The indoor flower Anthurium, also called the “flamingo flower”, is one of the rather capricious and whimsical plants. His homeland is South America, where more than 900 species of anthuriums grow. Based on just two of them, Andre Anthurium and Scherzer Anthurium, many hybrid varieties and forms have been developed that have different colors of flowers - from snowy white to dark brown.
At room conditions, various varieties of Scherzer anthurium are often grown. The height of this flower, which in nature grows in the rainy mountain forests of Costa Rica, reaches 30 cm. It has dark green, oblong, lanceolate-shaped leaves. Their length is about 20 cm, they grow on 10-15 cm petioles. The Scherzer Anthurium flower consists of two parts: a bright bract, the so-called bedspread, and a spiral cob.
This species does not have a specific flowering time: under favorable conditions, it can last several months a year. This is an unusually beautiful and picturesque flower. Scherzer Anthurium usually produces at the same time several peduncles with bright flowers that attract everyone's attention. Due to its high decorativeness, it is one of the most popular types in industrial floriculture: various varieties of Scherzer anthurium are grown both for sale and for arranging bouquets. Its cut inflorescences do not lose their attractive appearance for three to four weeks.
His relative, the indoor flower, Anthurium Andre, naturally grows in the humid Colombian forests. It is grown far less often by florists, as it is less adapted for existence in an enclosed space. Anthurium Andre is much larger and can reach a height of 70-90 cm. Its leaves are heart-shaped. Both species in nature grow as epiphytes (on trees), but they also take root well on the ground.
Climbing anthurium is also cultivated as a houseplant, whose homeland is the tropical mountain forests of the Antilles. It is a half-epiphyte with a long stem and dense oval leaves on short petioles. The flowers of this species are inconspicuous, but its cob-shaped fruits with large translucent berries are very beautiful.
All cultivated varieties of Anthurium are heat and photophilous (climbing Anthurium loves diffused light) and do not tolerate drafts. A plant that lacks light begins to turn yellow, and when it is supercooling, dark spots appear on the leaves. The temperature in the room where the Anthurium flower is grown should not be lower than +15 degrees in the winter and +22 in the summer. The substrate should have a slightly acidic reaction and be loose, with good drainage. The most suitable combination is turf land, coarse sand and humus (1: 1: 2) with pieces of bark (best of all, pine) and charcoal. Ideally, the substrate requires annual replacement.
These flowers love moist air, but you need to water them sparingly: like many other indoor plants, anthurium does not tolerate overmoistening. If water has collected in the pan, it must be drained immediately to avoid root decay. At the same time, the soil should not dry out. It is easy enough to create the desired microclimate in a flower by placing the pot on a pallet with moistened gravel. Anthurium Scherzer and Andre need regular spraying with warm water. Their leaves should be wiped off from dust as they become dirty.
Transplanted anthurium flower in spring. The pot for it should be wide enough, but relatively small - otherwise the flowering will be much weaker. Blooming anthuriums are propagated by separating the lateral shoots or dividing the bushes into parts, an anthurium climbing - cuttings that root in a mini-greenhouse. When planting plants, it is necessary to ensure that the soil is constantly moist, and also to spray them periodically. Rooted anthuriums are transplanted into separate pots.