Quick species snapshot
- Sectional Placement: Cardiolonchium
- Geographic Origin: Colombia (found in the central departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Santander)
- Habitat Conditions: humid montane rainforest; typically found growing terrestrially or on mossy rocks, 900–1300m elevation
- Leaf Features: deep green, velvety, round peltate leaves with no sinus; silver to pale green veining depending on the form
- Inflorescence Features: upright spadix and narrow green spathe; berries ripen to red-orange when pollinated
- Seed Gestation Period: 3–4 months
- Growth Rate: medium-fast (under optimal conditions)
- Difficulty Level: easy-moderate; more forgiving than it looks
Introduction and overview
Anthurium forgetii is ironically an unforgettable species that you aren't ever really going to confuse with anything else. Its fused sinus is the obvious difference, while virtually all other anthurium species have an open sinus—the classic “bunny ear” lobes. Paired with its dark, and in some cases near-black colour, and velvety leaves, all of these attributes make it a pretty otherworldly specimen.
Close-up of anthurium forgetii's velvet leaf texture.
Forgetii comes in three main forms; dark form and green form with both having minimal veining, as well as a white stripes (or silver stripes) form which has bold white sparkly veins. Between these three forms, there’s now an endless amount of variations. Just like other dark and velvety species, forgetii’s leaves will become darker if kept in low light conditions. It does this to photosynthesize more effectively.
It also just so happens to be one of the easiest anthuriums to care for, not ever really needing much attention, and adapting well to a range of lighting conditions despite its velvety and often dark leaves. It used to be a bit of a rarity that only serious collectors had, but now it’s a very common find, especially on Facebook Marketplace and tissue culture. In Canada, for example, you can easily find a small dark form for CA$10.
Anthurium forgetii's inflorescence is upright with a pale yellow colour and narrow green spathe. Pictured is it one month after pollination.
Forgetii is one of the most utilized anthuriums in breeding. This is due to its short gestation period, where it can be pollinated with another species, and finish producing berries and seeds in about 3-4 months. This is significantly faster than many other species in the genus, where they can commonly take 6-12+ months to produce seeds.
Its fast gestation period and closed sinus genetics are why so many different hybrids and versions of forgetii exist. In this article, we’ll get into the history, natural habitat, hybrids, and care for anthurium forgetii.
Sectional placement
Sectional placement identifies which group of related species a plant belongs to. For anthuriums, this matters for breeding because species in the same section are much more likely to successfully hybridize with each other compared to cross-sectional hybridization.
Anthurium forgetii belongs to section Cardiolonchium, a large group that contains approximately 245 species. Species in this section are defined by velvety leaf blades caused by elevated, papillate epidermal cells that help the plant absorb light in dark environments. Many species in this section also have petioles that are ribbed or multi-angled rather than perfectly round. While forgetii is distinct with its fused sinus, it shares these other physiological and genetic markers with the rest of the group.
Out of the 19 anthurium sections that exist, Cardiolonchium probably contains the most species that are used in hybridizations, as well as many of the most popular species in the genus. Examples include crystallinum, magnificum, papillilaminum, regale, and warocqueanum.
History
Anthurium forgetii was formally published in 1906 by N. E. Brown in The Gardeners’ Chronicle, a horticultural journal based in London.
The species name “forgetii” was given in honour of a collector referred to as Monsieur Forget, which was recorded in the original nomenclatural entry in the journal. This collector is generally linked to Louis Forget, a tropical plant collector associated with F. Sander & Sons who travelled throughout Central and South America. While forgetii’s original collection event isn’t documented, this connection explains how the plant likely moved from its native habitat into cultivation, and eventually into scientific description.
It was also likely introduced into cultivation before it was described in 1906, as this was probably made based off of already existing cultivated specimens rather than directly from a wild collection. This was common for aroids during that period.
Later records confirm the species was maintained in cultivation well after its original description. Herbarium specimens document plants grown in Foster Botanical Garden (collected March 11, 1958) and Lyon Arboretum (collected March 2, 1981) in Hawaiʻi, showing it had already spread through botanical collections by the mid-20th century.
Natural habitat
An interactive map pinpointing specific wild populations of anthurium forgetii found in Colombia.
Anthurium forgetii is endemic to Colombia, where it grows in humid tropical and lower montane forests. It's been found within the Eastern Range (Cordillera Oriental) of the Colombian Andes, specifically in the central departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Santander—all three of which are relatively close to the capital city Bogotá.
Unlike many of its relatives that are spread across several countries in the Amazon Basin, forgetii's endemic range along the Andean slopes makes it specifically adapted to the unique ecological structure of these forests. It’s typically found from low elevations up to around 1,100 meters, in environments that are consistently warm, shaded, and moisture-rich year-round. Forgetii grows across the forest floor, up slopes and tree trunks, and along moss-covered rocks, rooting into decomposing leaf litter and organic debris.
