Caring for the Pink Anthurium plant at home
To understand how to care for pink anthurium at home, it is enough to know in what environment this flower lives in nature. The homeland of these exotic species is the humid forests of South America. It is very difficult to accurately recreate the climate of the tropics in a living space, therefore many novice flower growers complain about the capricious disposition of this handsome man. Nevertheless, if you follow certain rules, then even in an apartment you can achieve the brightness of the leaves and the abundance of flowering no worse than in the tropics.
Lighting
The plant will easily take root in those rooms where sun-loving greens wither away, and all because the flower feels great in shaded conditions and does not tolerate direct sunlight. The only time a Flamingo may require additional lighting is in winter. At this time, the flowerpot can be placed on the windowsill without fear.
Temperature and humidity
Flamingo is a rather hardy plant and in summer it reacts well to temperature rises even up to 28 degrees. But at the same time, it must be protected from direct sunlight. In order for the anthurium to develop correctly and please with flowering, in the cold season in the room where the flower grows, it is necessary to lower the temperature to 16 degrees. By spring, the thermal regime can be gradually increased (up to 25 degrees). This trick will help awaken it to bloom.
High air humidity is perhaps the main requirement for the successful cultivation of anthuriums, since the flower is native to the tropical region.
In many apartments, especially during the heating season, this can be difficult to achieve. In such cases, conventional spraying will come to the rescue. Any type of anthurium can be sprayed daily
However, it is absolutely impossible to do this in a draft or under direct sun, it is also important not to fall on flowers, otherwise it will only harm the plant. It is better to take water for spraying separated, at room temperature
The second way to create an optimal microclimate is to use a humidifier. Specialty humidifiers for indoor plants are available today. If you can't get one, you can resort to the old-fashioned method: place a container with a small amount of water on the battery.
In addition, the pot with the plant can be placed in a tray filled with gravel and a little water (with this arrangement, the roots will not be in direct contact with the liquid, which would be detrimental to the plant). The moisture will evaporate, creating an optimal microclimate around the bush.
Watering and feeding
The flamingo flower is a noble water lover, but with this business it is important not to overdo it, so as not to cause rotting of the roots. In the summer, the exotic requires watering every 2-3 days.
In the cold season, the procedure is carried out less often, but in no case should the earthen coma be allowed to completely dry. Also in winter, it is very important to ensure that no water accumulates in the pan with the plant, otherwise the process of decay may begin in the roots.
Like any indoor plants, anthurium will thank the owner for regular feeding. For replenishment, you can use both organic and mineral products. In specialized stores, fertilizers are available specially designed for anthuriums. The composition of these supplements is ideal for a balanced flower nutrition.
Instead of special feeding, you can use universal mixtures for flowering indoor plants.
When choosing such a tool, you should always pay attention to its chemical composition.Nutrients with a high nitrogen content contribute to the growth of green mass, if the mixture is dominated by potassium and phosphorus, it is designed to activate lush flowering
It is impractical to stuff the plant with dressings throughout the year. An indoor flower needs additional nutrition only during the period of active growth and flowering, that is, in spring and summer.
In this case, it is important to observe the dosage indicated in the instructions. As a rule, anthuriums need replenishment no more than once every two weeks.
Preparing for winter
Proper wintering is the key to a beautiful and lush blooming of a tropical flower. Closer to winter, you should gradually reduce the activity of watering and reduce the temperature in the room to 16 degrees. In such conditions, a period of rest begins in the life of an exotic, during which the flower rests and gains strength for the subsequent abundant flowering. During this period, feeding is not carried out, but you should take care of additional lighting using phytolamps. In February, you can start to slowly raise the air temperature and watering more often.
It will also be interesting: Anthurium - reproduction and transplantation of a flower at home, male happiness?
Home fertilizers
The following feeding options, made on the basis of:
Dry yeast.
This solution, prepared from ½ tsp. raw materials, 2 tbsp. l. sugar and 5 liters of warm water, is distinguished by the content of a large amount of trace elements, vitamins, which have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of anthurium. The infusion period is 1 day, then the mixture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 5, watering is carried out at the root.
Sleep coffee and tea making.
You can safely apply fertilizer twice a month. Such feeding allows you to form strong roots and nourish the aerial part.
Citrus infusion.
For these purposes, you will need to grind the peel from the fruit and let it brew for two days with water.
Wood ash.
