Anthurium: home care and replanting

If you want to admire vibrant flowers even in winter, you need to buy an anthurium. With careful care, it can bloom year-round indoors, and some varieties have beautiful green leaves.

What does a flower look like?

Anthurium is native to South America, where it grows wild. Locals call it the "fire flower" or "flamingo flower," but in Russia it's better known as "male happiness," believed to bring prosperity to the home.

The plant has colorful, green leaves that are so shiny they seem to be coated with wax. The most popular variety, Anthurium andrei, most often has a spathe of red, white, pink, and sometimes purple, adorned with a delicate yellow spadix.

The plant grows to a maximum height of 30-40 centimeters and has a pleasant scent. Florists love this flower because it can last for over a month without losing its appearance when cut.

Breeders have now developed many varieties of anthurium, each with a unique leaf color and shape. In Colombia, it's traditional to give this flower to newlyweds at weddings. Incidentally, it has a companion plant, the peace lily, popularly known as "women's happiness." It has a more delicate and modest appearance.

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How to care for anthurium

Most often, people enjoy caring for the plant, not just the flower itself, as this brings out the best in them. Anthuriums aren't particularly demanding, but there are some care tips to keep in mind.

Lighting

Anthurium prefers indirect light; direct sunlight should be avoided. Although the plant is shade-tolerant, it will not thrive in a room that is too dark. Therefore, north-facing windows are not suitable, while west- and east-facing windows are ideal.

Temperature

In spring and summer, the flower thrives at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. If it drops below 20 degrees Celsius, it may become ill. In winter, however, it thrives at 17 degrees Celsius. Many varieties dislike drafts and sudden temperature changes, so the temperature should be gradually lowered. It's also advisable to keep the plant away from radiators.

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Humidity

Modern apartments offer near-perfect conditions for this flower, but it will lack humidity. Therefore, it's necessary to purchase a humidifier. Alternatively, you can place the anthurium on a tray filled with wet sand or expanded clay. You should also mist the air around the plant, being careful not to let water get on the leaves, as this will create unsightly streaks.

Once a week, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. Occasionally, you can place the pot in the bathroom and water it from the shower, but be careful not to let water splash on the flowers. Afterward, dry the leaves thoroughly with a paper towel.

Watering

Anthuriums need to be watered generously, but only after the topsoil has dried out. Pour water directly onto the soil, taking care not to let it splash onto the plant itself. In winter, watering once a week is sufficient; in summer, more frequently. The water should be poured into a special container beforehand, allowing it to warm up and settle. You can soften the water by adding a little citric acid.

Top dressing

During the growing and flowering period, anthuriums need to be fed twice a month. Use a fertilizer for araceae plants, but reduce the dosage indicated on the packet by half. If the plant is dormant during the winter, there's no need to feed it, just water it occasionally.

How does anthurium propagate?

If you have only one flower, it is better to take care of its propagation in advance, in case the flower dies.

There are several ways to do this at home:

• propagation by cuttings;
• by dividing the mother bush;
• using lateral shoots;
• rooting of the leaf.

It is possible to grow a flower from a seed, but this is a lengthy process and is usually used by breeders.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings take root well indoors, provided certain rules are followed. The cuttings must be from a healthy plant and have a growing point. After cuttings are taken, they should be left to rest for a while to allow the cut surface to harden, which will protect the plant from rot.

There are several ways to propagate:

1. Place the cutting in boiled and cooled water, placing a piece of charcoal at the bottom of the container. As soon as the first shoots appear, immediately place the cutting in soil.
2. You can plant the cutting in a substrate consisting of equal parts peat, perlite, and sand. Cover the plant with a glass jar. It should root within three weeks.
3. If you plant a cutting in moss, you can use a plastic bag for this.

This is the most common method of reproduction, but there are others.

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Dividing the bush

This method can be used if the plant has grown significantly; it's best to propagate it in the spring. Repotting anthuriums is also an essential part of home care. This procedure may be necessary if the container has become too small or if signs of root disease are present.

After removing the plant from the pot, you will need to shake off the soil and separate it by hand, as the roots are quite fragile, then plant each part in a separate pot.

Reproduction by offspring

This method is also used when repotting anthuriums. To avoid damaging the root system, you can simply separate the side shoots. The plant is then repotted, and the sprout placed in a separate container, preferably in a greenhouse. The sprouts should be regularly misted and watered with warm water. After about a month, they can be repotted separately.

Rooting a leaf

With this method, it's best to cut the leaf off along with the petiole, rolling it into a tube and securing it with a rubber band. Then plant it in the soil, leaving about 1/3 of it exposed. The plant will take root better if covered with a jar or plastic bag.

What to do immediately after purchasing a plant

First, carefully inspect the anthurium to determine if it has any diseases. Many of these are invisible to the naked eye, so a magnifying glass is a good idea. If pests are detected, treat the plant with insecticides. Even if no diseases are detected, keep it separate from other flowers for two weeks, or even better, a month. During this time, avoid direct sunlight; artificial lighting is best.

After purchasing, your anthurium may need to be repotted. To do this, grasp the plant by the stem and gently tug it out of the pot, roots included. Repotting is necessary if:

• the earth smells bad;
• signs of root rot are visible;
• lots of dry roots;
• no drainage;
• insects were found in the soil;
• There are swellings on the roots.

Quite often, flowers are sold in acidic soil. You can tell by its color; it's usually reddish and fibrous. If no such cause is found, the anthurium should be returned to its pot.

