In milder climates, the anthurium plant is cultivated as a houseplant, while in USDA zones 10 and higher, it is used as a landscape plant. Anthurium maintenance is simple as long as you give the plant a few essential ingredients. Continue reading to discover more about anthurium plant care.
Soil and Watering Requirements
Root rot can be caused by overwatering your Anthurium. So, how does that look? The stems will discolor and the roots will be brown and mushy. This might be due to a variety of factors, including irrigation frequency concerns or soil issues.
How should I choose my soil?
I would recommend taking a good, long look at your dirt first. There is a chance that you have too much water in your soil if you used a traditional potting mix. Anthuriums and orchids are closely related. These cousins do not appreciate their chunky roots soaking up water. What should they do? If you must repot, you should use a 50/50 mix of traditional potting mix and orchid mix.
What method should I use to water?
Watering this diverse group of plants can be done in a variety of ways. Anthuriums are found in the rainforest in the wild. Instead of growing in the soil, they naturally grow on top of objects like mossy trees. That’s why they despise having moist earth around their roots. So, what are we going to do to make them happy?
Bottom watering is the approach we favor since it is more uniform, less prone to overwatering, and does not leach nutrients. Fill a drip tray with the plant, which should be about 2cm (34in) deep. Allow the plant to sit for 20 minutes; the water will finally be sucked up into the dry root ball. Remove and drain when there is no more water sucked up.
Using ice cubes is a popular solution. They’re a good slow-release watering strategy that won’t flood your plant with water all at once. You should keep in mind that your small Anthurium is just that: mini, so exercise caution when determining how many ice cubes to place on your plant. Remember, you don’t want to expose it to too much cold. So, especially initially, little is more. It’s possible that you’ll have to water your plant more regularly if you use this strategy.
The most frequent approach is to let it rain, after all, they are from the rainforests. Pour water from above, being careful to cover the whole surface of the soil, and let gravity filter the water through the pot. You would have to water your plant less frequently if you used this strategy. Use room-temperature water to avoid shocking the root system. Soak it well until the drainage hole is full of water.
Lighting Requirements
Anthuriums like a bright light that isn’t too direct. Your anthurium may not be getting enough sunlight if it stops making “flowers.” These are actually fancy leaves, but that’s a different subject. There is, however, a caveat to this, though. Don’t put your “plant baby” in the direct sun, because it will die. You will start to see brown, crusty spots on the leaves because they have been in the sun.
Humidity and Temperature Requirements
Always remember that the Anthurium you have is from the rainforest. It likes hot and humid weather. “Plants” like to live in the kitchen and bathroom, which are the two most humid rooms in your house.
If you want to grow anthuriums in other parts of your home, they can do well there, too. Make sure that your plant has enough humidity in its environment. If you see that its growth has slowed down a lot, or that the new growth comes in a weird shape, you might need to help it out. Stack it on top of a tray of pebbles, buy a humidifier, or spray it with a mister every few days to keep it moist. How much money do you have? How much time do you have? There’s a simple solution for you!
What About Repotting
If you’re a new parent of a mini Anthurium and you’re having problems, repotting probably isn’t the answer. Anthuriums take a long time to grow and need to be replanted every two or three years.
We, as plant parents, may already know what kind of pot we want to use for our plants. “It’s so adorable! It fits in with our decor.” Guess what? Our plant is not happy about it. Anthuriums need a pot that can easily drain. They do not like wet soil, as we have already explained. You might want to repot your mini Anthurium before it’s too late if your pot is thick-walled, does not have drainage holes, or seems to hold water.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthuriums
How do you keep anthurium blooming?
Anthuriums are finicky about their surroundings, and problems like wet soil or inadequate lighting might prevent them from flowering. Allow plenty of indirect sunshine, regular watering, high humidity, and weekly feedings of diluted phosphorus-rich fertilizer to encourage your anthurium to blossom.
Is anthurium a good indoor plant?
Anthuriums are native to Central and South America and there are over 1,000 species. Despite growing outdoors in warmer climates, they make one of the most compatible indoor plants and are often included in indoor garden collections.
Is Miracle Grow good for anthurium?
Anthuriums thrive best when grown in a mixture of moisture control potting mix, peat moss, orchid potting mix, and perlite. For the past 12 years, I have used the following recipe with success: 50% Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Mix. 20% Peat Moss.
How long do anthurium plants live?
Growing anthuriums indoors as houseplants can extend their life by 5 years or more. The plants can be propagated to extend their life even further. But flamingo flower plants have a lifespan of around 5 years.
