Here is the ultimate growing guide to care for thriving Anthuriums in your garden space like never before. Don’t miss out on the bonus tips!
Anthuriums are tropical plants that can grow well in both indoor and outdoor settings. They are widely famous for their glossy, heart-shaped flowers that last for a very long time, probably more than a week, with good care initiatives. If you want the same, this care guide is just for you! Read along.
Propagating Anthuriums
The best and most reliable way to propagate these beautiful flowering plants is through division, to ensure new plants bear the same characters to that of the mother plant. Look for mature and healthy plants that have grown large enough and have multiple shoots at the base. First off, begin by choosing a desirable mother plant and gathering the equipment like gardening gloves, potting soil mix, new containers, a trowel, and shears.
Then it’s time to bring in the parent and gently uproot it from its pot. Do it carefully to minimise the damage and shake off the excess soil to have a better view of the roots! Target the natural operations in the root ball where the cluster stems and leaves emerge from. For this, take the help of a sterile shear cutter, and divide the plants into sections. You need to make sure that each section has healthy roots and shoots (a few leaves) for better growth in the future.
Once successfully divided, prepare the pots with ample drainage holes and well-draining potting mixtures. A perfect medium must contain a mixture of orchid barks, peat moss, sandy soil, perlite, and pebbles. Place individual sections gently on the soil and fill up with more to make it sturdy enough. Lastly, pour water sparingly to help the roots settle in and place the new propagations in a partially shaded spot. Monitor for signs of new growth and better establishment.
Requirements for Growing an Anthurium
Location
The perfect spot for a thriving Anthurium is one with bright indirect light and an airy environment to mimic the dappled sunlight habitat that they receive in their natural rainforest environment. Keep away from direct sunlight, because that is what will cause damage to their leaves and blossoms.
Look for a south-east facing window or a balcony that provides almost all the suitable light and ventilation requirements. If you do not have such spaces, use sheer curtains to protect them from direct sunlight or use LED grow lights in cases of low-light corners. Along with this, keep away from drafty locations, radiators, or vents, especially during the cooler months.
Watering
Watering is crucial because waterlogging issues are a major problem that hinders their growth. These plants require minimal watering and prefer moist soil that isn’t waterlogged. Overwatering or overly moist soil can lead to root rotting, which is the most common issue here that will quickly damage the plant.
On the other hand, underwatering can cause wilting leaves that become crispy at the edges. So, the best way to master the art of watering is to follow the golden rule — check the top 2 inches layer in the soil by sticking your finger in it, if it feels dry, your plant is thirsty for a pour down! This trick will prevent the basic watering issues.
Again, during the active growing season, i.e., spring-summer, Anthuriums might require more water than in the cooler months(dormancy), also depending on the climate and temperature. Stick to the golden rule.
Fertilizer
If you want yours to keep blooming and thriving, regular fertilization is key. These tropical bloomers are moderate feeders and benefit from a good, balanced liquid fertilizer at best. Go for a 10:10:10 or 20:20:20 NPK ratio for synthetic fertilizers, or you can also use organic composts as a sustainable substitute.
Organic fertilizers come with no side effects and don’t degrade the soil quality, whereas the synthetic ones might affect the soil quality upon overuse. So, feeding once a month is recommended during the growing season.
Pruning
To keep your plant neat and healthy, pruning is quite essential. It encourages new growth and directs the energy to the desired parts. Make it a habit of regularly removing dead or yellow leaves and spent flowers to promote new blooms throughout the year. This also helps in keeping the unwanted guests (pests) at bay or stops the spreading of any infections further to other healthy parts.
While you take the first step towards pruning, use sterile scissors or cutters to avoid introducing bacterial or fungal infestations. Further, aim for clean-cut strokes to prevent damage to the tissues. After a nice pruning session, monitor the plant’s response to detect early signs and symptoms of stress.
Repotting
Repotting isn’t much of a big deal for these slow growers, probably every 2-3 years seems right to refresh the soil and refill the nutrient balance. However, there can be instances like fungal infections, roots growing out of the drainage holes, stunted growth despite proper care, or compact soil quality, where repotting is required. In such situations, use a good quality soil mix to re-pot your plants.
Besides, the best time is during the growing season, which gives the plant that desirable time to adjust to the new environment and recover from the repotting stress. If you must re-pot in the winter, give it some extra care to avoid further stress
Pests and Diseases
Anthuriums are susceptible to some bacterial and fungal diseases, besides the common pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. To prevent it, a regular monitoring session must be practiced; perhaps twice a week sounds good. Upon early detection, it is always easier to act accordingly.
However, if you detect any signs of infestation, identify the disease and use the appropriate measures to minimise it. For minor issues, neem oil or eucalyptus oil sprays work best, and if the disease persists, consult an expert to keep it in control.
