Walking past flower shops, you can often see a magnificent plant, which at first glance seems artificial. If you look closely, you understand that in front of you is an extraordinarily beautiful flower and its name is Scherzer's anthurium. It is about this plant that I want to tell.
Natural habitat
The homeland of Anthurium is in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. It is most common in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Tropical rainforests contribute to the favorable development of Anthurium, and under these conditions it reaches a height of up to 1 meter. The undergrowth of this plant in natural conditions is simply breathtaking.
Today, anthurium flowers are used for cutting, while they stand in compositions up to 5 weeks. And various varieties, for example, Anthurium Andre, are used today as a design decoration for offices and apartments.
This beauty, unfortunately, is not suitable for home conditions, but for this a certain variety is bred - Scherzer anthurium. Anthurium belongs to the Aroid family and is considered poisonous in nature. Therefore, at home it is advisable to keep it in a place where neither children nor animals can reach it. This is especially true for cats, who often try to try all the plants we love for a tooth.
Description
All anthuriums are perennials. The beauty of this flower lies in its unusual inflorescences, which are located high from the leaves. This is not an ordinary flower that everyone is used to; it is a bright bedspread with an inflorescence in the form of an ears. The color of the bedspread can vary from white to almost black, but the red color is most common.
The Scherzer Anthurium flower differs from other varieties in its miniature size and reaches a height of only 30 centimeters. Its main difference is an unusual ear, twisted into a spiral. It is interesting that the name came from the type of flower (from Latin anthos means “flower”, and oura translates as “tail”; as a result, the flower is called flower tail, or “flamingo flower”).
It is noteworthy that up to 8 flowers bloom on the plant, and they hold for several months. Not only are the flowers attractive to this plant, Scherzer's anthurium has magnificent leaves: leathery, elongated and dark green in color. Anthurium retains its decorative effect throughout the year.
Growing at home
Recall that anthurium is a representative of the tropics, which means that it requires diffused light. Place the flower in a sufficiently lit room, but so that direct sunlight does not fall on it. You might think that a shadow is suitable for growing it, but then you will get beautiful green leaves. Unfortunately, Scherzer's anthurium will not bloom under these conditions.
It is easy to create a temperature regime for optimal conditions. In summer, up to 25 degrees, and in winter not lower than 16. At the same time, you need to remember that the plant does not like sudden changes in temperature, drafts and directed cold air.
The tropics have very high humidity, so for the well-being of Anthurium, it will need to be sprayed with water without chlorine and lime. You can put a vessel with liquid next to the pot. In no case do not fill the flower, it is better to undersaturated than to overfill. This rule applies to all plants.
When the flower has bloomed, it is partially removed, up to half of the peduncle. And when it finally dries, you can gently remove it from the sinus of the leaf. Interestingly, the anthurium begins to bloom only when the root system completely fills the pot. So do not plant your pets in very large containers and when transplanting, take the pot 1 cm more than the previous one.
Interesting hybrid
Anthurium Scherzer mix is a compact plant in the family of its brethren. It is distinguished by its miniature size, the height of the mix is not more than 20 centimeters. This is a hybrid created from the two most common varieties of anthurium. Since these are plants bred by breeders, they are adapted to room conditions and do not require much care.
Due to its compactness, mixes can be placed on a window from the east or west. And also put next to not one flower, but several plants at once. A variety of colors from snow-white to bright red will decorate any room.
After such an acquisition, your guests will surely ask: "What kind of wonderful flowers do you have on the window?" And in response they hear: "Scherzer Mix Anthurium." Home care does not cause much trouble, and beauty is preserved all year round. The conditions for these hybrids are the same as for all anthuriums.
Anthurium reproduction
Let's talk about the reproduction of Scherzer's anthurium, because you will definitely want to give someone the same flower. Or the flower has grown and needs a transplant.
Scherzer Anthurium flower can be propagated in several ways: by seeds, cuttings and lateral processes. We will not dwell on seed propagation. This process is very laborious, and flowering can be expected in no less than 4 years.
The most effective method of propagation is the division of the bush, or cuttings. It is carried out by dividing an adult plant into separate cuttings. It is best to carry out this procedure in the spring. Remove the plant from the pot and carefully separate the young sprouts with roots. Since Anthurium grows in the tropics, it requires very loose soil. In this case, a substrate for orchids is suitable. The roots of the plant are hollow and easily damaged, so inspect the young cuttings for damage or disease. Remove any damaged roots and carefully plant in a new pot.
One small caveat: do not take a very large pot. The plant develops best in a small pot, when the roots completely cover the earthen lump. After planting, cover the young plants with a film or bag. So you create them good humidity and conditions close to natural.
Reviews of happy owners
Anthurium Scherzer, care of which is not particularly difficult for amateur gardeners, causes a huge number of enthusiastic statements. Many speak of the flower as unpretentious, blooming throughout the year. Others are attracted by its elegance, and they enthusiastically respond to the acquired exotics, although they add that it is necessary to create conditions close to natural conditions for it. High humidity and adequate lighting can create some difficulties.
There are a lot of varieties of Scherzer, and all of them are attractive in their own way. There are variegated varieties, speckled, with a huge cob, twisted in the form of a spiral with several curls. All of them are very beautiful. Get them - and you will never regret. They will delight your look for more than one year.