Daytime temperatures range from 24-30°C, while nighttime ranges from 16–20°C, and it minimally fluctuates throughout the year. Forgetii does experience temperatures closer to 30°C when it grows at lower elevations. There is no prolonged dry season in its endemic range, experiencing regular rainfall, with humidity levels usually upwards of 70-85%. Coupling this with the light-filtering dense canopy that grows above it and excellent airflow, forgetii thrives in this environment.
Notable forgetii hybrids
Hybrids can take on any trait from either parent, and in a single batch with hundreds of seeds, not a single specimen will be the exact same as they're not clones of each other. This results in leaves with varying appearances, which can sometimes be so different, that they don’t look related.
Here are some of the most well-known crosses involving forgetii:
- Anthurium forgetii x nigrolaminum 'gigi': specimens tend to get a more elongated leaf shape, sometimes with less prominent veining and tall lobes
- Anthurium forgetii x magnificum: combines the peltate leaf with the massive size and angular petioles of a magnificum
- Anthurium forgetii x luxurians: luxurians genetics tend to dominate crosses, so what you might see with this one is the classic fused sinus from forgetii, with a non or sub-velvet quilted texture that gives off a reptilian feel
- Anthurium forgetii x papillilaminum: very dark and velvety leaves, with more muted veins and a pillowy texture
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Anthurium forgetii x crystallinum: since they have similar leaf characteristics (minus the fused sinus), they’ll tend to produce large velvety leaves, with contrasted bold white-light green veining. Versions with a fused sinus might even look similar to a pure form of forgetii
- Anthurium forgetii x carlablackiae: can produce extremely dark leaves and more bold, structured veining
- Anthurium forgetii x ace of spades: develops large, dark leaves that may present protruded veins
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Anthurium forgetii x besseae aff: typically produces dark, velvety leaves with a fused sinus or overlapping lobes
- Anthurium forgetii x splendidum: produces unique leaves as a perfect marriage of the two, with sub-velvety and bullate texture, and minimal-to-green veins
- Anthurium forgetii x veitchii: the characteristics of both tend to show up equally, with prominent bullate texture, fused sinus, and elongated leaf shape
- Anthurium forgetii x dressleri: strong velvet texture, with a deep colour and narrow veining
- Anthurium forgetii x warocqueanum: tends to show up with elongated, narrower leaves while still retaining much of forgetii’s characteristics
- Anthurium forgetii x rugulosum: produces unique offspring with a slight pebbled and sub-velvet texture, muted veins, and overlapping lobes
Anthurium forgetii care guide
Looking at where forgetii comes from in the wild gives us a pretty good blueprint for keeping it happy inside our home. Although it is a dark velvet, it’s actually pretty forgiving and easy to care for.
TL;DR:
Here are the basic care needs for anthurium forgetii:
- Light: low to medium (150–300 foot-candles is ideal, but can handle even higher light); keep it away from direct sun
- Water: ensure it doesn’t ever dry out; it should be consistently moist but not sopping wet 24/7. If in airy mix and under higher light/temperature, you’ll want to water every 2-5 days, and in the opposite scenario, every 7+ days
- Humidity: 70–85% is ideal, but can adapt to 40%+
- Temperature Range: 18–26°C (64–79°F) is best; avoid anything below 13°C (59°F)
- Substrate: super airy aroid mix; lots of bark and perlite or other similar amendments
- Fertilizer: use a weak dose (1/4 strength) every watering or a regular dose following the instructions on the product
Lighting
The photo depicts a side-by-side comparison of two different leaves under different lighting from the same anthurium forgetii specimen. The leaf will be darker if grown in lower light, and the opposite is true for higher light.
Low to medium is the most ideal lighting conditions for anthurium forgetii. This is evidenced by its natural habitat in Colombia, where it lives in heavily shaded areas with dense canopy cover.
Although it’s a dark velvet species, it surprisingly does well in medium light. When growing at home, you’ll want a spot with about medium, indirect light. You might get away with a little bit of very early morning sun, but it should be kept away from that intense midday light because it will scorch or bleach the leaves pretty quickly. If you’re using a meter, aim for 150–300 foot-candles for optimal growth.
In your house, this usually means a spot a few meters back from a bright south-facing window or under a grow light set to a lower intensity. Now, if you happen to own a variegated forgetii (lucky you), it does need higher light to assist in photosynthesis. The light intensity, however, will need to be fine-tuned as not to scorch the variegated portions of the leaves.
