This is an exotic guest in our apartments and houses, since the birthplace of Anthurium (the flower of "male happiness" or flamingos, as it is often called) is the tropics and subtropics. He is loved by many experienced gardeners and is a welcome one for beginners. Beautiful and unusual flowers, or rather, perianth, attract attention, decorate the interior and are also great for cutting into bouquets. Bright appearance, catchy features of Anthurium provided him with great demand, but before you settle him at home, you need to know everything about him and compare his capabilities with the “desires” of this slightly capricious guest.
Gender Description
According to many botanists, the genus Anthurium is one of the largest (totals about 500 species) in the Aroid family. Its representatives are evergreen plants, as a rule, epiphytes or semi-epiphytes, which have numerous aerial roots for fixing on other plants, descending to the ground in tropical forests. In addition, they can absorb the missing moisture from the air. Anthuriums have a short thick stalk and shortened internodes on it. The leaves are completely different in shape and structure, can be fragile or dense leathery, dissected or whole, matte and glossy, color from saturated dark to bright green with white veins. The birthplace of Anthurium is the tropical forests of Central and South America, in addition, representatives of the genus are widely distributed in the mountains (Andes and Cordillera). Of particular interest is the inflorescence and its veil, which can be of a different shade: cream, violet, bright red, green. For this, representatives of this genus in indoor floriculture are valued. It is not difficult to grow anthurium at home, but it is quite demanding on lighting, moisture and soil.
Anthurium Andre
The most common and frequently purchased species. The trunk is short and almost invisible. The leaves are similar in shape to a heart and quite large (up to 30 cm in length), dark green with a glossy wax coating. The bed of the inflorescence can have various shades: salmon, bright scarlet, white, pink or green. This large plant is best suited for indoor cultivation, as other species are predominantly greenhouse inhabitants. The birthplace of Anthurium Andre is the humid tropics of Ecuador and Colombia. This species with good and proper care blooms profusely and continuously. Beautiful inflorescences can be used to make up the composition or in cut flowers.
Anthurium Scherzer
It is very easy to distinguish it from the previous species and generally from all the others thanks to the red-orange veil of the flower, a rather large size (10-12 cm) and the cob, which is unusually twisted as it grows, taking the form of a spiral. The main, initial species, grows where the birthplace of Anthurium. Highly decorative room representatives were brought out by breeders precisely on its basis. The plant has dark green leaves, matte, in shape can be different, have very pronounced veins. The birthplace of Antherium Scherzer is humid tropical forests on the slopes of the Cordillera in Costa Rica (South America). Decorative leafy forms are more tolerant to sunlight, in contrast to beautifully flowering species.
Anthuriums with decorative leaves
Two types are widespread among indoor gardeners: crystal and magnificent anthurium. Both of them have large and very spectacular leaves. At crystal anthurium, they are dark green, densely pubescent, have bright veins and glossy shine. In indoor culture, it can reach heights of up to one meter. The magnificent Anthurium differs from it only in a slightly bluish tint of leaves and more miniature sizes. Breeders have deduced many intermediate forms. Crystal Anthurium will grow best in a greenhouse or greenhouse; at home it is not so warm and dry, but, in principle, it will take root with due effort. It is important to know that for this specimen it is necessary to provide space so that its large leaves do not interfere with growth. The care features are the same for different types of anthurium.
Place in the house
The birthplace of Anthurium is tropical forests in which direct sun does not fall, and in the thickest jungle twilight generally reigns. It is always very important to consider the natural conditions of plant growth. Therefore, anthurium must provide a good bright place or partial shade without direct sunlight, from which it can get burns on the leaves. The air temperature in the house should be without sharp fluctuations and drops: 20-25 ° C in the summer and about 18 ° C in the winter. Drafts should not be allowed, as this is a stressful situation for the plant, which can even lead to its death.
If we turn to one of the oldest teachings - Feng Shui - then it clearly and clearly says that the plants in the house have a significant positive effect on a person, the main thing is to know what and where to put it. As for the anthurium, he is credited with amazing properties to relieve depression and negative mood. The plant helps to establish an atmosphere of peace in the house, sets up in a positive way, strengthens intuition.
Which soil to choose?
Properly selected soil is already half the success in the growing process. Soil of any composition can now be purchased in specialized stores. And it is very convenient if you have one plant. If you want to prepare the soil yourself, it is important to remember that the birthplace of Anthurium (the “flamingo flower") is tropical forests, and the plant itself is an epiphyte. Therefore, he needs the soil light, breathable and moisture permeable. The reaction of the medium must be acidic or slightly acidic. The optimal ratio of soil components for anthurium will be the following: humus, sheet soil, peat and sand (2: 1: 1: 0.5). All components should be well calcined in an oven or oven (separately) to prevent the appearance of various bacterial or fungal diseases. For good throughput, you can add a special substrate for orchids to the mixture, or natural organic materials: cones, walnut or coconut shells, pine bark, charcoal or expanded clay. Their total share should be 15% of the total volume of the soil mixture. They very well improve the structure of the soil, allow the roots to breathe and prevent moisture from stagnating, and this is one of the main conditions that anthurium requires at home. The photo below shows how a plant suffers when planted in the wrong soil. Yellowing of the leaves may indicate a lack of air for the roots and soil too heavy in structure.
How to water?