The solution is prepared from 1 tbsp. l. raw materials and 1 liter of water. Watering is done twice a month under the roots.
Onion husks.
For the broth, you will need 50 g of husk and 2 tbsp. l. hot water. After boiling the mixture for 10-15 minutes, it is allowed to infuse for 3-4 hours. Before use, the broth must be passed through strainers, gauze.
Reproduction methods
Anthurium is propagated in several ways: stem cuttings, seeds and side shoots (offspring).
Cuttings
There are 2 options for propagation by cuttings:
- The upper part of the stem, which has aerial roots, is cut with a sharp knife and the two lower leaves are removed. The stalk is placed in a container with a damp earth substrate and sprinkled with it. Cover with a transparent bag on top.
- To rejuvenate too elongated specimens, use this method. A long stem is wrapped with sphagnum moss and tied with a plastic bag on top. Moss is moistened daily. Over time, when new roots become visible, the cutting along with the roots is cut and planted in a pot, where young plants quickly adapt and grow. In this case, you can use not only the apical stalk, but also the middle part of the trunk. Young shoots grow quickly on the hemp remaining in the ground, and thus the adult plant rejuvenates.
Seed reproduction
The seeds ripen within 10-12 months after pollination. Fruits are round berries with small seeds. Germination is lost quickly, so sowing is carried out immediately after harvest. The seeds are freed from the shell and do not deepen into the ground, but are placed on the surface, at a distance of 1 cm from each other. Crops are moistened and covered with foil to maintain constant humidity and temperature around 22-24 ° C.
Interesting! It has been noticed that berries with a red pericarp have 100% germination.
After two weeks, the seeds will germinate. A month and a half later, in the true leaf phase, the seedlings dive. As you grow, a second pick is possible.The grown seedlings in the 4-5 leaf phase should be planted in separate pots with a diameter of 5 cm. Over time, young plants are transferred into 10-cm containers.
Further care for the anthurium flower is carried out at home, as for an adult plant. Flowering begins two years after sowing.
Reproduction by offspring
The easiest way to get a new plant is to remove the stems during transplanting. To do this, an adult, overgrown specimen is taken out of the pot, shaken off the ground and divided into parts, carefully unraveling the intertwined roots. The offspring are planted in separate pots filled with a moist substrate. The growth point should be above ground level.
Breeding by side offspring
The planted plants are placed in a warm, bright place and often sprayed. In 2-3 weeks, the plants fully adapt to new conditions and release new leaves. No additional feeding is needed within a month after separation.
Reasons why anthurium does not bloom and how to stimulate flowering
Why anthurium does not bloom is a question that interests many flower growers and indoor plant lovers. Since this is a flower of the subtropics, its flowering depends on a certain temperature and humidity. Sometimes, no matter how much the owner cares about Male happiness, as it is also called, it still does not bloom.
In order for anthurium to bloom at home, it is necessary to provide it with a habitat as close to natural as possible. This article will tell you about the reasons why tropical exotics do not bloom and what to do in such cases.
Duration of flowering of anthurium
With proper care, anthurium blooms for several weeks. In addition, flowering can continue all year round. In addition, different varieties of Male Happiness bloom at different times. They can be divided into:
- those whose flowering begins in spring and lasts until the middle of the autumn season;
- those that bloom in the fall and end up blooming in the spring;
- which do not bloom at all;
- varieties that bloom modestly and for a short time, but have gorgeous beautiful foliage.
If anthurium does not begin to bloom, first of all, you need to study its varietal characteristics, perhaps this is one of the non-flowering varieties.
How to understand that anthurium will soon bloom
In Male happiness, flower stalks are formed from the axillary formations of each individual leaf. Due to the fact that root children are actively forming in anthurium, flowers can be of various sizes. The mother bush gives larger flowers, the babies a little less.
Arrows are formed at the base of the bush: the green one turns into a leaf over time, and the red one is the future bud. With the onset of flowering, a wrapped sepal forms on the plant. After that, a peduncle is formed, which is gaining growth, and raises the bud above the foliage. When the anthurium blooms, the petal opens and reveals a yellow long stamen.
Improper watering
The reason for the lack of flowering in anthurium may be waterlogging. Excess moisture leads to rotting of the roots, which can lead not only to the long-awaited expectation of new flowers that are unlikely to appear, but even to the death of the plant.