If you’re looking to supplement with artificial light, here are some good options:
- Barrina T5 LED Light Bars: an affordable option. Keep them about 12-18 inches above the plant for a good low-to-medium light level
- SolTech Aspect LED Grow Light: these are designed to look more aesthetically pleasing, and not like your typical grow light. Try keeping it 12-24 inches away
- Spider Farmer SF600: a much stronger light that should be placed further away (at least 24 inches) to avoid light stress
- GE Grow Light Bulbs: these fit in regular lamps and are perfect if you just have one or two plants on a desk. Keep them about 6-12 inches away
Watering and substrate
Similarly to most anthuriums, forgetii thrives when its roots have a steady supply of moisture. But, it’s critical that the root system is not sitting in water as this starves it of oxygen and leads to eventual root rot.
In the wild, it tends to grow on tree trunks, slopes, or in very loose leaf litter, so it’s used to water moving past the roots quickly. It has thick roots that are designed to retain moisture while still being exposed to plenty of air.
One classic sign of a root system staying too wet, is edema. This is basically what happens when the leaf cells take in more water than they can deal with, causing them to swell up and pop. Edema looks like translucent spots on the leaves that seem to get bigger over time. If you notice this, you either need to back off the watering or change the substrate immediately.
Don’t let the fear of overwatering make you let it go bone-dry, though. Forgetii cannot dry out, as this will definitely cause what’s known as “dry rot”—roots will shrivel up and die, but they’ll be deceiving in that they’ll still look like somewhat normal roots.
You basically want to water well and let the excess drain out. Make sure your pot isn't sitting in a saucer full of water 24/7, as that can rot the bottom of the root system.
Substrate
The mix you use for anthurium forgetii is the most important part of its care. You want to avoid standard potting soil because it’s too fine, will prevent efficient drainage, and will suffocate the roots. Instead, if you create a mix that prioritizes airflow (inside a pot with drainage holes), you don't really have to worry about overwatering too much.
Here’s a breakdown of what works:
- 80–90% chunky base: orchid bark, coarse perlite, and horticultural charcoal each work well
- 10–20% moisture-retentive: a little bit of coco coir or tree fern fiber works well to keep things from drying out too fast
- Drainage layer: adding an inch of leca or lava rock at the bottom of the pot helps ensure the bottom roots never sit in stagnant water
Watering
Based on its moist natural environment, you want to replicate those conditions by how often you water—ensuring the substrate stays moist at all times. Letting it dry out can cause dry root, where the roots dehydrate and die. Your watering schedule will depend on your specific home environment and substrate mix.
Here are some general benchmarks:
- Airy mix, warm temps, and bright lighting: water every 2-5 days during summer or under grow lights
- Moisture-retentive mix, cooler temps, low-medium light: water once a week or even less frequently, and this is especially true if you experience cold winters. Look for signs of edema or leaves turning brown and soft—these are signs the roots are holding onto too much moisture from the substrate
Humidity
While it can be acclimated to humidity on the lower end (down to 40%), the most optimal humidity for forgetii’s overall health is going to be 70% or higher. This, again, matches the humidity in its native Andean forests.
Extended periods of too low humidity can cause a cascade of damaging effects: excessive water loss and a significant decrease in the plant’s ability to intake CO₂, ultimately impacting photosynthesis.
Higher humidity will ensure its leaves look good, and that it pushes out faster growth. Low humidity levels impair forgetii’s health, leading to stalled growth, crispy leaf edges, and emergent leaves that die off before they unfurl.
If you struggle with humidity, there’s a few options you can employ. You can use a humidifier, place it in an enclosure or in the bathroom (the most humid room in homes), or group it together with other plants. Now, if you have really high humidity, then you just need to ensure your forgetii gets ample airflow to prevent mold from forming.
Temperature
If you live anywhere that experiences cold winters like Toronto, Vancouver, or Shanghai, then your anthurium forgetii needs to be kept inside.
It requires warm conditions, and can’t be exposed to prolonged cold drafts:
- Ideal range: 18–26°C (64–79°F), although temperature fluctuations a bit below or above that are fine
- Avoid: anything below 13°C (55°F). It‘s very sensitive to prolonged cold drafts, and should remain indoors if the outside temperature drops below that
- High heat: if it gets above 30°C (86°F) for long periods, you’ll want to keep the humidity higher and water frequently (every day or every other day, depending on the substrate), as it will dry out much faster
Fertilization
You can get away with not fertilizing for a while, but at some point, forgetii will need nutrients so it doesn’t experience stunted growth or yellowing leaves.
A fertilizer will list three numbers on the front of the bottle in a 20-20-20 numbered format, for example. In order, these represent the vital plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Listed below are a couple of solid fertilizer options:
- Superthrive Foliage-Pro 9-3-6: one of the most balanced fertilizers as it also contains other nutrients like calcium and magnesium
- Schultz 10-15-10: an accessible option, commonly found at garden centres
You can use the recommended dose on the bottle, and water with it every 2-3 weeks. Another strategy is to dilute the recommended dose to ¼-½ for every watering. Make sure to flush the substrate with plain water once a month to get rid of any salt buildup that can dehydrate the root system.
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