Under natural conditions, this plant grows in America (Central and South), it is known there under the name "flamingo" or "fiery tongue." In Russia, this flower is called "male happiness", and many believe that if it grows well with proper care, then there will be peace and happiness in the house.
The scientific name of the flower is Anthurium. This plant has an unusual appearance: it is as if covered with wax and usually blooms with a bright red heart (there are other colors).
The article provides information about the rules for growing anthurium at home, about the features of caring for it, etc.
Places of growth in nature
Anthurium (Anthurium) - an epiphytic plant from the aroid family. The diversity of its species is so great that even flowers belonging to the genus of vines are found in nature. The homeland of the plant is the tropics and subtropics of America.
The plant grows in the jungle and equatorial forests, stretching from Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay. Unlike a decorative roommate, wild is not at all whimsical and can grow almost everywhere, up to roofs of houses, telegraph poles and tree trunks. And this is not at all surprising, because the soil for this plant is not so important, since it receives nutrition and moisture through its own leaves. In total, there are about 900 species of anthurium in the wild.
About the title
The name comes from the Greek words anthos and oura, which translate as “flower” and “tail”. This name has taken root due to the peculiar structure of plants: they are shrouded in bright leaflets-bedspreads, the colors of which are quite diverse.
And in fact, in almost all types of plants of this genus, flowers are similar in shape to the curved or straight tail of a white or colored color. Unusual and beautiful anthurium.
Description
Dark green opaque leaves of the plant can have various forms: in the form of a heart, elongated, broad-lanceolate, whole, dissected. Leaf blades have the ability to unfold on the sunny side.
Exotic inflorescence is the main decoration, which can have shades from snow-white to burgundy. There are also black ones.
It should be noted that different varieties have their own aroma. It can be both gentle and slightly perceptible, and quite sharp and saturated. It depends on pollinating insects found in places where a certain type of anthurium grows.
At home, out of 900 species of plants, only a small part is grown.
Kinds
All varieties of Anthurium are conventionally divided into 3 species: flowering, variegated, and green leaves. In indoor floriculture, the following plant varieties are the most popular and common:
- Andre and Scherzer and their hybrids are flowering.
- Crystal, majestic and their hybrids - variegated, characterized by decorative foliage.
- Hooker and ampel climbing - green leaves, characterized by unpretentiousness.
In any case, you can not ignore the flower anthurium. Caring for it requires some effort and patience. You should try to please him in order to preserve his unique decorativeness. Most varieties can grow only in greenhouse conditions, it is difficult to grow them in apartments.
Below is a brief description of the most common varieties.
- Andre - reaches 100 cm in length. The leaves of the flower are large, the size of the peduncle is 15 cm, and the glossy veil in the shape of a heart grows to 20 cm.
- Scherzer is the most common species. It’s slightly smaller in size (height up to 40 cm). Leathery matte leaves of a dark green hue are dotted on both sides. In size, its peduncle reaches a length of about 30 cm. The bedspread is red-orange, the cob is yellow or orange.
- Crystal and majestic Anthuriums are similar to each other. Their large velvety leaves are painted dark green with white veins. These plants differ in the cross section of the leaf petiole: in the crystal, it is round, and in the majestic, it is quadrangular.
Also, for landscaping, climbing and other types of anthurium flower are used. Caring for each of them requires special attention.
Growing conditions
For comfortable plant growth, it is necessary to observe certain conditions, in particular, to take care of air humidity, light and heat. If we bring the conditions for the existence of anthurium closer to natural, then the plant will delight with abundant flowering for a long time (from early spring to autumn):
- Lighting. The plant loves bright, but slightly diffused light. Direct rays of the sun can cause burns on the leaves, so the western and eastern windows in the house are the best place for it. When placed on the south side, pots should be placed away from windows or scattered lighting. The plant can grow in a dark place, but it will not bloom. For year-round flowering for anthurium, you can organize artificial lighting in the winter.
- Temperature condition. Anthurium flower is a tropical resident, so the air in the room should have a temperature of + 23-28 degrees. In autumn and winter, a temperature drop of + 16-18 degrees is permissible. There are species that require the creation of cooler conditions to ensure a dormant period (2-3 months). It is important to remember that any type of anthurium painfully tolerates drafts and sudden changes in temperature.
- Humidity level. It should be approximately 90%. Otherwise, the anthurium will grow slowly and will not bloom. It is necessary to remove dust from the leaves with a damp sponge, and in the summer it is advisable to spray them with settled warm water. It should be remembered that water does not need to be sprayed on inflorescences, otherwise spots may appear on them, after which they will fall.
