Nurturing anthurium: A comprehensive guide for successful growth
Lively Talk on Anthurium: The Flamingo Flower
Been eyeing that exotic-looking plant with the red flower and large, glossy leaves? It's none other than the anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower, flamingo lily, boy flower, oilcloth flower, laceleaf, or tail flower (credit to its Greek roots anthos – flower and oura – tail).
The anthurium boasts a brightly colored, unique structure - the "flower" is actually a spathe, attracting insects in the wild. The actual flower is the central spadix, a collection of tiny blossoms, appearing intermittently throughout the year. They can last up to six to eight weeks, with a 'rest period' of up to three months in between. Watch out, there are over 1,000 varieties of anthurium to keep you enthralled!
You'll commonly find the Anthurium andreanum, which sports heart-shaped leaves and shiny flowers in a range of hues - red, pink or white, but also green, yellow, burgundy, lilac, and bi-colored or spotted flowers. Anthurium scherzianum is a looker too, sporting a spiraled center and less glossy flowers, while Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium ellipticum 'Jungle King' are eye-catching for their impressive foliage.
These beauties love growing in the rainforests of South America and the Caribbean, and your home should aim to replicate this environment. Provide warmth, bright filtered light, and plenty of humidity to keep the anthurium blooming regularly.
A word of caution: anthuriums are toxic, so be sure to wear gloves when handling, as they're dangerous to both humans and pets (mmm, tasty, right!?).
Looking to keep your anthurium thriving for up to 10 years and blooming annually? Here's some guidance on watering, lighting, complements and fertilizers, temperature and humidity, pruning, staking, repotting, propagating, common issues, and where to buy anthuriums online. Happy anthurium-ing, folks!
Anthurium Aptitudes: A How-to Guide
Watering
The secret to maintaining a healthy anthurium is a well-balanced watering routine (no soggy roots here!). Water only when the top third of the soil is dry, and water less in autumn and winter. Unlike an anthurium, stick to using lukewarm water to prevent shocking the plant.
Light and Location
Anthuriums crave plenty of indirect light, doing best on north-, north-east, or north-west facing windowsills. Stand clear of windows more than 1.5m away as it'll be too shady for them. Don't forget to clean the dust off their leaves to maximize light exposure.
Compost and Fertilizers
Create a free-draining potting mix by blending 50:50 peat-free, house plant compost with orchid bark. Feed your plant with a liquid house plant feed every third watering, year-round. If your anthurium hasn't shown much growth in the past year, try using a foliar feed in addition to your regular feeding regimen.
Temperature and Humidity
Anthuriums require a warm, humid room with temperatures higher than 18°C (about 64°F). Average household humidity levels are sufficient for anthuriums, but bathrooms are perfect due to their naturally high humidity levels. In case more humidity is required, gently mist the leaves or stand the pot on a tray of pebbles with water.
Pruning and Staking
Pruning is rare with anthuriums and requires minimal effort: simply remove dead flowers and leaves, allowing yellowing leaves to turn brown before pruning. When pruning, use a clean pair of scissors to trim around 2cm from the stem, being careful not to damage any new leaf nodes. Staking is unnecessary for the majority of anthuriums, but can be used if they're becoming weak at the stem.
Time for a Fresh Start: Repotting an Anthurium
Anthuriums typically thrive in slightly potbound conditions. Repot every three years, in spring or summer, into a pot that's one size larger. For optimal results, repot when the plant isn't in flower to minimize transplant shock (adios, sudden flower loss!). The ideal potting mix for anthuriums is a 50:50 blend of peat-free house plant compost and orchid bark.
- Water your anthurium 12 hours before repotting to reduce transplant shock.
- Carefully remove the plant from its pot, scanning the rootball for brown, deflated roots that can easily be removed. These are a sign of root rot; remove them and the surrounding soil before repotting.
- Pour about 3cm of your hand-blended compost mix into the pot, place the rootball on top, and fill around it with more compost, tapping the pot's sides to remove air pockets.
- Wait 24 hours before rewatering your anthurium, then relocate it back to its usual spot at home.
