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

Light

Anthurium x 'Ace of Spades' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Bright, filtered light intensifies the dark velvet sheen and tight venation. Avoid direct sun, which scorches and fades the matte surface; too little light gives stretched, dull leaves with weak contrast. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water anthurium x 'ace of spades' when the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-7 days. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep the airy mix evenly moist; the thick velvet leaves resent both drought and sogginess. Water thoroughly, let it drain fully, and avoid letting the plant sit in water. Use rainwater or filtered water to protect the salt-sensitive roots.

Soil and pot

Anthurium x 'Ace of Spades' grows best in chunky aroid mix. Use a very open blend of orchid bark, perlite, charcoal and sphagnum so the coarse roots get constant airflow. Dense, water-retentive potting soil quickly causes root rot in velvet anthuriums. 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 x 'Ace of Spades' sits happiest at around 65-85% humidity and 18-28°C (65-82°F). High, stable humidity is essential for the large velvet leaves; below about 60% the edges crisp and new leaves can deform. A humidifier or enclosed cabinet keeps growth flawless, especially in dry indoor air. If you keep the room above 18 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 x 'ace of spades' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks during active growth with a balanced houseplant fertiliser diluted to a quarter to half strength. These roots burn easily, so keep feed weak and flush the mix occasionally. Stop feeding in winter when growth slows. 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 x 'ace of spades' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Crispy leaf edges — Almost always low humidity for a velvet-leaf type; raise ambient humidity above 65% and keep it stable to protect new growth.
• Faded or scorched leaves — Direct sun bleaches the dark matte surface; move to bright indirect light only.
• Root rot — Caused by dense or soggy mix; replant in a chunky bark-and-perlite aroid blend and let the surface dry between waterings.
• Deformed new leaves — Often a humidity or moisture swing during leaf development; keep conditions steady and avoid letting the plant dry out hard.

Propagation

Propagate by division of the crown or by separating rooted offsets at repotting. Stem cuttings with a node and aerial roots also root in sphagnum or chunky mix under high humidity; seed is rarely available for this hybrid. 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 x 'Ace of Spades' is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs. As an Anthurium, it falls under the ASPCA's toxic Anthurium listing; the toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which on chewing cause oral and GI irritation, intense burning of the mouth, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep out of reach of 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 x 'Ace of Spades' deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium x 'Ace of Spades' qualifies for 5 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 drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• 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 x 'Ace of Spades' is also commonly called Ace of Spades anthurium or dark velvet anthurium.

• Types of anthurium — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Monstera care — light, water and common problems
• Pothos care — light, water and common problems
• Fiddle leaf fig care — light, water and common problems
• All 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library