Anthurium is one of the wonderful representatives of indoor plants. Its flowering form can be compared with the grace and charm of flamingos. Decorative views with amazingly beautiful leaves are also interesting. But in order for the plant to please you with its appearance, you need to properly care for it. This is not only watering, top dressing, disease prevention, but also a timely transplant. With the last point, many gardeners have difficulty. How to transplant anthurium correctly, not everyone knows. Therefore, let us examine this question thoroughly.
Acquaintance with the plant
First of all, we will introduce you to the hero of the story. Anthurium is one of the representatives of the aroid. In nature, it can be found in the tropics of South and Central America. In total, about 500 species of anthuriums are known.
Florists appreciate them for a kind of flower resembling a fabulous sail. Someone prefers purely deciduous species. However, what we consider to be a sail flower is not a petal! This is just a brightly pigmented leaf cover. But the flower itself is a small and very nondescript cob, which the “sail” protects. As soon as it fades, the bright "petal" loses its amazing color, turning into a regular green leaf. I must say that the flowers of Anthurium smell wonderful - each species has its own unique aroma.
The plant can reach a height of 70 cm. It has large hard green leaves covered with a matte thin film. Their shape can vary from heart-shaped to swept. We must also remember that all parts of the plant are poisonous! Therefore, install it in places inaccessible to small children and pets.
Popular varieties of Anthurium
Among fans of a home garden hybrids are most popular. The most common is Anthurium Andre. The reason is that the plant blooms almost all year round. Sheets "sails" can be white, pink, red, burgundy. The scarlet Andre Dakota is different here.
Scherzer's anthurium is also widely known . Its “sails” are more rounded, their colors are white, orange, red, with fancy specks. It blooms abundantly and often.
Among leafy species, anthurium multifractured is widespread. In appearance it resembles a vine with “finger-like” leaves. Crystal anthurium is also popular , characterized by heart-shaped leaves with white veins, in their design resembling crystal.
When is a transplant needed?
This procedure is mandatory for anthurium. If the plant is healthy, actively develops and blooms, then it needs to be transplanted to a wider capacity 2-3 times a year. Planned transplants are best done in winter and spring.
If the reasons (we will discuss them in detail later) require an immediate completion of the procedure, then it is carried out at any time of the year. This applies to transplantation after purchase, in case of plant disease, use of unsuitable soil for it, etc.
Transplant Reasons
Is it possible to transplant anthurium? Yes, and this should be done periodically. The reasons for the transplant may be as follows:
- The former pot becomes cramped for the overgrown plant. The roots intertwined the entire earthen lump.
- The substrate in the old "house" was incorrectly selected, which affected the appearance of the anthurium.
- You have found rot or signs of other diseases on the root system.
How to transplant anthurium flower? The procedure is carried out by transshipment into a new "home" with a piece of old soil and the addition of a new substrate. In some cases, the roots are freed from the old soil and plant the plant in the new earth.
Let's see how to properly transplant in each of the above cases.
Transplant due to cramped pot
Do plant roots appear from drainage holes or on the surface of the soil? Anthurium urgently needs to be transplanted! The roots simply do not have enough space in the tank, which is why they go outside in search of air, moisture and nutrition.
How to transplant anthurium in this case:
- Water the plant liberally before the procedure. This softens the soil, simplifies the process of extracting an earthen coma without damaging the roots.
- If the pot is plastic, then you can gently tap on its side surface. This will help the substrate to separate from the inner walls.
- Holding the plant at the very base of the stem, slowly and smoothly begin to remove it and the pot. Help to disconnect the earthen lump from the walls with a spatula.
- Before transplanting, be sure to inspect the root system for signs of disease.
- We continue to analyze how to transplant anthurium at home. The new pot should be slightly wider than the old. Ideally, if its diameter is equal to the height. Too wide a pot will slow down the flowering time of the plant.
- The bottom is sprinkled with a layer of drainage and new soil.
- In the middle of the pot, the root system is set in an old earthen coma. New earth is sprinkled on the sides. If necessary, it can form the top layer.
- Water the plant again. Cover the substrate with sphagnum to retain moisture.
I must say that the plant quickly acclimates to a new "house" and soon after a transplant begins to delight with new leaves and even inflorescences.
Transplant due to poor soil
If you made a mistake with the choice of substrate, then soon it will affect the condition of the plant - it will slowly develop, lose its decorative effect, and will be susceptible to disease. The way out of the situation is the change of "home" and soil.
How to transplant anthurium at home? First, select the right soil. A loose and very light substrate is required that can perfectly pass water and oxygen through it. The roots of anthurium easily pass through such soil in search of nutrition and moisture.
We prepare a suitable substrate as follows:
- The easiest way is to purchase special soil for anthurium in a specialized store.
- A good “recipe” is to mix coconut fiber, peat and sparkling sphagnum in equal proportions.
- Add some chopped charcoal and turf to the prepared orchid soil.
- Collect the top layer of the substrate in the coniferous forest. But before using it must be decontaminated! To do this, at least a day to keep him in the freezer.