Anthurium transplant

When caring for an anthurium at home, it's important to constantly monitor its condition to avoid missing the moment when repotting may be necessary. Other than in the above-mentioned cases, young plants should be repotted once a year, and mature plants once every three years.

First, you need to choose the right plant container; it should be spacious. However, the pot shouldn't be much larger than the previous one, otherwise you'll have to wait a long time for flowering. The anthurium won't produce a new bloom until its roots have filled all the available space.

The material doesn't really matter; it could be plastic or glass. However, if the pot is made of clay, it needs to be glazed on both sides, as roots can grow into the clay.

The soil for the flower should be fairly light, with acidity ranging from 5.5 to 6. The ideal soil consists of the following elements:

• high-moor peat without impurities;
• sand;
• leaf soil;
• bark of coniferous trees.

The bark should be crushed and boiled beforehand. You can also add charcoal to kill pests in the soil. Perlite and sphagnum moss will make the soil looser.

If you use orchid soil, you'll need to fertilize it more often than usual. You can use soil from your garden, but you'll need to pre-bake it.

Transplantation after purchase

Take a new pot and first add a layer of drainage material. Lift the plant out, holding it by the base, and place it in the new pot. To make removal easier, water the plant first. Then add soil, compacting it lightly.

If replanting is done for the purpose of replacing the soil, you must first place the flower in a container of water to remove all the old soil from the roots.

Transplantation during flowering

Although most florists don't recommend repotting during flowering, as it stresses the plant and can cause it to drop its flowers, anthuriums tolerate this procedure well even during flowering, as long as the roots are not damaged.

Anthurium varieties

There are over 1,500 species of this plant worldwide, grown not only as houseplants but also for bouquets. Let's look at the most well-known varieties.

Anthurium Andreum

In natural conditions, this shrub reaches up to 1 meter in height, and when grown in pots, the limit is 60 cm.

The flower's leaves are dark green, with a waxy surface that glistens in the sun. The inflorescence is a single spadix and yellow in color. The leaves reach 60 cm in length, and the plant is characterized by a long flowering period. In the wild, the anthurium's spathe is red, but thanks to breeding, the plant can now be found in a variety of colors.

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Anthurium scherzeriana

This variety is distinguished by its long, curved inflorescence covered in pimples. The plant has a shortened stem and dense, matte leaves.

Some varieties have a dotted pattern on the leaves. Flower heights vary, with dwarf varieties reaching no more than 10 cm.

Anthurium bakeri

This epiphyte has elongated, fleshy leaves, the tips of which are decorated with a brown pattern. The inflorescences are beige or green, and when flowering, picturesque red fruits appear.

Anthurium Crystal

Unlike its relatives, it lacks a picturesque spathe, but it does have beautiful leaves with silver veins. The flower stalk grows up to 40 cm and has a delicate, creamy hue.

Anthurium disease and its treatment

Anthurium, a beautiful southern plant, is prone to disease without proper care. Treatment is necessary at the slightest sign of a change in the flower's appearance. Diseases can occur if agricultural practices are not followed, and infection can be introduced by insects.

Quite often, anthurium leaves turn yellow, which can only happen if the plant is not properly cared for at home.

The reasons for yellowing may be:

• chlorosis;
• sunburn;
• the leaves are frozen.

First, check the watering; the plant may be getting too little water or the water is too hard. Fertilizing is likely necessary, or the light level may need to be increased. If the leaf veins are green but the leaf itself is yellow, these are signs of chlorosis, and you should begin spraying the plant with iron chelate or seaweed extract. If sunburn occurs, the leaves will curl, meaning the plant needs to be relocated.

Quite often, people ask why their anthurium leaves are drying out, even though they're taking proper care of the plant at home. Most likely, this is due to insufficient watering, drafts, or perhaps low humidity in the room. In this case, remove all damaged leaves and sprinkle the affected areas with wood ash or cinnamon powder.

If brown spots appear on the leaves, this indicates overwatering; blackening of the foliage occurs due to improper replanting.

In addition to improper care, plants can also become infected from the outside:

• septoria;
• anthracnose;
• Fusarium wilt;
• rust.

When septoria occurs, the leaves turn brown and dry out. It is necessary to treat the anthurium with fungicides containing copper.

Anthracnose, also known as powdery mildew, causes leaves to turn dark brown, with black spots appearing in the center. At the first sign of the disease, remove all damaged leaves, change the soil, disinfect the roots, and reduce watering.

If the fungus has spread extensively, fungicides should be used, preferably non-toxic ones; Bordeaux mixture works well. If the plant fails to heal, it should be burned, the pot incinerated, or discarded.

When rust occurs, the leaves become covered with orange bumps. The plant should be treated with a fungicide solution, but should not be sprayed, otherwise the remaining leaves may become infected.

Fusarium wilt causes the entire bush to wilt, with the flowers becoming unnaturally arched. In this case, treat the soil with glyocladin, removing all damaged parts.

Diseases caused by parasites

It is quite difficult to protect yourself from such diseases, the most dangerous are:

• aphid;
• scale insect;
• spider mite;
• thrips.

The latter are quite difficult to identify; if black spots appear on the underside of a leaf, they are the cause. Such a plant should be treated with insecticides, and the room should be ventilated more frequently as a preventative measure. If spider mites are present, wipe the leaves with a solution of laundry soap.

Anthurium diseases are easier to prevent than to treat, so it's important to regularly inspect the plant. With proper care and preventative measures, the anthurium will thrive and delight you with its blooms.