Both Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum have large, beautiful dark green leaves. They are also accented with bright white or silver veins that run along with their leaves, making it difficult to tell these two plants apart. While their care is similar, they differ slightly in their appearance.
Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum are incredibly similar. They are both tropical plants with large green leaves. Their leaves have silver veins, although the Clarinervium has more prominent veins. These plants differ in their petioles, size, leaf color, and need for fertilization.
These lush, tropical plants are identical in almost all aspects. We will go through how to care for each plant, pointing out the similarities and differences to help you tell them apart. Our guide may help train your eye and earn you bragging right among your local gardening club!
Anthurium Clarinervium vs. Anthurium Magnificum
Some Anthuriums are easy to tell apart. Even botanists struggle to tell these two Anthuriums apart! But, with some species, the distinction between the types of plants may be a little trickier.
Anthurium Clarinervium originates in Mexico and is one of the most unique Anthurium species. With large leaves patterned with silver lines, they are hard to miss and make gorgeous houseplants.
Similarly, Anthurium Magnificum originates in South America, and this tropical plant looks identical to its closely related family member. Magnificum also boasts thick silver veins running over its leaves, with dark green leaves contrasting the markings.
Of course, although these plants are incredibly similar in their care and aesthetics, there are slight differences that can help you tell these Anthuriums apart.
Our breakdown of the care requirements and appearance of these Anthuriums will help you to sharpen your eye and look out for the subtle differences that separate the two types:
Foliage
Anthurium Magnificum is known for its large, velvety leaves. The leaves may have a slight gloss but have a soft and fuzzy texture when they are touched.
Magnificum has dark green leaves but is known to have some leaves that turn a rusty brown color. These plants have four-sided or C-shaped stalks called petioles. These stalks are where the stem meets the leaf and help to keep the leaves in place.
Similar to its cousin, Anthurium Clarinervium also has dark green velvety leaves. However, these plants have rounded stalks or petioles and have a more well-defined heart-shaped leaf. In addition, Clarinervium has lighter veins that run over their leaves, making the contrast in colors more striking than those of the Magnificum.
While they look incredibly similar, you can tell these plants apart by taking a closer look at their petioles. If the petiole has a slight curve or is more box-like in shape, then it’s most likely an Anthurium Magnificum plant.
Growth
Anthurium Clarinervium varies in size but can grow about 15 to 25 inches (38 to 64 cm) tall if you are going to keep them indoors. They may even grow to have a width of up to 40 inches (102 cm). Similarly, these plants have giant leaves that can grow between 5 and 12 inches (13 and 31 cm) long.
Despite Anthurium Magnificum’s mammoth size, their leaves only grow up to around 10 inches (25 cm) long, making them slightly smaller than that of a Clarinervium plant. However, these plants can reach a height of 2 to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall!
While a juvenile Magnificum may be challenging to tell apart from a Clarinervium plant, a mature plant will be much taller than its relative. They will also have smaller leaves, but this can be difficult to discern to the naked eye.
This YouTube video will give you a nice visual of how to identify anthurium plants:
Water Requirements
Both Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum are used to damp, tropical climates. Because of this, these plants do not do well if you leave them without water for too long. In fact, without enough moisture, these plants can start to wither and die very quickly.
Ideally, it would be best to keep your Anthuriums in damp soil throughout the warmer months. From the beginning of spring until the last days of the warmer months, you should be watering your plant around twice a week to keep the topsoil moist. This period is known as your plant’s growing period, and your plant will absorb moisture more quickly during this time.
You will need to be careful of overwatering as well. Before you water your plants, you can check the moisture of the top 2 inches (5.08 cm) of earth. If it’s dry, you can water your plant. If not, you may want to hold off to avoid root rot and overwatering.
During winter, Anthuriums will hold moisture for much longer, meaning that they will only need to have another watering once every few weeks. But, of course, this all depends on the climate in which they are grown, so it’s best to check your plants periodically to see whether they need a drink of water.
