Anthurium is a beautiful houseplant. It will delight its owners with bright colors even when it’s cold, gloomy, and damp outside. With proper care, anthurium will bloom all year round. Moreover, there are varieties of anthurium with attractive decorative leaves. These leaves can have various shapes and be either matte or glossy. Some anthuriums have heart-shaped, lobed, or rounded leaves. In its native habitat, in the humid tropical forests, the leaves turn toward the sun.

How to care for Anthurium at home

Lighting

Anthurium prefers bright, diffused light and does not tolerate direct sunlight. Although it is a shade-tolerant plant and can be placed in a north-facing window, it will not grow well in deep shade and may not bloom as actively. To ensure year-round blooming, it’s necessary to provide additional lighting in winter.

Temperature

Anthurium adapts well to room temperature. In its natural environment, it grows in the tropics. During the warm season, the optimal temperature for it is 20-25°C. In winter, 16-18°C is sufficient, but the plant should be kept away from warm radiators. Drafts and sudden temperature changes can be fatal for the plant.

Humidity

The anthurium’s native habitat is the humid tropical forest, so it needs a special microclimate in the apartment. Dry indoor air is not suitable for it. It’s better to get a humidifier or use other tested methods, such as placing the pot on a tray with moist expanded clay. At the same time, excess moisture should not get into the pot. To keep the plant comfortable, spray the air around the anthurium periodically. Be careful not to get water on the leaves, as this can cause a white lime scale, reducing its attractiveness.

Watering Rules

Anthuriums are quite demanding when it comes to watering. They require abundant watering, but overwatering or letting the soil dry out will harm them. After watering, check the tray, and if there is any remaining water, it should be drained. Water the plant as soon as the top layer of soil dries out. In high temperatures, increase watering; in lower temperatures, reduce it. In summer, water the plant 2-3 times a week, while in winter, once a week is sufficient. The water should be warm and soft (rainwater or settled). Since anthuriums grow mostly in acidic substrates, lime water will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Repotting

For the plant to grow well and bloom, it needs to be repotted regularly, adding fresh soil to the pot. The soil should be light, nutrient-rich, and well-aerated. It’s best to use soil designed for aroids. Anthurium can also thrive in orchid substrate. It is essential to place drainage at the bottom of the pot. A small and narrow pot stimulates blooming, while a large and wide one encourages the growth of “offspring.” When repotting, it’s worth separating any “babies.”

Fertilization

Anthurium is fertilized in spring and summer, twice a month. Fertilizers suitable for orchids and aroids work well for it.

Propagation

Anthurium can be propagated in several ways. The easiest way is by separating the “babies” or dividing the plant, which is best done during spring repotting. Large plants are divided with a sharp knife, and the cuts are dusted with crushed charcoal. The divided plants are placed in separate pots and watered carefully. If overwatered, the plants will have difficulty establishing roots.

In some cases, anthurium can be propagated by seeds, but this is a complex process and challenging to perform at home. During the first days of flowering, pollinate the flower by gently rubbing its spadix with a cotton swab. Cross-pollination between two or more plants gives better results. Pollinate the flowers 2-3 times over several days and wait for berries to appear on the spadix. It takes 9-12 months for the fruits to ripen.

Once the seeds are ripe, clean them from the pulp and plant them immediately, as they lose viability quickly. Place the seeds on the soil, press them down gently, and spray with a fine mist. Place the pots with seedlings in a mini-greenhouse. The first shoots will appear in 1-2 weeks. Once the second true leaf forms, transplant the seedlings. Repeat the process in two months. Seedlings with 5-6 leaves can be transplanted into separate pots. When grown this way, anthurium will bloom in the third year.

Important to know

Anthurium has a unique characteristic: as it grows, its lower leaves die off, and new leaves form at the top. This causes the plant to lose its attractiveness over time. To restore its decorative appeal, it should be rejuvenated by cutting and rooting the top.