How to transplant anthurium after preparing new soil? By the same algorithm that we have reflected above.
Transplant due to disease
How to understand that a plant is sick:
- Stains began to appear on the leaves.
- The plant began to wilt, wither.
- Anthurium slowed down in growth, ceased to bloom.
The reason may be in the late watering or top dressing. If the restoration of the "diet" did not lead to a change in the situation, then the next step to recovery will be a transplant.
What are the causes of the disease? Dense soil, lack / excess of moisture in the soil, the invasion of pests, which brought with them infectious diseases.
Consider how to properly transplant anthurium at home:
- Water the plant liberally before the procedure.
- Holding the anthurium at the very base of the stem, remove the flower from the pot. Act smoothly and slowly, without excessive efforts, so as not to damage the root system and not break the plant.
- Be sure to clean all the old soil from the roots!
- Now inspect the root system. If there is damage, traces of rot, then cut off all affected areas to healthy white matter. Sections must be treated with activated carbon or charcoal powder.
- Then remove all dry, damaged, deformed leaves. Pedicels with inflorescences are also cut. All this reduces the load on the weakened flower.
- How to transplant anthurium if it is affected by rot? Treat it with fungicide.
After transplanting the diseased plant, continue to carefully monitor its condition, so that if the disease returns, treat the soil, crown or root system with a “medicine” in time.
Transplant after purchase
When can I transplant anthurium? This is best done immediately after purchasing the plant. Flowers that are intended for sale are planted in small pots with coconut or peat substrate. Sometimes the soil is saturated with long-acting fertilizers.
Such nutrition is enough for the plant for only two months. Therefore, there is a good chance that the substrate at the time of sale is already so scarce that, if you delay procrastination, you can push the flower to an early death.
How to transplant anthurium here? First, cut off all the pedicels - this will help the young plant more easily survive acclimatization. Then it remains to remove it from the old pot and move it to a new one with fresh and nutritious soil.
Flowering plant transplant
Many are worried by the question: "Can I transplant a blooming Anthurium?" Yes, if his condition does not allow delay in this matter. These are cases such as a disease, the choice for him of the wrong soil during a previous transplant. And also when buying a flowering plant.
The procedure proceeds according to the standard scenario. But before transplanting a blooming anthurium, it is necessary to first cut off all the pedicels with inflorescences - opened and only tied. Why are we doing this? Acclimatization to a new home is a pretty serious test for a flower. Therefore, it is important that he has the strength both to get used to and to maintain his normal state. Flowering takes away a lot of energy from the plant.
Do not worry - the anthurium will not stand for a long time. With the right transplant, he will quickly get used to the new conditions, after which he will give new leaves, shoots and inflorescences.
Proper care after transplantation
We examined step by step how to transplant anthurium at home. After the procedure, it is important to provide the plant with proper care:
- Water the flower only when the top layer of the substrate is completely dry.
- Protect the plant from direct sunlight.
- Avoid drafts in the room where the anthurium is located.
- Since the fresh substrate is already full of nutrients, the first top dressing after transplantation should be done no earlier than 2-3 months later. But if you hurry, the introduced nutrients can burn the roots of the plant, which will affect its general well-being.
- In addition to transplantation, Anthurium needs regular rejuvenation. To do this, cut off its top, leaving only the right amount of internodes. Then it is lowered to germinate in water or wet vermiculite.
Lighting
We have already said that direct light is unloved by a plant. But this does not mean that it is shadowy. Anthurium is suitable for constant, but diffuse lighting. If the flower is constantly in the shade, do not expect from it rapid growth and abundant flowering.
He also does not like northern windows. Best for him - Western or Eastern.
Temperature
Anthurium refers to heat-loving representatives. In winter, for him, the ideal temperature is not lower than 16 ° C, in the summer - about 28 ° C. Which, in principle, is observed in most apartments.
The plant does not tolerate drafts! Also, do not place it next to heating appliances.
Air humidity
You have to try here - the air in the apartment is most often very dry for tropical anthurium. The easiest option is to purchase a humidifier. The most proven and economical is to place a pot with a plant on a tray with wet sand or expanded clay.
Do not forget to periodically spray the space around the anthurium from the spray gun. But it’s better not to get water on its leaves and “sails” - a hard tap, it will leave an ugly whitish calcareous coating on them.
By the way, leaflets must be periodically cleaned of dust with a damp sponge. You can "bathe" anthurium in the shower, but at the same time protecting the flowers from water. After the bath procedures, dry the plant with a napkin.
Watering and feeding
Watering should be plentiful! Try not to overdry the plant. But the “swamp” in the substrate is also not necessary. Water the anthurium only when the topsoil begins to dry out. The lower the temperature in the house, the less the plant needs moisture.
Periodically during watering, do not forget about foliar top dressing. And in spring and summer, special fertilizers for aroid ones will be useful to anthurium. When diluting the solution, reduce the concentration indicated in the instructions by 2 times.
Now you are up to date on the basics of caring for a beautiful anthurium. The most important event here will be a timely transplant - both planned and due to emergency cases. Do not forget to transplant the plant into a new pot after purchase.