Anthurium: planting and care

Attractive bright anthurium came to us from the subtropical forests of South America. There are about 500 species of anthuriums in nature, some of which are used for decorating buildings and growing in winter gardens. Caring for this plant at home is not easy, but a true lover of unusual flowers will not be put off by possible difficulties.

Planting and caring for anthurium at home

Anthurium's natural habitat is tropical rainforests. Therefore, for successful cultivation it is necessary to create conditions in the apartment that are closest to it. One of the main conditions is to ensure suitable lighting conditions:

• For anthurium, diffused light will be most suitable, while at the same time the flower will also feel comfortable in the shade. Therefore, it is best to place a pot with this plant on the western or eastern side.
• Do not place the plant directly on the windowsill. This may cause burns on the leaves. It is best to place the pot on a stand at a distance of about half a meter from the window.
• In the winter season, the plant needs to create a long daylight hours. Therefore, you need to place the pot on the south side or create additional lighting.

The plant tolerates heat very well, so in the summer it should be kept at temperatures up to +26 degrees. In winter, this value must be reduced to +17, and with the onset of spring, the air heating must be increased again to the usual level. Anthurium is very afraid of drafts, so it must be kept away from open windows and doors.

The greatest difficulty in growing Anthurium represents the creation of suitable humidity conditions. It is best to use a humidifier for this purpose, but if this is not possible, the plant needs to be sprayed several times a day. Water containers placed near the anthurium will also help to some extent.

For watering plants need to use soft purified water. In summer, anthurium is watered generously once every three days. In winter, watering is reduced to once a week. Instead of watering, you can give the anthurium a shower. This will maintain the required level of humidity and remove accumulated dust from the leaves.

For better development, anthurium needs to be constantly feed. The frequency of feeding is twice a month. The most effective way to feed a plant is to spray it with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer.

Anthuriums will not refuse organic fertilizers. Once a month you can water the plant with an infusion of chicken manure. The procedure is performed only after watering with water to prevent burns on the root system. If necessary, mulch the soil with fresh leaf humus or rotted horse manure.

Anthurium transplant

Like other tropical ornamental plants, anthuriums are sold already planted in pots. This is usually a budget option that does not provide the plant with comfortable conditions. Therefore, after purchasing anthuriums, it is customary to replant them. This must be done in the first three days after purchasing the flower.

To reduce the likelihood of disease and provide good growing conditions, the soil should consist of 1 part turf, 2 parts moss and 2 parts peat. A drainage layer made of expanded clay, crushed stone or broken brick must be placed at the bottom of the pot. This will provide the root system with air flow and get rid of excess moisture.

While the plant is young, it is replanted every year, gradually increasing the size of the pot. An adult, mature plant is replanted every two years.

After purchase, the plant is watered and carefully removed from the old container so as not to damage the fragile roots. The root system is inspected and all damaged and rotten roots are removed. After this, the anthurium is placed in a new pot and the prepared soil is gradually added. After filling the pot, press down the soil so that it sits more tightly.

If a plant is replanted due to depleted soil, then the root system must be cleared of old soil before replanting. To do this, an earthen ball with roots is soaked in water. Then the substrate will get wet and come off.

The transplantation process can be combined with dividing the bush. This can be done when the plant reaches four years of age. Division is usually carried out in winter, when the plant sheds its leaves. When dividing, leaves and buds should remain on each part. If during division it is not possible to untangle the roots, then they can simply be cut with a sterile knife and quickly transplanted into prepared containers.

Why do anthurium leaves turn yellow?

There may be several reasons for yellowing of anthurium leaves.

• Firstly, improper watering leads to the appearance of yellowness. Water should not stagnate at the roots; at the same time, the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Watering with hard water is often the cause, so only settled liquid should be used for watering.

• Secondly, the pot size is wrong. If the container is too free, moisture accumulates in the lower layer of soil and the root system rots. To solve the problem, the plant needs to be transplanted into a pot of a suitable size.
• Thirdly, improper lighting, for example, direct sunlight. In this case, the anthurium needs to be removed from the windowsill or shaded from the scorching rays of the sun.
• Fourthly, low air temperature. This happens when in the summer a plant is taken out to the balcony, and with the onset of autumn they forget to bring it back into the apartment.