Drying out of the soil also adversely affects the exotic. As a result, due to improper, insufficient or excessive watering, the flower of Man's happiness does not bloom. To avoid this, it is necessary to establish a systematic watering. The dried up top layer of the substrate indicates that it is time to water the plant.
Do not use cold water for irrigating anthurium. It needs to be slightly warm or cooled to room temperature. You need to use soft water, previously settled for five days or filtered. Once every 7-15 days, it is advised to acidify the irrigation water by adding 2-3 drops of lemon juice per liter of liquid.
Reproduction methods and flower rejuvenation male happiness
The easiest way to propagate Anthurium is when transplanting in the spring by "resettling" the lateral shoots ("children") and dividing adult specimens. You need to separate it with a sharp knife, and treat the cut section with crushed coal. Then place the plants in an individual pot and water, avoiding waterlogging.
Another option is to root a stem fragment with a leaf and an aerial root. The shank will start up the roots pretty quickly.
Cuttings
As for propagation by seeds, this is difficult, but possible. The process begins in the first days of flowering. The flower is pollinated by stroking the inflorescence with a cotton swab several times. It is best to cross-pollinate multiple specimens. The berries that appear on the cob ripen from 9 to 12 months. After that, the seeds are cleaned of pulp, carefully placed on the ground, lightly pressed and sprayed. Then the container, covered with foil, is sent to a small greenhouse. Seedlings should be expected after a week or two.
Seedlings dive when the second true leaf is formed. After a couple of months, the procedure is repeated. Plants with 5-6 leaves are ready to be transplanted into separate containers. With this method, one should expect flowering in the third year.
Anthurium rejuvenation
The need for rejuvenation arises when the plant has lost many of the lower leaves, and new ones have appeared on top. Having counted the required number of internodes, the upper part is cut off and rooted in water or vermiculite.
After purchase - transplant
Have you been looking closely at the "flamingo flower" for a long time and finally decided to bring this handsome man into the house? Naturally, you want to know how to care for anthurium ("male happiness") after purchase. In order for the flower to take root in your home and delight the eye with long flowering, it must be transplanted three days after purchase. This is how much time it takes to adapt.
Inexperienced growers always make a big mistake: they are afraid to transplant a plant immediately after purchase, because it usually ends up in a house already strewn with flowers. Indeed, it is better not to touch most of the flowering houseplants in the midst of the process, but not the "flamingo flower". If you do not immediately transplant anthurium, then the foliage will fade and may even turn black, the flowers will quickly fade, and new ones will not appear. Therefore, do not be afraid of the procedure: after that, the plant will thank you with abundant flowering, and in the case of decorative deciduous species, rapid growth. The main thing is to correctly transplant the flower "male happiness", then it will not be stressful for him
Pay close attention to the choice of pot and earthen mixture. Understand which transplant method is optimal
Consider the following three tips.
- Pot. The rule applies: the vessel must correspond to the root system plus 3 cm of diameter "for the reserve". Anthuriums grow best in small, narrow containers: this stimulates flowering. If the roots have a lot of space, then the plant will delight only with leaves. It is to achieve flowering that is the main task of the owners of a houseplant, therefore only a cramped house. Plastic flowerpots are optimal, you can take glass ones. But clay should be discarded: they cool down a lot in winter, the roots will be cold. At best, this will lead to a long dormant period, at worst - to the loss of the flower.
- Priming. It is better to choose a special composition from a flower shop for aroids. Suitable substrate for orchids. Be sure to use drainage so the roots will not rot. You can prepare the soil yourself. Mix moss, turf and peat in a 1: 1: 2 ratio. By adding coarse sand or polystyrene, you can achieve air permeability of the soil, which is a guarantee of long-term flowering.
- Transplant method. It is better to transplant "male happiness" by the transshipment method. However, it is imperative to examine the roots. If there is damage, rotten areas, then the roots are freed from a clod of earth, put in order, and only then are planted. A young specimen is transplanted annually.It is enough for an adult plant to "move" to a new house every three years. It is advisable to schedule a transplant from February to March (a period of active growth).
It will be useful to rejuvenate "male happiness" when transplanting (this does not apply to plants that have just entered your home). For rejuvenation, you need to cut off the tops of the overgrown bush, separate the side shoots and root them. If you do not rejuvenate the plant, then it will lose its decorative appeal.
Features of home care
For good cultivation, you should watch out for these features:
- You can not put where there is a draft.
- The flower is poisonous enough, so it is better to choose a place for it where children and pets cannot reach.
