Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' (Ace of Spades Anthurium) care

Light

In the wild anthurium 'ace of spades' grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Bright, indirect light brings out the darkest leaf colour and crisp veining. Direct sun scorches the velvety surface, while too little light dulls the leaves and slows new growth. An east window or a few feet from a bright south or west window is ideal. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 3-4 cm of the mix is dry, roughly every 5-9 days for anthurium 'ace of spades', but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Water thoroughly until it drains, then let the upper layer dry before repeating. The chunky mix should never stay sodden; consistent slight moisture suits it best. Use room-temperature water and avoid letting the pot sit in runoff, as the fleshy roots rot easily.

Soil and pot

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' grows best in chunky, airy, fast-draining aroid mix. Blend orchid bark, perlite, coco coir or peat, and charcoal so roots get abundant air. Pure potting soil compacts and suffocates the roots. The mix should hold light moisture yet drain freely within seconds; aim for a slightly acidic pH around 5.5-6.5. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 20-29°C (68-84°F). Velvet-leaf anthuriums are humidity-hungry; below about 50% the leaf edges brown and new growth deforms. Use a humidifier, pebble tray, or grouping. Pair high humidity with good airflow to prevent fungal spotting on the velvety surface. If you keep the room above 20 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed anthurium 'ace of spades' sparingly. Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a dilute (quarter to half strength) balanced liquid fertiliser; these plants are sensitive to fertiliser salts. Flush the mix periodically to prevent buildup, and reduce or pause feeding in the lower light of winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on anthurium 'ace of spades' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown, crispy leaf edges — Almost always low humidity, sometimes compounded by fertiliser salt buildup. Raise humidity above 60% and flush the mix to clear excess salts.
• Root rot — A dense or waterlogged mix kills the fleshy roots fast. Use a chunky aroid mix and let the top layer dry between waterings.
• Faded or yellow-green leaves — Too much direct sun bleaches the velvet, or too little light dulls the dark colour. Adjust to bright indirect light.
• Deformed new growth — Low humidity or inconsistent watering causes new leaves to emerge stunted or crinkled. Stabilise humidity and watering rhythm during leaf unfurling.

Propagation

Propagate by division of the rooted crown or by separating basal offshoots, ensuring each piece has roots and at least one growth point. Stem cuttings with an aerial root and node can also be rooted in sphagnum or a chunky mix kept warm and humid. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists Anthurium as toxic, with insoluble calcium oxalate crystals as the toxic principle. Chewing or ingestion causes oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, lips, and tongue, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Keep out of reach of curious pets. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of anthurium 'ace of spades' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' watering schedule
• Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' light requirements
• Best soil mix for anthurium 'ace of spades'
• Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' fertilizing guide
• When to repot anthurium 'ace of spades'
• How to propagate anthurium 'ace of spades'
• Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' growth rate & size
• Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' cold hardiness
• Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' temperature & humidity
• Is anthurium 'ace of spades' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is anthurium 'ace of spades' toxic to cats?
• Is anthurium 'ace of spades' toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' is also commonly called Ace of Spades Anthurium.

• Types of anthurium — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Snake plant care — light, water and common problems
• Dracaena care — light, water and common problems
• Peperomia care — light, water and common problems
• All 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library