Moisture in the soil and in the air (but not its stagnation) is what Anthurium loves. The homeland of the plant is the tropics, and this explains this need. It is necessary to water with water at room temperature, preferably soft settled, thawed or rain, plentifully, but not fill. Drying must not be allowed. Excess moisture must be drained from the pallet, which, by the way, can be filled with expanded clay or sand, which will increase the air humidity that the plant loves. Anthurium must be sprayed often enough, preventing water from entering the inflorescence, as this will ruin their appearance. Some gardeners recommend placing moist moss on the surface of the soil around the plant, this will stimulate the growth of aerial roots. The leaves of the anthurium should be periodically wiped off with dust with a damp sponge or put a flower pot under the shower for a while, after covering it with an earthen lump with polyethylene. During the period of active growth and flowering, the plant requires top dressing with special mineral fertilizer. Frequency - twice a month, concentration - according to the instructions on the packaging or even half as much.
Anthurium transplant
When replanting an anthurium (indoor or recently bought in a store), it should be borne in mind that if you want lush flowering, then the pot should not be large, it is best to take a wide, but shallow one. At the bottom with a thick layer, it is necessary to pour drainage. If the goal is to propagate it using layering, it is advisable to take a larger pot.
In general, an anthurium transplant is performed only in case of emergency, since he does not like to be disturbed. At each change of cache-pot, the plant should be slightly deepened slightly more than the previous point. If there are many aerial roots (and this is not surprising, because the birthplace of Anthurium is humid forest, and it is epiphyte) or underground roots have been exposed, then you need to cover them with wet moss. Only young plants need to be transplanted annually, while adults are better off not disturbing for two or three years.
Reproduction of Anthurium seeds
In indoor conditions, you can breed anthurium in two ways. Care (photos of seedlings below) for young plants is not much different from growing large specimens.
To begin with, seeds can be obtained in two ways: from a store or at home. In the first case, everything is simple and clear. The second will take time and some effort. Flowering plants must be pollinated manually with a brush, this must be done several times. And then wait at least six months for seed ripening. If the anthuriums that are at home are varietal, then be prepared for the fact that daughter plants may not have the signs of a mother, if it is a hybrid of the first generation. After ripening the berries, the seeds are freed from the pulp, washed in a solution of potassium permanganate and sown, the earth does not need to sprinkle on top. The container must be closed with glass, since germination occurs in the light. Sometimes they practice planting on filter paper in a Petra cup. You need to wait for shoots for 2-3 weeks, and after the appearance of the first true leaflet, you need to dive the plant. Further care is the same as for an adult anthurium.
Vegetative propagation
This method of reproduction is much simpler, the percentage of success is greater and in time it is much faster. There are two options for its implementation. The first is the apical cuttings. The most suitable time comes in May-June. You need to cut it off with a sharp disinfected knife (leave only two sheets), and then dry it a little and root it in moist, light soil.
The second way is dividing the anthurium bush. This is an effective and also contributing to the rejuvenation of the plant and the onset of flowering. The plant must be carefully removed from the pot and shake off the ground. Then, with a sharp knife, separate that part of the bush where there is at least one shoot. Immediately plant a young anthurium in the prepared soil. The homeland of the plant is the tropical forests of South America, where it forms large-scale thickets due to fairly simple vegetative propagation and numerous aerial roots.
Diseases and Pests
Growing anthurium in room conditions, you should always remember about prevention from diseases and pests. The most common include:
- Shield. It is difficult to notice them one by one, but when whole colonies appear, this can be seen with the naked eye: yellow or red-brown spots appear on the damaged areas, and the scale itself looks like scales. There are a lot of folk ways, but they can only have an effect at the initial stage, in other cases it’s not worth pulling, you need to immediately treat with special preparations (for example, “Aktara”), you need to use them according to the instructions.
- Spider mite and aphids. The first pests must be sought on the inside of the leaves, they can be from light milky to red. Well, what aphids look like, probably, everyone knows. The principle is the same, do not rely on folk methods, immediately use professional ones. For treatment and prevention, experts advise using "Spark", for this you need to dilute one tablet in ten liters of water.
- In case of bacterial rot and anthracosis, a sign of which is the appearance of various spots on the leaves, you must use "Hom".
Symptoms and Causes
1. Yellowed leaves. There can be many options, it is necessary to act by the method of exclusion:
- incorrect, most often very plentiful watering;
- the use of tap water with a chlorine content (it must be allowed to settle);
- excess organic and mineral fertilizers in the soil;
- little light, despite the fact that the birthplace of Anthurium is the tropics, and he does not like the bright sun, yet a long stay in the shade is not too good for him;
- little space for roots, anthurium needs a transplant.
2. Stains on brown leaves:
- improperly selected substrate;
- excess moisture in the soil;
- the temperature in the room is too low;
- damage to aphids, anthracosis.
3. Blackening of leaf leaves in whole or in separate sections:
- dry air, in this case, the tips of the leaves turn black and dry first;
- sunburn;
- drafts in the apartment;
- there is too much calcium in the soil.
In general, in the culture of growing anthurium is very similar to spathiphyllum. They belong to the same family - aroid - with the only difference being that the first plant is an epiphyte, and the second grows, as a rule, on the banks of water bodies. But the birthplace of Anthurium - room spathiphyllum - is one. It is a rainforest. Therefore, they are so similar both externally and in the characteristics of the cultivation. There is even an opinion that for family well-being it is worth having both plants at home, as one is called masculine, and the other - feminine happiness. Whether this is true or prejudice, but the fact that together they look very harmonious is a fact!