| Anthurium Clarinervium | Anthurium Magnificum | |
| Foliage | Dark green velvety leaves Well-defined heart-shaped leaf Lighter veins that run over their leaves Rounded stalks or petioles | Dark green, large, velvety leaves Some leaves can have a rusty brown color Slight gloss, soft and fuzzy texture when touched Four-sided or C-shaped stalks or petioles |
| Growth | Can grow about 15 to 25 inches (38 to 64 cm) tall Can grow to a width of up to 40 inches (102 cm) Leaves can grow between 5 and 12 inches (13 and 31 cm) long | Can reach a height of 2 to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall Leaves grow up to around 10 inches (25 cm) long |
| Water Requirements | Used to damp, tropical climates Prefer damp soil throughout the warmer months In summer, water your plant around twice a week to keep the topsoil moist During winter, water your plant only once a week Be careful of overwatering | Used to damp, tropical climates. Prefer damp soil throughout the warmer months In summer, water your plant around twice a week to keep the topsoil moist During winter, water your plant only once a week Be careful of overwatering |
| Light Requirements | Thrive best in indirect sunlight Don’t place in direct sunlight and keep out of direct light | Thrive best in indirect sunlight Don’t place in direct sunlight and keep out of direct light |
| Soil Requirements | Moisture retaining and well-draining | Moisture retaining and well-draining |
| Temperature and Humidity Requirements | Humidity levels of around 60 to 80% 60 and 70 °F (16 and 21 °C) Do not like temperatures under 55 °F (13 °C) | Humidity levels of around 60 to 80% 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C) Do not like temperatures under 55 °F (13 °C) |
| Fertilizer | Fertilize once every two months during the summer months Use weak or diluted fertilizer Be careful with salt or mineral buildup Do not fertilize in the winter months | Fertilize once every 6 weeks during the summer months Can be fertilized once in the winter months |
Light Requirements
Like water, these two Anthurium cousins have the same light requirements. Although they are tropical plants and enjoy the sun’s warmth, placing your Anthurium Clarinervium or Magnificum in direct sunlight can have disastrous consequences.
Anthuriums are known epiphytes. This means they grow on other plants, on trees, and – in some cases – on rock formations. Their epiphytic nature means that different plants and trees naturally shade them, and they only get filtered or indirect sunlight.
When you keep an Anthurium in your home, you should keep it out of direct light. You should also avoid keeping your plant under artificial light. Indirect sunlight is best for both Anthurium Magnificum and Clarinervium plants.
Soil Requirements
Part of caring for any houseplant is making sure that it is planted in the correct potting soil. For both Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum, this means using soil that can both retain moisture and one that is well-draining. While this may seem like a contradiction, there are ways to improve the soil to suit your plant’s needs.
Anthuriums are used to damp conditions, meaning that their soil needs to stay damp for them to thrive. However, leaving any plant in soggy or wet soil can be detrimental to its health.
The key difference here is having damp soil and not wet soil. To ensure that the soil stays damp but does not stay wet, you will need to have good drainage and aeration.
The drainage will help to wick away any excess water that the plant doesn’t need. Anthurium’s potting medium can be enhanced by adding perlite, peat moss, and charcoal. The perlite will retain moisture, while the charcoal will help to increase aeration and, ultimately, drainage.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements
Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum are tropical plants that thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity levels. However, they differ slightly in their temperature requirements.
Both plant types need high humidity levels of around 60 to 80%. You can achieve this by placing your plant in your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room – as long as the room is well-lit.
You can also use a humidifier to keep your plants happy. Similarly, an occasional mist on your plant’s leaves will help achieve proper humidity levels.
Anthurium Clarinervium enjoys temperatures between 60 and 70 °F (16 and 21 °C), while Magnificum plants prefer a slightly warmer environment. Magnificums should be kept at around 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C).
Neither of these Anthuriums can survive cold temperatures, so you should be careful not to leave your plants exposed to temperatures under 55 °F (13 °C).
Fertilizer
One of the most significant differences between Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum care is their need for fertilizer.
Clarinervium plants are easy-going plants that don’t need much fertilizer to survive. So while you can provide them with these extra nutrients during their growing season, you won’t need to add much.
You can fertilize your Clarinervium once every 2 months using a weak or diluted fertilizer during warmer months. Ideally, the fertilizer should have half the strength of generic houseplant fertilizer. However, too much fertilizer can cause a salt or mineral buildup that can harm your plant.
Anthurium Magnificum, on the other hand, absolutely loves fertilizer! During its growing season until the end of summer, you should aim to fertilize your Magnificum around every 6 weeks.
Unlike most other houseplants, you can even fertilize your Magnificum plant during winter! At the start of its dormancy period, you can fertilize this plant’s soil to help it absorb more nutrients and stay healthy.
You only need to feed this plant once, though, as it will slowly absorb all of the fertilizer. Fertilizing your plant more than once during winter can cause over-fertilization issues.
This YouTube video will give you an insight into caring for anthurium plants:
Conclusion
When comparing Anthurium Clarinervium and Magnificum plants, it can be hard to tell them apart at first glance. And while these plants look similar and have almost identical care needs, there are a few slight differences between them.
You can tell these plants apart by looking at their petioles, leaf color, and overall size when they are mature. They also require different growth temperatures, and the Magnificum enjoys much more fertilizer than its relative.
