Anthurium a beautiful tropical plant

Anthurium is a beautiful tropical plant native to Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay and the Caribbean with highly glossy, heart-shaped leaves in various shades such as red, pink, yellow, green and orange.

Many species of this plant can be grown as indoor plants as well as outdoor plants.

Anthurium plants are very easy to look after, as they need very little attention to keep looking beautiful for a long time. There are a few extra care tips we’d like to share with you, so that you’ll enjoy your Anthurium plant for a long time.

Light

Anthuriums thrive in a well-lit place, but do not like direct sunlight. When the plant is placed in a low light position it will have fewer flowers and will grow more slowly. Avoid places with temperature fluctuations but also places near currents.

Temperature

Being a tropical inhabitant, it’s no surprise that the Anthurium prefers higher average temperatures. During the daytime, your house should range between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius, while the evenings can be around 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. Temperatures below 10 ° C will damage and inhibit the growth of your plant. Even though most people keep Anthuriums indoors, if you want to take it outdoors once the weather warms up, then be sure you remember to bring it back inside at night since the temperatures can drop unexpectedly. 

Moisture

Another factor that is vital for tropical plants is their need for good moisture. Those who choose to have an Anthurium plant indoors find that they may need to water their plants more often, as well as provide other ways to increase humidity. Such as:

-Placing the plant in the bathroom will naturally absorb more moisture.

-Spray the foliage, not the flowers, with water at room temperature every other day.

-Keep them away from heaters such as radiators as they absorb moisture from the air.

-Some also recommend keeping a humidifier close to the plant or a small tray of water in it to maintain higher moisture content.

Keep them away from hot radiators as they will soak up the humidity from the air. 

Watering

The more light and warmth Anthurium receives, the more water it will need, so check if the soil has dried every few days. During the winter, the plant needs to be watered once a week while in the summer, it can be watered more frequently, but twice a week should be enough.  Do not exceed the water and do not leave stagnant water on the saucer of the pot as it can cause root rot and destruction of the plant. On the other hand, do not allow the soil to dry out completely, which can also lead to problems with plant growth and health.

Fertilizer

During the growth season, spring and summer, use a complete liquid fertilizer once a month. Too much fertilizer can do more harm than good.

Repotting

Anthuriums usually need transplanting every two to three years when their root system has grown enough and begins to grow out of the drainage holes of the pot or to wrap in a circular direction. Another reason is because you may need to place it in a beautiful flower pot that will fit perfectly in your space.

The best time to transplant your plant is preferably spring. It is an easy transplant process.

First of all, place the plant in a pot with a diameter of at least 20% larger than the previous one and use special soil for indoor plants. Make sure the new pot has drainage holes and fill it to about ¼ of the pot. Gently remove the anthurium from its current pot, cutting off the roots that grow out of it, and simply separate the roots. Separating the roots will keep all the plants healthier and will help the better flowering of your plant.

Depending on how big the anthurium is, you can divide it into two or more new plants. It's a great idea to use the new plants as gifts to friends, neighbours or relatives.

Problems and diseases

Anthurium is a fairly resistant plant to both enemies and diseases; however, meligra, thrips and granules are among the most common enemies that mainly threaten your plant.

• When the leaves of your plant turn yellow, it means that it comes in contact with direct sunlight. All you have to do is move it away from the window.
• If you notice brown spots on the leaves it may mean that either the plant is not receiving the necessary nutrients, or there is too much direct sunlight. First place the plant in a room with less light and if this does not work, add a little diluted fertilizer to the plant.
• If the leaves of Anthurium begin to curve it may be related to lack of water. To resolve this issue you will need to change the watering frequency.

It is important to clean the anthurium leaves regularly with a damp cloth to breathe better, as well as to spray the foliage so that it does not dry out and create burns at the edges of the foliage.

Caution: Anthurium is poisonous if swallowed, so be very careful if you have pets or small children. The juice of the plant can cause skin irritation.

Benefits: According to NASA studies, anthurium has the ability to remove pollutants such as formaldehyde, xylene, toluene and ammonia from the environment. Its leaves absorb these substances and thus help clean the indoor air of homes and offices.

An Anthurium that grows in your garden or home will reward you with wonderful, long lasting impressive flowers. With proper care and regular fertilizer it will give you new flowers all year round. But usually there are cycles of three months of flowering, some months without flowering, and then three months of flowering again. When the plant has shiny leaves and produces new flowers, then be sure that they are in favourable conditions and will bloom for many years!

In addition to being a potted plant, the anthurium is also distinguished for its cut flowers. Their flowers can be kept for several weeks in a jar with clean water. Refresh the water in the jar about once a week and cut about one cm from the stem so it will be able to retain freshness for up to three weeks, which is just a record for an ornamental plant.

Find at our online flower shop anthemionflowers.com a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants for all tastes. Choose an anthurium plant, which is available in different sizes and containers or any kind of arrangement to add a touch of beauty to your home or office.