The soil
The soil should consist of humus, coarse sheet land (not sifted), sand and peat. Pieces of broken brick, moss, cones and charcoal should also be added to the substrate.
It should be remembered that the amount of coarse fraction should be up to 15% of the total volume of the entire mixture. This is necessary to increase water and air permeability. The soil mixture should have a weak acidity (pH - 5.5-6.5).
Watering
And you need to approach the watering of the anthurium flower competently. Dried or waterlogged soil can be detrimental to the plant, which can lead to the development of serious diseases. For watering, it is better to use warm soft water, you can use rain. Water should not be allowed to contain lime, which can deoxidize the soil.
In the warm season, watering should be carried out 2-3 times a week, and in the cold season, once is enough.
Excess water should be drained immediately from the pan.
Fertilizer
Periodic dressing for the plant is very useful. To do this, the rate of mineral fertilizers specified in the instructions must be diluted in half and added to the soil twice a month in the warm season. When applying the foliar method, the frequency of top dressing can be increased up to 3-4 times a month.
In autumn, fertilizing with organic fertilizers is useful: solutions of mullein or bird droppings, leaf humus, rotted manure.
Transfer
A flower transplant of anthurium ("male happiness") is best done immediately after purchase. You need to use a pot of glass and plastic, but the clay container is not very suitable due to the fact that the roots of this plant grow into its walls. At the bottom should be laid drainage layer and fill it with fertile soil. The latter can be a finished orchid soil, or a mixture consisting of peat, leaf and coniferous soil, as well as sand. In addition, charcoal with coniferous bark must be added to it.
When transplanting a plant, it is very important not to damage fragile roots, and rotten and injured parts of the roots should be removed. After that, they must be sprayed with a solution of "Fitolavina" and only then put in a prepared container.
A home anthurium transplant is best done in the spring. And they do it in the following cases:
- the roots filled the entire capacity so that the soil is practically not visible, or a spine has come out through the drain hole;
- brown or whitish spots appeared on the surface of the soil - the soil mixture was depleted;
- symptoms of root decay appeared.
Practice shows that up to 4 years of age the plant has to be replanted annually, and more adults - once every 2-3 years. It is important to note that anthurium can be transplanted during its flowering.
Disease
If it has been noticed that the condition of the plant is deteriorating (lack of shine, stunting, shredding of leaves), then urgent measures should be taken. If at the same time the condition of the anthurium still worsens, then this is an alarm signal, meaning that the flower is sick. It is necessary to determine the type of disease. Treatment of an anthurium flower should be done depending on the cause of the damage.
Types of diseases and their causes:
- Smallpox. Convex yellow-green spots appear on the sheet plate, which may be due to low air temperature at constant high humidity, as well as to irregular fertilizer application or root injury.
- Stem rot. It is accompanied by the formation on the stems and leaves of watery putrid spots of a dark color. The fight against this disease is to isolate the affected plants and to treat them with Saprol, Rovral, Fitosporin-A or Alirin-B. If treatment is ineffective, the plant will have to be destroyed.
- Enations. Fouling of the leaves of the anthurium flower with growths and their curvature, which is presumably associated with sharp changes in the temperature regime in the room. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown.
- Bronze color of foliage. A viral disease accompanied by partial discoloration, wrinkling of the leaf plate and the formation of small holes on it. Control measures - the destruction of the whole plant.
- Septorious spotting. The formation of brown spots on a leaf plate bordered by a strip of yellow. It is necessary to remove and burn the affected parts of the plant, destroy pests, lower the humidity in the room, normalize the composition of micronutrients, treat the flowers with special preparations.
- Fusarium wilt. Fungal disease, accompanied by rapid wilting of leaves and the appearance in the zone of the basal neck of light pink plaque. There are no means to combat such an ailment, it remains only to observe hygiene - use clean containers and disinfected soil.
If all conditions of detention are observed, and the anthurium flower dries or other signs of plant wilt appear, it is urgent to determine the causes of this condition.
Pests
Anthurium can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, thrips, scale insects, tobacco or greenhouse whiteflies. To combat them, both folk remedies and chemical preparations are used.
Affected areas are best removed and destroyed. Prevention is a complete proper care. You should also carry out regular inspection of all plants in the house and carry out spraying.
A little about signs
Anthurium flower has a unique appearance that catches your eye. Among the people there are superstitions and signs associated with this plant. For example, if a lonely girl puts a pot of this flower in her bedroom, then she will surely attract a betrothed to her. Or it is believed that after the wedding, the newlyweds should also acquire spathiphyllum ("feminine happiness") for the anthurium, so that this family always has complete harmony.