How to Grow Beautiful Anthurium
Scientific Name:
Anthurium
Common Names:
Anthurium
Pigtail Plant
Flame Plant
Description:
Anthurium is a beautiful foliage plant that grows well indoors. They are much like a Peace Lily but have much bigger leaves, bigger and brighter blooms, and glossy, waxed looking foliage. They are some times mistaken for a Peace Lily due to their appearance.
Anthuriums have large green tropical foliage that produce an unusual flower. Their foliage is dark green and may be smooth and waxy feeling or have a velvety feel. They are commonly found blooming in red or pink.
Due to their low light requirements, Anthurium makes a great indoor plant for either your home or office. They grow well in containers or planters and are a beautiful accent to any room, wall or table. They do get quite large over time but can be divided to insure a precise size.
Wash whole plants with plain water or clean leaves with a damp cloth gently.
Elements:
Light: Partial shade or diffused light.
Temperature- Days: with 70-80 degrees F. Nights: 60-65 degrees F
Water: Allow soil to partly dry in between waterings.
*Does well when humidity is 50% or more.*
Care and Maintenance:
While Anthuriums are easy to maintain, they do require certain things to keep them thriving. Warm temperatures and partial shade will help to insure a spectacular Anthurium all year long.
Grow indoors in a humusy indoor mix. If you have a very large Anthurium add a coarser humus such as fir bark or chopped osmunda fibers to help maintain larger Anthuriums.
After flowering be sure to remove all faded flowers to maintain an healthy, vibrant plant. Trim and remove older leaves as needed. Also, leave space to add soil later as new roots grow from the main stem.
Fertilizing:
Fertilize at half strength every month during spring, summer and fall.
Propagation:
Propagate Anthuriums from stem cuttings or plantlets. New shoots will arrive often and are great for propagating and adding to your collection.
Common Pests, Problems and Diseases:
Mealy bugs
Scale Insects
Cultivars:
Lady Jane or Pink Princess- Slender, clear pink bracts curve open to reveal long pink flower spikes.
Flamingo Flower- Heart-shaped flower bracts in white, ivory, yellow orange red or pink.
Hoja de Corazon- Compact Anthurium that has distinctive, dark green, velvety foliage with clear silvery veins. Leave are about 5" and are very beautiful.
Birdsnest:Usually Long, clustered, short-stemmed leaves form symmetrical green rosettes. Usually reaches height of 24-36 inches. prefers very high humidity.
While most of this information was of my own knowledge after taking 3 years of horticulture classes I did refer to the Pictorial Guide to House Plants by M. Jane Coleman Helmer, PH.D. I strongly recommend ger book to anyone who is looking start growing plants indoors.
Source:
Pictorial Guide To House Plants, by M. Jane Coleman Helmer, Copyright 1993
Published by Stephanie Manning
Stephanie Manning enjoys writing about various topics to include gardening, pregnancy, health, and business. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentAnthurium require a very porous soil similar to that found in a rain forest. Most don't even live in soil but instead live up on a tree branch. Potting soil can kill an Anthurium. You need to mix about 1/2 soil and include orchid potting mix with charcoal and bark, extra peat moss, Perlite, compost and anything that will make the soil porous.
Sorry to be technical but the spathe of an Anthurium is not a %22flower%22 as described on this page. It is a modified leaf. All flowers have sexual parts including stigmas and stamen and the spathe of an inflorescence has none. There is a spadix at the center o the spathe and tiny flowers are found there including male%2C sterile male and female flowers. When a botanist says an Anthurium is in flower he%2Fshe is referring to the tiny flowers%2C not the spathe. But it is incorrect to call the spathe a flower.
Anthuriums generally need a well-aerated growing medium. Hence, a potting mix consisting of loose materials is more advisable
I've read somewhere that Anthuriums can grow in a wide range of soil types like sandy loam and heavy clays. Does this mean that I can just use ordinary gardening soil for my seedling or is it necessary I stick to the "3 parts orchid peat, 1 part leaf mold, 1 part sphagnum moss with a sprinkling of coarse sand, crushed coal, and crushed brick"? Thanks a bunch!
girl you got some kinda green thumb!