A Detailed Guide to the Growth Habits and Cultivation Conditions of Anthurium
Temperature
Anthurium is relatively sensitive to temperature. The suitable growing temperature is 14-35°C, the optimum temperature is 19-25°C, and the day-night temperature difference is 3-6°C, meaning it is best to keep daytime temperatures at 21-25°C. If temperatures stay below about 13°C for a long time, the plant will not die, but it will take a very long time to resume growth. When temperatures rise above 35°C and light is relatively abundant, leaf scorch easily appears on the leaf surface. Because damaged leaves do not recover, this affects the overall quality of the anthurium.
Light
Anthurium is a shade-tolerant plant and should not be exposed to direct sunlight, but do not assume that because anthurium is a shade-tolerant flower it needs no light at all. According to observations, when light increases by 1%, its flower production also increases by 1%, though only within the suitable light intensity range for anthurium. The relatively suitable light intensity range is 10,000-20,000 lux, determined mainly by different varieties and different growth conditions at different growth stages. Under any circumstances, make sure that light does not exceed 25,000-30,000 lux for long periods.
Humidity
The optimum relative air humidity for anthurium is 70%-80%, and it should not be lower than 50%, because maintaining relatively high air humidity in the growing environment is the key to successful anthurium cultivation.
Soil and Fertilizer
For potted anthurium, the potting soil should preferably be peat soil mixed with 1/4 perlite, plus a small amount of bone meal or decomposed cake fertilizer powder, blended evenly. The bottom of the pot needs a layer of coarse sand or similar material to aid drainage. After a period of cultivation and management, the growing medium will undergo biodegradation and salinization, which lowers the pH value of the medium and raises the EC value, thereby affecting the root system's ability to absorb fertilizer and water. Therefore, the pH value and EC value of the medium must be measured regularly, and the proportions of various nutrient elements adjusted according to the measured data, so as to promote the plant's absorption of fertilizer and water.