Anthurium andreiana is a species of the genus Anthurium, the most popular in indoor and greenhouse gardening. It grows wild almost exclusively in the tropical forests of Brazil. It is easily recognized by the red color of its rounded-cordate spathe and its smooth, columnar spadix. The second most popular species is Anthurium scherzeriana, whose spadix is typically twisted or curved, making them fairly easy to distinguish.
In general, Anthurium andreiana is more capricious and demanding in terms of growing conditions: therefore, Anthurium scherzeriana is more suitable for beginners.
Description
Anthurium andreiana is a mostly terrestrial, sometimes semi-epiphytic plant. It grows up to 60 cm tall in the wild, with ovate-cordate leaves with a pointed tip and a notch at the base of the petiole. The petiole is round in cross-section. The wild form typically produces up to five inflorescences at a time, each lasting about six months. Flowering in the tropics is almost continuous.
Varieties
Currently, about 300 varieties of Anthurium andreiana are patented or have expired patents, about 50 of which are commercially available, with about 20 popular varieties. This is a large number: there are only 20 known varieties of Anthurium scherzeriana.
Growing Anthurium Andreum at Home
Anthurium Andreiana is quite difficult to grow: it requires a specific temperature, good lighting, rather specific soil, a special watering regime, and so on.
Temperature
During the growing season, the optimal temperature for Anthurium Andreum is between 20% and 28% degrees Celsius, and during the dormant period, between 19 and 22 degrees Celsius. It does not tolerate cold air and drafts very well; cold air can cause large brown spots on the leaves. This is especially common when transported during the winter.
Lighting
Anthurium Andreum requires diffused but intense lighting. Direct light is completely unsuitable: bright sunlight causes severe leaf burn. This burn never goes away.
Priming
The soil and pot are two of the most important components when growing Anthurium andreum. The pot should be tight and compact, preferably plastic, to prevent the walls from absorbing and subsequently releasing moisture. Be sure to place coarse expanded clay in the bottom of the pot for drainage. The pot should have drainage holes at least at the bottom, and preferably also on the sides, to ensure rapid water drainage and favorable air circulation for the anthurium's roots.
The soil should be acidic, with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, very light and airy. In fact, it shouldn't mimic soil, but rather the forest floor of tropical forests, where a significant portion of the Anthurium andreum's root system is found in the wild.
In our climate, you can buy ready-made soils, such as those from Aurika Gardens, or you can prepare your own. If you choose the more complex route, you can use:
- one part of pine litter;
- one part leaf soil;
- one part crushed bark;
- one part crushed charcoal.
Mix all of this together to create a very light, airy mixture. Anthurium Andreum grows well in this soil. There's also a middle ground: you can buy orchid soil and add two parts orchid soil, one part crushed bark, and one part charcoal. This makes for a very good mixture.
Planting anthurium
It's highly recommended to repot the Anthurium Andreum immediately after purchase, as the composition and quality of the transport soil, as well as the condition of the root system in the transport pot, are unknown. The soil may be completely depleted, and the root system may be waterlogged and already affected by root rot. The sooner we clean the root system, remove any blackened or soft roots, and sprinkle the cut surfaces with crushed charcoal or ash, the better. If the roots are severely damaged, they can be bathed in a phytosporin solution.
If the plant appears healthy and was purchased in the winter, during the dormant period, it may be advisable to wait until March to repot it, when daylight hours increase.
Watering
Watering is the most important part of caring for Anthurium Andreum. Water with soft, warm water, sparingly but thoroughly. When watering, ensure the entire root ball is soaked and the water drains into the tray. Then, drain the water from the tray, let it collect again, and drain again. Water again only when the top soil has dried out to a depth of 3-4 cm; you can check this with a wooden stick.
Spraying
In addition to being extremely sensitive to soil moisture, anthurium is quite sensitive to air humidity. Low humidity can cause leaf tips to dry out. To prevent leaf tips from drying out, mist the anthurium daily if the room temperature is high. If the room temperature is low, it's best to simply install a humidifier nearby or place a bowl of damp moss or water.
Top dressing
Anthurium Andreum should be fed every 15-20 days with a complex fertilizer, preferably a physiologically acidic one, at half the recommended dose. Various fertilizers such as Kemira, Bona Forte, Agricola, and others are suitable. All of these are suitable, but the main thing is not to exceed the recommended dosage.
Protection from pests and diseases
Anthurium Andreiana can suffer from root rot, but this is generally easy to avoid with optimal watering and suitable soil. Anthurium Andreiana can also be affected by septoria leaf spot. Septoria leaf spot is a fairly serious disease that can destroy entire plants and spread to other anthuriums in the collection. It is caused by the pathogenic fungus Septoria anthuri and appears as brown spots with a yellow border. Sometimes, individual fruiting bodies of the fungus can be seen within the brown area. Septoria leaf spot is very difficult to control; only triazole fungicides are effective. None of these fungicides are currently recommended for indoor use, so you will need to seek them out elsewhere and use them at your own risk.
Of the pests, mites pose the greatest threat, primarily spider mites, as well as aphids and various coccids. Basically, seven troubles, one answer – insecticide treatment. Universal insecticides for home use include Aktara, which is somewhat more dangerous, and Fitoverm, which is somewhat less dangerous. Imidacloprid-based insecticides, including flea shampoo, are also often used. Protecting against ticks is more difficult because acaricides, with the exception of ground sulfur and Fitoverm, are quite aggressive and dangerous substances. Actellic is the first that comes to mind, but there are other acaricides that have proven effective against spider mites. Unfortunately, most of them are not sold in retail containers at all. Finding them wholesale is quite difficult – for example, Masai is rarely available now.
Propagation of Anthurium Andreiana
The easiest way to propagate is by cuttings. Over time, a large plant will form cuttings on its own, which are fairly easy to separate when repotting. Alternatively, if the Anthurium Andreum has a well-developed, long stem and has begun to branch, stem cuttings can be used. There are various methods for rooting stem cuttings, but the key is proper pruning and care. It can be rooted in either clean sand or water: different gardeners have accumulated varying experiences on this topic, and no one has yet been able to consolidate them into a single study.