Anthurium - Care, Propagation and How to Water It

The anthurium is a perennial native to Central America and the north of South America that has adapted remarkably well to life as a houseplant.

Anthurium can only be grown outdoors in tropical countries; the temperate climate of Romania means it can be planted only in a pot kept indoors, at home or at the office.

The plant is also known as the flamingo flower, a name it owes to the look of its blooms. In ideal conditions the flowers, which are its main attraction, can appear several times a year and stay in bloom for a long time.

Anthurium is toxic to both people and pets.

What makes the anthurium, the flamingo flower, special.

Perhaps the single most important thing to keep in mind: the anthurium loves warm, humid spaces that are bright and at the same time sheltered from direct sunlight.

The soil for an anthurium should be half orchid potting mix and half universal compost.

Many varieties of this plant are climbers, and their roots often anchor themselves to the trunks of other trees.

If you notice the plant starting to lean, give it support for both the flowers and the stems.

How do you care for an anthurium?

Light

The anthurium prefers light to shade, but you will still need to keep it out of direct sunlight, which has the potential to scorch both the flowers and the leaves.

The perfect spot will give the plant 6-8 hours of indirect sunlight.

Soil

As mentioned above, this plant needs a soil made up of a 50/50 mix.

1. Half a dedicated orchid mix of fibrous red peat, pine bark, charcoal and sphagnum magellanicum moss.
2. Half a standard houseplant compost.

Watering

Never let the soil dry out completely; it needs to stay moist at all times. Water roughly once a week, or whenever your finger tells you the top of the potting mix has gone dry.

Water until you see it running out through the drainage holes of the pot. Make sure water does not sit in the saucer, because that leaves the roots of the anthurium prone to rot.

Room temperature.

The ideal temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. In the cold season, take care that the room temperature never drops below 20 degrees Celsius.

The optimum humidity for this plant is around 70% – 80%. A dry environment is not recommended. Using a humidifier is advisable whenever humidity levels drop.

Fertiliser

To encourage flowering, use a phosphorus-based fertiliser, diluted one part fertiliser to three parts water.

How is it propagated?

Anthurium is propagated from its offshoots.

Depending on how large the original anthurium is, you can divide it into 2, 3 or even 4 pots.

In practice, you can split it into several divisions with clean cuts.

It can also be propagated from the roots.

• Look for a well-developed leafy offshoot growing alongside the main stem.
• Make a clean cut, without crushing, where it joins the main stem.
• Plant it in one of the pots using the potting mix described above.

Repotting

Every two or three years the plant needs to be moved into a larger pot.

• Add enough potting mix to fill roughly 1/3 of the height of the new pot.
• Set the plant in place and fill in around it with potting mix, up to the base of the plant.
• Water the soil generously and make sure the pot is not left standing in water at the end. Empty the saucer to prevent waterlogging.

Pests

Anthurium is prone to the usual houseplant pests such as mealybugs, red spider mites, whitefly and scale insects.

You can often wash these insects off with a jet of water.

For more stubborn insects you can use horticultural soap.

Meaning

The anthurium symbolises hospitality.

Conclusion

The anthurium is a superb plant and very easy to look after, as long as you find it the right spot and settle into a routine. It will repay you with the sense of well-being that comes from lush foliage and the generous blooms that appear several times a year.