Have you seen this plant somewhere and wondered what it must be like to have and care for them? We attest that anthurium isn’t the easiest to care for, however, they are worth every of your stress.
Known for its beautiful foliage, the anthurium has a way of gracing its space and adding extra color to wherever it is placed. We know that although the anthurium is a very beautiful plant, a lot of people find it hard to get the right measure of care it needs or find it stressful to keep in their homes for long.
This is why we have decided to help you with everything you need to know about this lovely plant, including its care requirements.
Table of Contents
Anthurium Plant Background
Common name
Anthurium, tailflower, flamingo flower, etc.
Botanical name
Anthurium spp.
Size
12 to 18 inches tall 9 to 12 inches wide
Plant type
Perennial
Soil type
Coarse, moist potting mix
Origin
Central America, Caribbean, South America
Soil pH
5.5 to 6.5
Temperature
25 to 32 degrees Celsius (day) 21 to 24 degrees Celsius (night).
The Anthurium is a flowering plant that is also known by many other names i.e. flamingo flower, laceleaf, painter’s pallete, tail flower, etc. It is known as the longest blooming plant and for this reason, it is also one of the most wanted houseplants, the anthurium is also loved for many other things like its heart-shaped leaves, its foliage, flowers, etc. the anthurium foliages often comes in red, white or pink color.
The name Anthurium, when translated means “tail flower” and this name is gotten from the shape of the leaves and flower. It is a perennial plant that comes in about 1000 species. It has its origin in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Anthurium can be grown almost anywhere, indoor, and outdoor.
However, they tend to thrive best in greenhouses; this is why it takes a lot of care and attention to grow them indoors. As earlier stated that the anthurium comes in different species, some species are grown for their beautiful flowers, while some are grown for their bright foliage.
Anthurium when not in a favorable environment can be stressful to grow; however, you need not worry because we have here all you need to grow your anthurium.
[Quick Tip]
Although the anthurium enjoys bright, indirect sunlight, it should never be placed in direct light. This can harm and cause the death of the plant.
Anthurium Plant Propagation Requirement
Here’s all you’ll need to propagate your anthurium plant.
1. Light
Anthurium, like many other colorful plants, do not joke with light, they prefer to stay in a room or environment where they can get plenty of light.
However, be careful as this light cannot be direct. They thrive best in indirect light. Placing anthurium in direct sunlight can lead to burns. Similarly, when they do not receive enough light, they tend to look dull and unattractive.
2. Soil
With anthurium, you may not need to worry so much about the type of soil you use, they can survive in a wide range of different types of soil.
The only important thing you need to remember is that it should be high in organic matters and well-drained. You can purchase high-quality potting mix, or you mix some perlite with it, to make the soil more porous.
3. Humidity
There is no way you will grow anthurium without considering humidity. The anthurium has a high need for humidity; it must receive about 70 to 80 percent of humidity to thrive. Unlike some other plants, you will need to provide other ways to increase humidity for your plant. You can either mist the plant regularly or use the humidity tray or purchase a humidifier. Another way of increasing the humidity for your plant is to grow them in the bathroom.
4. Water
Anthuriums are not heavy water drinkers. They require only low to moderate water. The best thing to do is to create a watering schedule that fits their appetite. If you live in a warm environment, you may be required to give them water frequently. Be sure to keep the soil moist but never overwatered.
You will be calling for infections if you leave your soil soggy. Your Anthurium may also have special requests when it comes to watering i.e the temperature of the water is very important to your plant, you should always water with lukewarm water and not cold water.
5. Temperature
The anthurium hails from the tropical forest, hence the need for a high average temperature. The anthurium prefers a temperature of about 25 to 32 degrees Celsius during the day and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius at night. Anthurium should not be placed at a temperature below 4 degrees; it can result in poor growth and damages to the plant.
6. Pot
The most important thing you need to consider when getting a pot is the drainage holes. Your plants will suffer if you grow them in a container that has no holes. You may also not be required to re-pot your plant. However, when you notice the plant is getting pushy, you should move them to another pot.
7. Fertilizer
Anthuriums do not require lots of fertilizers, they can grow and bloom without the use of fertilizers. However, they tend to look better when they are fed. If you must fertilize, you can give them once in two or three months. You should remember to dilute the fertilizer to half its strength before giving them.
Propagating Anthurium Plant
We know you love the anthurium so much and you cannot wait to propagate it. Propagating the anthurium is very easy, you can do this in three ways: division, seed germination, and stem cutting. However, a lot of people prefer to propagate via stem cutting and division.
1. Stem cutting
Stem cutting is easy, the first thing you need to do is to get a healthy, mature plant and locate the stem, make sure the stem is about 6 inches and it has 2 or more leaves on it. Cut it with the use of pruning shears and place the new cutting into a pot with drainage holes. The cutting should be placed two to 3 inches deep into the soil, with its leaves on top.
Moisture is very important for the cutting to grow into a full plant, hence you need to water the soil and continue the schedule so the soil remains moist and it doesn’t dry up. Place the pot in a humid location as well as where it can get indirect sunlight. When you notice your plant is now rooted, you can reduce the water routine and treat it like a normal anthurium plant.
2. Division
Select the anthurium of your choice; make sure it is a healthy, mature one. You can also choose a plant that has congested roots, take it out of the pot and shake off the dirt on it, this will enable cut the plant properly.
Separate the joint clumps of roots and place each clump in separate pots of fresh soil. Water each of them thoroughly, so you can be sure the water has gone through the soil. Place the plant in indirect sunlight and moderately water it.
3. Seed
The propagation via seed is not the most preferred method because the seed of the anthurium is not easily gotten. However if you find it in your possession somehow, here is how to do it.
The seed of an anthurium needs to be well planted and unending care to thrive. You can start by planting a seed into the soil. The best planting medium to use for this is vermiculite that has been moistened. Place the seed deep into the vermiculite and cover it up to speed the germination process.
Make sure the plant is placed at a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. You should remove the cover when the moisture becomes too much. When the seeds begin to germinate, you can move them to separate pots and give them the normal care for anthurium.
Anthurium Plant: How To Care For Your Anthurium Plant
When anthurium is exposed to direct sunlight, it might experience burns, leaf spots, fungal rots, blights, etc. do not over-expose your plant to too much light, it will do them harm than good.
Like many other houseplants, the anthurium is susceptible to pests like mealy bugs, spider mites, etc. you should treat them immediately you discover. You can make use of horticulture oil and soaps.
Your plant can begin to curl when it is lacking water. you should first water it thoroughly, then adjust your schedule to fit properly.
You should have a schedule for pruning your plant i.e. every two months. This is to get rid of dead leaves.
Remember that anthurium is a toxic plant, you should place them far from pets and children.
A lot of things could go wrong when you overwater your plant, this must be in check.
Final Thoughts
When compared to most other flowering plants, the anthurium is easy to grow in the home. with the right care, you can have this beauty for a very long time. you only have to follow its basic need and you and your plant will stay happy.
Jane is a Master Gardener with a degree in Horticulture. Majoring in floriculture, She's an expert in the production of bedding and garden plants alongside cut cultivated greens and other floriculture materials. In addition to that, she's been a writer for over five years providing her personal and professional insights to various magazines and blogs. At home, she's mum to two wonderful boys. Together with her husband and their four-legged furry reside in the countryside where she does what she loves doing the most.