Making Miniature Anthuriums: Propagation
Propagating anthuriums is a breeze, as they naturally develop small aerial roots along the stem as they grow. The best time to take a cutting is in spring or early summer, while the plant is not producing flowers. With a sharp knife, cut the stem 10cm from the top and, with at least two leaves, drop the cutting into a 7cm pot filled with house plant compost, positioning the cutting towards the edge of the pot. Water every three days to keep the soil moist, and place the potted cutting on a sunless windowsill until it produces a third new leaf (approx. three months later). Once it does, treat it like a mature specimen!
Common Ailments and Solutions
Brown spots or patches on the leaves, leaf tips, or leaf edges could indicate low humidity, too little or too much water, or sunlight burn.
No flowers? Chill, mate! It's normal for your plant to enter a 'rest period' of a few months before flowering again. Keep patience and make sure it's getting plenty of light, warmth, and humidity to continue blooming.
Flowers changing color is natural as they age, and some varieties are naturally bi-colored. If the flowers emerge green, it could be due to insufficient light. If they turn green, this could be due to too little water or low temperatures.
Yellowing leaves are a sign of aging. If the issue becomes widespread, it could be due to excessive watering or feeding, or too much sunlight.
White insects? Those are mealybugs. Gently wipe them off with a damp cloth.
Fine webbing on stems and leaves? That's spider mites. Improve air circulation around the plant, increase humidity, and gently wash off the webbing with water.
Raised brown spots on the leaves could be scale insects. Clean them off with a damp cloth or cotton bud soaked in an insecticide containing fatty acids or plant oils.
Roots growing upwards are aerial roots, just like in the wild, used for clinging to host plants. Feel free to trim them back if they're unsightly, or push them back into the compost.
Warning: Anthuriums are poisonous to both humans and pets, so handle with caution!
Purchasing Tips
Plant Size:Height: 50Spread: 50
- Check that you can provide the right conditions for an anthurium: bright, indirect light, warmth, and high humidity.
- Ensure your plant has green, shiny leaves, a colorful flower spathe, and a fresh-looking spadix, with no signs of pests or diseases.
- You can get anthuriums in flower at the garden center - they may just be labeled by color. Look for the popular 'Champion' and 'Love' series, available in a range of colors.
- For a broader variety, buy at a specialist houseplant retailer or online (take a gander at Primrose, Crocus, Thompson & Morgan, Bakker, or Bloom Box Club).
Varieties to Grow
Anthurium andraeanum 'Pink Champion' - pink blooms (part of the 'Champion' series, available in red, white, coral, and vanilla).
- Anthurium andraeanum 'Champion Zizou' - lilac ribbon-shaped flowers.Anthurium andraeanum 'Black Love' - dark burgundy flowers.Anthurium andraeanum 'Million Flowers' - free-blooming red variety.Anthurium clarinervium - distinct dark green leaves with prominent white veins and pink flowers.Anthurium ellipticum* 'Jungle King' - lush, paddle-shaped leaves.
FAQs
How do I keep anthuriums continuously blooming?
Place your anthurium in a bright, sunless windowsill for optimal flowering. Water only when the top third of the soil is dry, and use a foliar spray fertilizer to supply nutrients directly to the leaves.
Why are the leaves on my anthurium turning brown?
Browning leaf tips are usually indicative of root rot, where the plant cannot maintain enough moisture due to damaged roots. Check the rootball for signs of rot, prune dead roots with a clean pair of scissors, and repot back into the same container with fresh potting mix.
Puppies and kittens, beware! Anthuriums are poisonous to humans and pets, so keep these beauties out of reach.
Incorporating the variety of anthurium plants into your home-and-garden lifestyle can enhance your living space with exotic, long-lasting beauty.
Keeping a healthy anthurium in your home can add vibrant charm to your plant care routine; consider factors like appropriate watering, suitable lighting, right compost, proper temperature, humidity levels, and periodic pruning, staking, repotting, propagating, and troubleshooting.
Remember that anthuriums are toxic to both humans and pets, so it's crucial to handle them with care.
When preparing to purchase an anthurium, ensure you can offer the suitable environment for these plants, and inspect the plant for healthy green leaves, vibrant flower spathes, and a fresh spadix; select the variety that appeals to you, whether it be 'Pink Champion,' 'Champion Zizou,' 'Black Love,' 'Million Flowers,' 'Anthurium clarinervium,' or 'Anthurium ellipticum 'Jungle King.'
