Anthurium leaf diseases: how to treat them, why they turn black and dry out, what to do?

This vibrant, exotic flower hails from South America. The name Anthurium translates from ancient Greek as "tail" and "flower." The plant belongs to the Araceae family. Its flowers come in a wide variety of colors, and blooming continues year-round, depending on the lighting. The flowers have such an unusual shape and glossy surface that they have become indispensable for florists when creating arrangements.

A cut flower can stand in water for up to a month without losing its beauty. Since it's a tropical plant, certain care requirements are crucial for this species, including temperature, lighting, and humidity. Failure to follow these guidelines will affect the beauty of the leaves. To ensure your anthurium blooms beautifully, as pictured, it's important to identify the cause of any changes in the leaves' appearance promptly, so you can determine the proper treatment and prevent more serious diseases.

Why do anthurium leaves and flowers turn black, yellow, and dry out?

Anthurium is hardly a fussy plant. It's shade-tolerant and adapts to apartment living. It has gained great popularity in indoor gardening due to its decorative appearance. Bright, large green leaves frame a large, glossy flower during flowering.

A fairly common problem when growing the Man's Happiness plant is that its leaves and flowers turn black and dry out for no apparent reason. The flower quickly loses its decorative appeal and may die if not treated promptly. Disease can occur due to improper care, fungal infestation, bacterial infestation, or pest infestation. Treatment depends on the cause of the wilting.

Leaf diseases due to improper care

Blackening and wilting of plants may be associated with the following non-infectious factors:

1. Failure to maintain proper temperature. In winter, the thermometer should not drop below 16°C. During the period of active growth and flowering, the temperature should be maintained between 20-25°C. If the plant is too cold, black spots will form on the leaf blade and quickly increase in size.

   

2. Direct sunlight. Anthurium loves sun but prefers filtered light. Exposure to bright sunlight, especially in summer, can cause leaf burn, which will manifest as dry, darkened spots and a general weakening of the plant.

   

3. Watering with hard water. For irrigation, use soft, filtered water at room temperature.

   

4. Drafts. Cold air currents are difficult for heat-loving plants to tolerate, and the effects are immediately visible on the leaves.

   

5. Insufficient light. This is indicated by yellow leaves or yellow spots.

   

6. Nutrient deficiency. Fertilizer is essential during the growth and flowering periods. Insufficient supply can interfere with flowering and cause the leaves to become noticeably paler.

   

7. Improper watering. Under-watering is just as harmful as over-watering. Both extremes will result in the death of the houseplant due to the destruction of the root system.

   

Pest infestation

Long-term pest infestation can lead to the death of the flower, as the insects feed on the plant's sap, depriving it of its ability to sustain itself. Such infestations are also dangerous because they can spread to other indoor plants. Regularly inspecting all flowers will help identify and eliminate pests at the early stages of infestation.

Common insect infestations include:

1. Aphids. In the initial stages, you may notice leaves turning yellow and curling. When the aphid infestation is severe, a sticky coating appears on the plant.

   

2. Thrips. You can suspect an infestation by this parasite by the small black dots on the underside of the leaf, accompanied by light yellow spots of various shapes.
3. Spider mites. The onset of an infestation is often missed, as it appears as small yellow spots that gradually coalesce into spots and begin to deform the leaves. The mite is noticeable when it covers the affected areas with a thin web.
4. Scale insects. At the initial stage of infestation, scale insects are invisible; later, they can be identified by white bumps on the stem and leaves.

How to treat fungal and bacterial diseases of anthurium leaves

Anthurium treatment depends directly on the cause of the disease. First, check to see if the plant is suffering from drafts or sudden temperature changes, as these are the most common care mistakes. This could be an air conditioner, a fan, a balcony door constantly open, or a window left slightly open for ventilation in winter. If the cause is identified, the yellowing will not recur. However, the plant still needs to be revived.

If the leaves have turned yellow in large numbers, repot the plant to inspect the roots and change the soil; infection is likely the cause. Treatment follows this algorithm:

1. Remove all affected leaves with sharp pruning shears, and treat healthy leaves with Epin, a stimulating drug.
2. Carefully remove the plant from the pot. To minimize root damage, it's best to water the plant a couple of days before repotting.

