Anthurium (Anthurium) (male happiness) - an epiphytic or semi-epiphytic perennial plant of the Aroid family. The birthplace of Anthurium is South and Central America.
This perennial flower has, according to various sources, from 500 to 900 species. In height reaches 50-70 cm, grows slowly. The leaves are leathery, depending on the type, they can have a different shape and size: heart-shaped, spade-shaped, broad-lanceolate, elongated, rounded, whole or dissected. They are matte or glossy. The color of the leaf plate is most often dark green, but there are varieties with "painted" leaves.
Anthurium is especially beautiful during flowering. Its small flowers are collected in an inflorescence-cob in the shape of a tail. Hence the name of the plant, which translates as "tailed flower." The ear is surrounded by bright bracts, the color of which varies depending on the variety. Anthurium is often called "male happiness." The flower "female happiness" is spathiphyllum.
Anthurium Andre - photoSlow growing plant | |
It can bloom throughout the year. It blooms especially well in summer. | |
Unpretentious in cultivation, but requires good lighting | |
Perennial |
Beneficial features
Anthurium saturates the air with purified water vapor, thus increasing the humidity of the environment. It absorbs toluene and xylene harmful to humans (their source is building materials) and processes them into harmless substances.
In the tropics of Colombia, it is believed that the red flowers of Anthurium bring prosperity and happiness to the house. Newlyweds throughout their honeymoon contemplate in their home bouquets of Anthurium inflorescences.
Caring for anthurium at home. Briefly
Temperature | In the summer, 20-26 degrees, in the winter - 16-18, but not lower than 15 degrees. |
Air humidity | High, daily spraying recommended. |
Lighting | Anthurium at home needs bright diffused lighting without direct sunlight. |
Watering anthurium | Abundant, as the top layer of the soil dries, in the summer - 2 times a week, in the winter - 1 time in 7 days. |
Priming | Loose, light and acidic (pH 5.5-6.0). |
Fertilizer and fertilizer | From May to September, once every 2-3 weeks, fertilizer for flowering plants in half concentration. |
Transfer | In February-March 1 time in 2-3 years. |
Breeding | Division of rhizomes, cuttings, seeds. |
Growing Features | In summer, it is recommended to take the flower into a shady place of the garden. |
Caring for anthurium at home. In detail
Anthurium care at home requires quite careful, especially in matters of humidity, lighting and temperature.
Anthurium transplant after purchase. Video
Bloom
Small flowers of anthurium are collected in a cylindrical or spiral inflorescence-cob. Its length in different species varies from 5 to 30 cm. The cob is shrouded in a bright veil that can be painted in red, pink, white, yellow, orange, green, purple, as well as combine several of them.
The duration of flowering is 2-3 months, sometimes up to 6 months. To stimulate abundant flowering, it is necessary to organize a cool wintering (16-18 degrees).
Temperature mode
Anthurium is thermophilic. In summer, the optimum temperature for it will be 20-26 degrees, in winter - 16-18 degrees, but not lower than 15. The plant does not tolerate drafts and sudden changes in temperature.
Spraying
Home Anthurium Needs high environmental humidity - 70-90%. Daily spraying with filtered water at room temperature is required (except for varieties with velvety foliage). During flowering, it is important to ensure that the drops do not fall on the bract, as black spots remain from the water.
To increase humidity, the pot can be placed in a tray with moist expanded clay, and overlay the base of the stems with wet moss.
Lighting
Anthurium bright but diffused lighting is needed. The optimal place is the western or eastern windowsill. In the south you will need shading from the direct sun.
To achieve year-round flowering, artificial illumination is necessary in winter. In summer, it is recommended to take the flower out into the shady corner of the garden.
Watering
Anthurium at room conditions does not tolerate both waterlogging and drying of the soil. Therefore, it is important to regularly moisten the substrate as soon as its top layer in the pot dries. In summer, the plant is usually watered twice a week, in winter - 1 time in 7 days. 15-20 minutes after the procedure, the water from the pan is drained.
It is important to use soft water: standing, defrosted or rain.
Hygiene
It is recommended to wipe the leaves of anthurium from dust with a damp cloth once a week. Once every few months you can have a warm shower.
It is important to trim faded inflorescences in a timely manner.
