fertilizer.

We like using a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote twice a year (spring and fall) at half strength. You can also opt for liquid fertilizers (also at half strength), but make sure these are urea-free.

Repotting

Repotting is a rare occurrence for your Anthurium Regale. They have a relatively small root structure compared to those large leaves!

Expect to have to repot your plant only when root-bound, around once every 2-3 years.

• Repot during the springtime, so that your plant can recover in optimal growth conditions.
• Water your plant 24 hours prior to repotting to reduce transplant shock.
• Try not to damage roots when repotting, using your fingers to gently free any compacted soil.

For a step-by-step guide on how to repot a root-bound plant, check out our repotting guide.

Toxicity

Unfortunately, Anthurium Regale is toxic when ingested by pets and humans.

If you prefer to check out pet and child-friendly plants, try Hoyas and Calatheas.

Propagation

To propagate this Anthurium Regale, stem cuttings is the way to go.

Here’s how:

Steps to Propagate by Stem Cuttings

1. Identify a 7-inch (18cm) part of the stem with at least 2 leaves.
2. Cut just above the node.
3. Fill a pot 2/3 of the way with well-draining potting mix (see Soil section for details).
4. Use your finger to form a small hole for the stem cutting to slot in.
5. Place your plant somewhere warm with ample bright indirect light. If you have one, set a humidifier at 80% next to the plant.
6. In about 6 weeks, roots should have developed. Confirm by giving your plant a very gentle tug.

Pruning

Your Anthurium Regale doesn’t usually require lots of pruning. Prune only if you see dead or wilted foliage or leggy stems.

Use clean garden shears and cut just ABOVE the node. Always sterilize your gardening tools with 70% isopropyl solution to prevent contamination and bacterial spread.

Common Pests and Diseases

3 main common issues that arise with Anthurium Regales are: pest infestations, root rot and Anthurium Blight.

Pest Infestations

• Spider mites – they are about 1/50 inch (0.5mm) in size, so it’s not easy to observe them directly without a microscope. Instead, look out for pale, grey stipplings on leaves or fine webbing on leaf undersides and near the stems as signs of an infestation.
• Mealybugs – these sap-suckers look like little bits of cotton wool. While easily recognizable, they like to cluster together in hard-to-reach corners of the plant.
• Scale – scale often look like immobile shell-like bumps that are clustered together, usually between 1/16 (0.2cm) to 1/8 inch (0.3cm) long. They come in many colors.
• Aphids – these are light green and pear-shaped, about 1/8 of an inch (0.3cm) long. However, there are over 5,000 species of aphids that also come in black, pink, and white.

We recommend the Bonide Insecticidal Soap Spray to kill houseplant pests. Insecticidal soap penetrates exoskeletons and dries out cells. We keep it on deck in case of pest emergencies – it is also convenient to tackle all these pests in one product!

Root Rot (Phytophthora or Pythium)

Root rot may arise if overwatering leads to the air supply being cut off at the roots. Roots start to decay, and fungi feed on brown, mushy roots.

The 2 key ways to avoid root rot is to ensure you always:

• Check the soil moisture before watering. ONLY if the topsoil is dry should you water!
• Use a chunky soil mix with plenty of aeration. We like using orchid potting mix with orchid bark and perlite.

If you have an overwatered plant on your hands, follow our step-by-step guide on how to save it.

Anthurium Blight

According to the University of Wisconsin, blight is often spread through the wind and rain. Blight is recognizable from characteristic dark-coloured lesions on the leaves. Over time, a yellow halo emerges, outlining the lesions.

Thankfully, bacterial blight is usually not fatal to your Anthurium if you catch it early. To fight off this disease,

• Quarantine infected plants.
• Use sterilized scissors to prune away any damaged leaves to prevent their spread. Dip them into a 70% alcohol solution for 45 seconds to sterilize.
• Ensure you dispose of damaged leaves securely and re-sterilize your scissors after pruning.
• Then, apply a copper-based fungicide to contain the disease. The fungicide will prevent further spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Anthurium Regale rare?

Yes. This gorgeous species is moderately rare. They are priced at a premium and can be a little tricky to grow, which is why we don’t recommend them for absolute beginners.

However, if you have some experience under your belt, this species with its stunning leaves, are worth a try.

What kind of pot should I choose for a Anthurium Regale?

• Choose one with Drainage holes, so that water never stays stagnant in the pot (leading to root rot).
• Material. A clay pot is a good choice, as it is porous and encourages air flow.
• Size. Root systems in an Anthurium Regale are quite small, so you won’t need a large pot.

Other Anthuriums we Love

• Anthurium Warocqueanum, the Queen Anthurium with elongated “drop” leaves.
• Anthurium Superbum, a “birds nest” Anthurium with long leaves that fan out in a bowl shape, inviting nesting birds.
• Anthurium Radicans – an easy-to-grow evergreen with “bubbled” leaves and showy purple blooms!
• Anthurium Pedatoradiatum, the deeply-lobed, “Anthurium Fingers” plant
• Anthurium Rugulosum – a very rare, small plant with pebbled leaves, however they are a challenge to grow.

Wrapping Up

The Anthurium Regale is a rare plant hailing from Peru. Providing it with sufficiently high humidity (60-80%) and mild indoor temperatures is the key to a happy plant.

Choose an airy potting mix and fertilize sparingly.

Its large, deeply veined leaves are more than worth it!

Check out the Anthurium Forgetii next. 🙂