What to Do When Anthurium Leaves Turn Yellow? Causes and Solutions
The anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) is a premium flower with great development prospects. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the Araceae family, genus Anthurium. Its flowers are unique, with bright and gorgeous spathes in rich and highly varied colors and a long flowering period. It can be grown hydroponically or in soil; for hydroponics, avoid sunlight and let it see sunlight once a month. Now let us take a look at what to do when anthurium leaves turn yellow!
Overwatering
[Cause] The tender leaves at the top of the anthurium turn pale yellow, the old leaves also gradually yellow, and the new shoots wither. This is caused by prolonged rain or overwatering, which makes the potting soil too wet, deprives the soil of oxygen, and rots the roots.
[Solution] Loosen the soil regularly, control watering, and avoid heavy rain spraying.
Dry Soil
[Cause] The leaf color at the top of the anthurium is normal, while the lower leaves gradually dry, yellow and fall off from the bottom upward. This is caused by the pot soil being too full or watering not penetrating for a long time, which leads to the aging of the lower leaves and stems.
[Solution] Water appropriately to keep the soil moist.
Insufficient Fertilizer
[Cause] The anthurium leaves are thin and yellow. This is caused by the plant being large while the pot is small, or by not repotting or changing the soil for a long time, as well as insufficient fertilizer.
[Solution] Gradually increase water and fertilizer, and repot at the right time.
Overfertilizing
[Cause] The anthurium leaves become uneven and fail to spread out, the new leaves are thick and fleshy, and the old leaves gradually turn yellow.
[Solution] Water frequently, pause fertilizing, and you can scatter some vegetable seeds in the pot; after they sprout, pull them out to consume the excess nutrients in the pot and help the plant return to normal growth.
Unsuitable Light
[Cause] Keeping the anthurium indoors without light for a long time easily causes yellow leaves. High temperatures and exposure to the sun can also make leaves turn yellow and fall off.
[Solution] Increase light appropriately.
How to Grow Anthurium?
1. Soil: When growing anthurium, it is best to use soil that is loose, breathable, well-draining, and able to retain water and fertilizer. Ideally, the soil should contain a certain amount of nutrients. You can choose leaf mold or peat soil mixed with some perlite or coal cinder and base fertilizer to make a nutrient soil. Add some broken bricks at the bottom of the pot to help with drainage.
2. Watering: Anthurium likes moisture and fears drought, so the soil should be kept moist regularly. In summer, water according to how dry or wet the soil is, roughly once every one to two days. Never let water accumulate in the pot, as this may damage the roots. Especially in winter, reduce watering; too much water will cause root rot. Slightly acidic water is best, and water with a pH between 4.5 and 5 can be used. In dry seasons, the plant should also be misted.
3. Light: Anthurium is a shade-loving plant, so it is best placed in a shaded area, but it should not be completely cut off from light, as this will cause the plant to lack color light. When in the sun, it should be given some shading so that it is not fully exposed to sunlight. But in winter, when the sunlight is weak, there is no need to shade it, and it can be placed in the sun with confidence.
4. Temperature: Anthurium likes warmth and fears cold, so in summer it should be protected from high temperatures, and in winter from frost damage. The suitable growing temperature is 19 to 25 degrees; below 13 degrees, the plant enters dormancy and should be placed indoors or wrapped in a plastic bag to prevent frost damage. When the temperature is above 32 degrees, growth stops. Generally, when the temperature is above 25 degrees, windows should be opened for ventilation to ease the adverse effects of high temperatures.
5. Fertilizing: Fertilizer can promote the growth of anthurium. When fertilizing, you can choose liquid fertilizer or a compound fertilizer with a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio of 1:1:1, applying it roughly once every 7 to 12 days. It is best to fertilize in the morning or evening for better results, or regularly apply fertilizer water, which means adding one or two drops of fertilizer liquid to the water when watering. For fertilizer water, once every three days is generally enough, but only one fertilizing method can be chosen, not both.
6. Pests and Diseases: Common diseases of anthurium include leaf blight and root rot. For leaf blight, spray a fungicide with a small spray bottle, such as mancozeb or JunDuQing, about once a month. Common pests mainly include termites and aphids. When there are not many, they can be removed with a brush, a writing brush, or a damp cloth.