   

3. Remove all soil from the roots and rinse them with warm, soft water.

   

4. Inspect the roots for rot, dryness, or damage. Trim off any unhealthy areas with a sharp, sterile knife.

   

5. Treat the roots with fungicides to prevent or treat fungal and bacterial infections.
6. If there are no roots left after pruning, but there are still growing points, wrap them in damp moss and place them in a transparent glass. Ventilate the glass for 15-20 minutes daily. Keep in a greenhouse with good humidity, under a grow light. When new roots appear, proceed to step 7. If there are still living roots after pruning, skip step 6.

   

7. Prepare a new pot, sized to fit the roots. They shouldn't be cramped, but too much space can kill the plant, as all the energy will be spent on root growth.
8. Fill the pot 30% full with drainage material. Next, add a layer of soil. Use orchid-grade soil; it's best suited for weakened anthuriums.
9. Plant the plant and fill the empty spaces with soil.
10. Care during the recovery period must be very thorough, with compliance with all necessary rules for keeping this species.

Treatment for anthurium leaf damage by pests

Anthurium treatment depends on the pests infesting it. The simplest treatment is for aphids. For this, the leaves are treated with chemical insecticides or folk remedies. Garlic infusion has proven effective. To make it, add half a cup of crushed garlic to 5 liters of water and let it steep for three days. Aphids dislike the smell of garlic.

Fighting spider mites is more difficult and is done according to the following algorithm:

• rinse the plant under running warm filtered water to remove cobwebs and parasites;
• treat the plant with an acaricide and cover it with a plastic bag for 3 hours;
• repeat the treatment after 4 days;
• Treat once a week for 3 weeks, as young animals will appear.

To combat scale insects, you need to follow this plan:

• Use a soft cloth to remove scale insects from leaves and stems;
• treat with the chemical preparation Aktara outdoors or in a ventilated area, as the preparation is toxic;
• in case of severe damage, alternate with Karbofos;
• transplant the anthurium into new soil, removing any remaining old soil from the roots.

If the plant is affected by thrips, it is necessary to:

• remove all affected leaves;
• carefully remove the top layer of soil and replace it, as thrips eggs may be laid in it;
• treat the plant with chemicals;
• For better results, you can use a spraying preparation (Aktara) and a soil watering preparation (Confidor);
• the procedure should be repeated 4 times with intervals of 7 days;
• For prevention, the plant can be watered with a decoction of celandine or yarrow.

When carrying out health procedures, it is important to remember that:

• During treatment, the infected flower should be quarantined, separate from other houseplants;
• all work with chemicals is carried out with gloves and in ventilated areas;
• Any flowers brought from a store or someone else's home should be quarantined for up to 2 weeks to ensure their safety;
• The flower can easily become infected with pests again if the care instructions are not followed along with the treatment.

What to do to prevent leaf diseases

In severe cases of damage, treatment may not always help save the plant, so the best option is preventative measures:

• maintain the required humidity in the room using humidifiers, aquariums or other devices;
• hide the plant from direct sunlight and provide sufficient amount of diffused light;
• adjust watering so that the roots do not dry out and rot, always drain excess water from the tray;
• water only with soft, settled water;
• When planting, ensure a good drainage layer, which will also protect the roots from stagnant water;
• protect the pot from drafts and cold air;
• Apply fertilizer to the soil regularly, but do not allow it to become over-fertilized.

But even in this case, there are preventative measures that can help reduce the risk of infection:

• Keep all new plants in quarantine for 2 weeks;
• If the soil is suspicious, it is better to change it;
• In spring and summer, inspect the leaves every week; in the cold season, it can be done less frequently;
• Once a month, you can carry out preventative treatment of the leaves with a soap solution;
• If there is a suspicion of infestation, it is better to immediately treat with insecticides, without waiting for active spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

This vibrant exotic plant is becoming increasingly popular in indoor gardening thanks to its stunning appearance. But to maintain its decorative beauty, you need to know the basic principles of proper care. These are fairly simple and can be handled by even an inexperienced gardener, but ignoring them can seriously damage the plant.

Improper care can cause the flower to wilt, increase susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections, and create a breeding ground for parasites. It's also important to remember that the Male Happiness plant is poisonous, so all handling should be done with gloves and kept away from children and pets.