Soil for anthurium
Anthurium needs a light acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.0). You can choose one of the options for dredging:
- Horse peat, leaf land, pine bark and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1;
- Peat, chopped sphagnum moss, fine gravel, leafy earth (3: 1: 1: 1/2), a little pine bark and charcoal.
Good drainage is needed.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
Anthurium flower at home is fed once every 2-3 weeks in the period from April to September. Suitable liquid mineral fertilizers for flowering plants in half concentration.
Transfer
Transplantation is carried out in February-March.
Young specimens are transplanted annually, adults - once every 3-4 years.
The pot should be small, appropriate to the size of the root system.
Rest period
There is no pronounced resting period. In winter, it is necessary to reduce watering and keep at a temperature of 16-18 degrees.
If on vacation
If you leave the plant for up to 7 days, it will not feel much the lack of hosts. However, if you are leaving for longer - entrust the care of anthurium to relatives or neighbors.
Breeding
Anthurium is propagated by division of the rhizome (processes), cuttings and seeds.
Rhizome division
The overgrown flower can be divided during transplantation or to separate the process from the mother plant. If the process has no roots, you need to place it in a moist sphagnum. If there are roots, a young plant is immediately planted in the soil. The first 2 days it should not be watered, it is only necessary to moisten the air around the flower.
Cuttings
If the adult anthurium is very long, you can trim the top of the stem with 2-4 leaves. At the same time, the remaining “stump” in speed will give new side shoots.
Rooted cuttings in sphagnum or a mixture of sphagnum, bark and charcoal. The container is covered with polyethylene and placed in a well-lit place. The substrate is moistened as necessary. The optimum temperature for rooting is 24-26 degrees. When the stalk takes root and starts growing, it can be transplanted into an individual pot.
Growing Anthurium from seeds
It is necessary to use fresh seeds, as they quickly lose their germination. They are sown on the surface of a substrate consisting of sand, peat and sheet land. The container is covered with glass, regularly ventilated. After 7-10 days, shoots appear, after 1-1.5 months - the first true leaf. After 2-3 months, seedlings can be planted.
Diseases and Pests
Lack of proper care causes problems with anthurium:
- Leaves are getting darker - excess lighting.
- Leaves anthurium turn yellow or brownish - low air temperature.
- Psucker blooms - lack of light, lack of nutrients in the soil.
- Black and brown spots on the leaves - excess watering, dense, heavy substrate.
- Leaves anthurium are twisted - excess or lack of lighting, low humidity.
- The tips of the leaves turn yellow - low temperature, drafts, too dry air.
- Leaves partially blacken - excess calcium in the soil, too hard water.
Anthurium can be affected by mealybug, spider mite, root nematodes, aphids.
Types of Anthurium with photos and names
Anthurium Andre (Anthurium andreanum)
The height of this epiphyte is 50-75 cm. The leathery ovoid leaves reach a length of 30-40 cm, a width of 15-20 cm. A white or yellow inflorescence, up to 15 cm long, is shrouded in a leathery heart-shaped bedspread with marked veins and glossy surface.
Popular varieties of Anthurium Andre:
- 'Acropolis' - leaves - dark green, ear - yellow, bracts - white, wide;
- 'Arizona' - ear - green-yellow, bedspread - red;
- 'Pink Champion' - cob and bedspread - bright pink;
- 'Casino' - cob - green-red, bedspread - yellow, has the shape of an arrow.
Anthurium scherzerianum
Green elliptical or lanceolate leaves have a matte finish. Peduncle height - 15-50 cm. The ear is yellow or orange. The bracts are bent, oval, painted in pink, red, orange, green.
Anthurium majestic / Anthurium magnificum
Wide and long leaves are painted dark green, velvety. The veins of the upper part of the leaf plate have an olive color, so that the leaves acquire a beautiful color pattern. Bractal bedspread green with a red tint.
Anthurium bakeri (Anthurium bakeri)
Leathery belt-shaped leaves have a length of 20-50 cm, a width of 3-9 cm. The lower part of the leaf plate is covered with brown-red dots. The length of the peduncle varies from 5 to 30 cm. The length of the white ears is up to 10 cm. The bract of the veil is yellow-green, acquires a purple hue to the edges.
Now reading:
- Spathiphyllum
- Monstera - home care, photo species and varieties
- Aglaonema - home care, photo
- Chlorophytum - care and reproduction at home, photo species
- Ficus rubbery - care and reproduction at home, photo species