How to Grow Potted Anthurium Well? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Care Methods

Anthurium is also known as red goose-foot, flamingo flower, Anthurium andraeanum, etc. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Anthurium in the Araceae family. Its spadix is yellow, and it can bloom continuously throughout the year. Its leaf shape is beautiful, its flower form is unusual, and its flowering period is long. It is very suitable for potted cultivation, cut flowers, or mass planting for beautification in shaded garden spots. Now let us take a look at how to grow potted anthurium well!

Growth Habits of Anthurium

Anthurium is native to tropical rainforest areas such as Costa Rica and Colombia. It often grows epiphytically on trees, sometimes on rocks, or directly on the ground. It likes a warm, hot, humid, and well-drained semi-shaded environment, and is afraid of drought and strong direct sunlight. The suitable daytime temperature for growth is 26-32°C, and the nighttime temperature is 21-32°C. The highest temperature it can tolerate is 35°C, and the lowest temperature it can tolerate is 14°C.

Propagation Methods of Anthurium

1. Division: The division period for anthurium is mainly in the cool and highly humid spring. It can also be divided in cool autumn weather. Never divide it in the hot summer or in a dry and cold season, and care must be taken not to damage the mother plant.

2. Cuttings: Upright stemmed varieties of anthurium can be propagated by cuttings. Cut off a section with 1-2 stem nodes and 3-4 leaves as a cutting, insert it into sphagnum moss, and plant it in a pot after new roots sprout.

3. Sowing: The sowing method of propagating anthurium is generally used only in breeding. The seeds are relatively large. Sow them indoors in pots. The suitable germination temperature is 25-28°C. They germinate 20-25 days after sowing and need to be cultivated for 3-4 years before they can bloom.

How to Grow Potted Anthurium?

1. Soil: The best culture soil for anthurium is loam rich in humus, loose, and well-drained. It is advisable to use a culture soil made of 2 parts leaf mold or peat soil and 1 part perlite or coarse sand, or made of 2 parts leaf mold, 1 part charcoal, and a small amount of superphosphate or bone meal.

2. Watering: Anthurium likes warmth and moisture. It needs to be misted on the leaf surface every day to maintain humidity. Poor drainage or overly wet potting soil can easily cause root rot. During the vigorous growth period, pay attention to maintaining sufficient water in the potting soil. Watering should alternate between dry and wet. After one watering, wait until the surface of the potting soil looks dry before watering again.

3. Light: Anthurium likes semi-shade and is afraid of strong light. In summer, it is advisable to place it indoors near a north-facing window for care. In spring and autumn, place it near a south-facing window. In winter, place it on a south-facing windowsill. If it can be moved outdoors to a shaded place for a period of cultivation after flowering, it will grow even better.

4. Temperature: The suitable temperature for anthurium growth is 20-25°C. The highest temperature it can endure is 32°C. Above 32°C, growth begins to slow down. The lowest temperature it can endure is 15°C. Below 15°C, cold damage occurs, and the leaves turn black or yellow.

5. Fertilizing: The growth period of anthurium is from April to October, with fertilization once every half month. From May to September is the vigorous growth period, with topdressing once a week. After budding and before flowering, fertilizer must not be lacking. Topdressing is mainly decomposed organic liquid fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or compound fertilizer.

6. Pruning: During the growth of anthurium, the basal petioles gradually degenerate. When the stipules become dry, they can be cut off in time. After flowering, when the peduncle turns yellow, it must also be cut off as soon as possible from the base, leaving a 2 cm protective stub.

7. Pests and Diseases: Anthurium commonly suffers from anthracnose, leaf spot, and inflorescence rot. Spray with Bordeaux mixture or 65% zineb wettable powder at 500 times dilution. Pests include scale insects and red spiders, which can be killed by spraying with 50% malathion emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution.

Precautions for Anthurium

1. Watering: If anthurium is watered too much or too frequently, the potting medium will remain overly wet for a long time, or even accumulate water, causing some fibrous roots to rot, hindering normal respiration and nutrient absorption, and causing leaves to gradually turn yellow and fall off.

2. Fertilizing: If anthurium is fertilized too little or has not been repotted or given new soil for a long time, the lack of nitrogen and other nutrients in the soil leads to weak branches and leaves, and thin, yellow leaves. In addition, excessive fertilization can also cause new leaves to become thick and uneven, while old leaves dry at the tips and turn scorched yellow and fall off.

3. Temperature: If the indoor temperature for anthurium is too low in winter, the leaves will turn yellow. If the room temperature is too high, the plant transpires excessively, and the roots cannot supply enough water and nutrients, which will also cause the leaves to turn yellow.

4. Air: In winter, when the indoor air is overly dry, anthurium often shows dry and yellow leaf tips, scorched leaf edges, or scorched spots on the leaves and curled edges.

5. Light: If anthurium is placed in a shaded area or a place with insufficient light for a long time, it will lead to weak growth, thin and yellow leaves, and no flowering or very little flowering.

6. Soil: Anthurium likes acidic soil. In most areas of the north, the medium and water contain more salt and alkali. Because the medium lacks the soluble iron that the plant needs to absorb, the leaves will gradually lose green color and turn yellow.