What to considering when looking after your Anthuriums

When they’re properly cared for and fully mature, anthuriums can reach one and a half feet tall. The flowers can last for a few weeks at a time on a plant, unless you remove them for display.

Light: Anthuriums prefer bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will most likely scorch or plant’s leaves and blooms. These plants can also survive in low light, but they may produce fewerblooms.

Temperature: Because these plants are native to the tropics, they enjoy warmer temperatures between 70 to 90 degrees. Don’t worry if your plant is in a cooler spot in your home. Anthuriums can adapt to temperature changes, but be sure not to subject your plant to temperatures below 50 degrees. If this happens, your plant will stop growing. Similarly, if your plant becomes too hot, it will wilt. Avoid putting it near air conditioning or heating vents.

Water: Water your anthurium when the first inch of soil is dry. Stop watering once the water flows from the drainage holes in your plant’s container. Anthuriums are susceptible to root rot, so be sure to not overwater your plant. You can tell if your plant is thirsty if it is light when you pick it up or if its leaves and blooms begin to droop or pucker.

Humidity: If the humidity where your anthurium is falls below 50%, consider using a humidifier. Anthuriums preferhumidity levels of at least 60%. If you don’t have a way to raise humidity, you can place your anthurium on a tray of pebbles and water to increase the moisture in the air.

Fertilizer: If you have a big and bold anthurium, fertilize it once a month. A pink anthurium and red anthurium should be fertilized every month in the spring and summer.

Soil: Anthuriums can grow on various surfaces, but they prefer soil that is airy and high in organic matter. The soil should also have adequate drainage.

Repotting: Anthuriums only need to be repotted every 2 to 3 years. You can tell if your anthurium needs repotting if its root system starts outgrowing the pot via the drain holes.

An important note: Anthuriums of any variety are toxic to pets and humans. Keep your plant away from any pets or people who accidentally ingest it. They can also cause skin irritation for some people if handled.

Common Issues With Anthuriums

Though anthuriums are easy to care for, these color plants can experience issues that affect their health. Here’s how to deal with these common problems.

Browning leaves: The leaves of your anthurium can turn brown for a few reasons. Is your plant experiencing natural aging? This can cause leaves on the bottom of the plant to turn brown and fall off. If you find your plant’s leaves wilting, turning yellow and brown, remove them with clean shears. This helps the plant devote more energy to healthy growth.

Other causes: If you notice your plant has all-over yellowing and browning leaves, it may be suffering from leaf blight. Other causes for all-over leaf browning can include: sunburn, nutrient deficiency, and root rot from overwatering. If your leaves and blooms turn paler than usual, it could mean your plant is not receiving enough light.

Flower loss: The good news about flower loss on your anthurium is that it’s most likely part of the normal aging process. Anthuriums bloom in 3 month cycles, so your plant may be between blooming cycles. Cut off any unhealthy or wilting flowers to encourage new, healthy growth.