How To Care For Anthurium ?
Enhancing the aesthetic value of bouquets, indoor potted plants and gardens; heart shaped anthuriums come in colors of red, pink and white. |
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The lovers of anthuriums have given several names to it that include the flower with a heart, tail flower, the flame plant and the flamingo flower. This tropical plant can be grown effortlessness, and is therefore cultivated all over the world. However, the maximum anthuriums are grown in Florida in the US and the Netherlands.When planting anthuriums in a pot, care should be taken to ensure that the growing media is of a peat moss base and it should be well drained. The media should preferably have the ratio of 1:1:1 of peat moss, pine bark and perlite. The soil mix for the younger plants should be less coarse than the one required by the plant later. This helps the young plant to retain water content. Before the process of repotting, it is necessary to ensure that the roots have spread fully in the pot.
Anthuriums require the day temperatures to be between 78 and 90 degree Fahrenheit and night temperatures between 70 and 75 degree Fahrenheit. A temperature higher than 90 degree Fahrenheit adversely affects growth like foliar burning, faded flower color and reduced flower life. At the same time, temperatures between 40 and 50 degree Fahrenheit lead to retarded growth and yellowing of lower leaves. The plant does not survive frost conditions at all.
The water and light conditions required by the plant need extreme care. If not balanced well, it would result in decay. The plant should be watered regularly. Inadequate watering reduces the growth rate and causes foliage burning. However, it should be kept in mind that the plant should be left to dry a little before re-watering as the soil should be moist, but never wet. Therefore, once a week watering regime should keep the plant healthy. Excessive water content leads to rotting of roots and yellowing of leaves. The right proportion of light is also necessary for good plant growth. Reduced exposure to light results in retarded growth, formation of distorted leaves and inhibits production of flowers. Therefore, the plant definitely requires ample light, but direct sunlight can lead to rotting. Fertilizers when used for enhancing growth should be diluted in strength to about one-fourth level. Also, a light solution with a ratio of 3:1:2 should be sufficient.
The plant is prone to infestation by pests such as aphids, scales, mealy bugs, spider mites and thrips. The most appropriate natural remedy to prevent the plant from pests is to regularly spray and wipe the foliage especially the undersides. In cases of chemical treatment, insecticidal soaps can be of utility on less potent pests; while the tougher ones may require stronger pesticides. The biggest fear to the growth of anthuriums comes in the form of the disease, rhizoctinia. High temperature, humidity and poorly drained soil are conditions responsible for the outbreak of this disease on the plant. Fungicides are the only solution of treatment. However, it is possible to protect the plant from this disease by avoiding the causal conditions.
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