- Anthurium does not tolerate stagnant water.
- If the tips of the leaves turn brown, this indicates the presence of hard water when watering. It also speaks of very dry indoor air.
- When replanting, use soil with sphagnum and peat.
- Much attention should be paid to a weakened plant - in winter, the risk of contracting a spider mite is very high.
- He needs an acidic environment.
- Feeding the flower is carried out carefully, otherwise it will negatively affect your health.
Watering
Anthurium requires regular watering. In the warm season - every 3-4 days. In winter, watering can be reduced to 1 time per week.
Water for irrigation should be warm and settled.
Remember that anthuriums are very sensitive to proper watering and adherence to the regimen. Overdrying of an earthen coma and stagnation of water in a pot are equally harmful to them. Excess water from the pan must be drained some time after the procedure, when the flower has already “gotten drunk” enough.
Fertilizer
You need to feed anthurium no more than twice a month in the warm season, in winter or not fertilize at all, or do it no more than once a month.
As for fertilizers, the following are suitable for anthurium:
- fertilizers for flowering plants in summer;
- top dressing with humate in winter.
Use half of the dosage indicated on the package.
You can also use the following scheme:
- At the beginning of the growing season, anthurium is fertilized with a weak solution for decorative deciduous plants.
- After 2-3 dressings, fertilizers can be applied for decorative flowering (Fertika-lux, Agricola, Uniflor-bud, Pocon for flowering).
Also calculate the fertilizer dose 2 times less than the recommended one.
Pruning
Pruning the leaves of a flower, man's happiness should be carried out when they dry up. It is worth looking after this demanding plant so that it delights the eye for a long time.
Flower rejuvenation
In the process of growth, the lower leaves of this flower die off, and new ones appear in the upper part. It is slowly losing its decorative effect.
For this, it is important to carry out rejuvenation.
It is carried out in this way - the top is cut off from the anthurium, and the number of internodes is left as desired. Rooting is carried out in wet vermiculite or in water. Such a procedure should be carried out with natural aging, as well as when the leaves become smaller and a dry stem with petioles appears.
Watch a video about rejuvenation:
How to care for anthurium: creating an ideal climate
Caring for an anthurium flower is accompanied by certain difficulties. Of course, you can visit the forum and find out what kind of care such a flower needs, but we will try to expand the topic below. Growing problems are due to the fact that anthurium is a tropical plant: it is not so easy to create suitable conditions for a capricious "pet" at home. But nothing is impossible if you know the five subtleties of leaving.
- Lighting. The plant loves light, it grows poorly in the shade. But not everything is so simple: in direct sunlight, the flower can wither. Create diffused light, and "masculine happiness" will delight with flowering all year round. Since the end of autumn, the anthurium needs to be highlighted and it will thank you with luxurious flowers.
- Humidity. In the rainforests, where the "flamingo flower" comes from, it is humid.To make the plant feel at home, you need to create a special microclimate. The ideal moisture content for a plant is 80%. A humidifier will help you create the right microclimate. Do not forget to regularly wipe the leaves (but not the inflorescences!) With a damp cloth, spray the plant, and put a container of water next to it.
- Temperature. The plant is able to adapt to temperature conditions. However, it is a thermophilic flower. The ideal temperature regime in the warm season is 20-28 ° C. In the autumn-winter period, the flower will be comfortable at 17 ° C. True, at such a temperature, it is not always possible to achieve flowering. Enemies of the plant are hot radiators, drafts, sudden temperature changes.
- Watering. In this regard, the plant is demanding. Watering should be abundant, but beware of overflow. It is necessary to look for a "golden mean", because it is equally harmful to dry out an earthen lump and saturate it too much with water. Check the sump after watering: drain the leaked water. In the summer, watering becomes more frequent: go to the flowerpot with a watering can two or three times a week. In the cold season, it is enough to water the plant every seven days. Always be guided by the soil: the top layer is dry - it's time to water the anthurium. Melt water is ideal. But you can also water it just standing, most importantly, not ice and not tough.
- Top dressing. In the spring-summer period, the "flamingo flower" needs to be fed. It is worth doing this regularly, every two weeks. It is most convenient to use purchased mineral fertilizers for aroid, orchids. Remember the useful advice from the owners of "male happiness": the dose indicated in the instructions must be halved.
Anthurium care after transplantation is no different from usual. However, in the first two weeks, you need to reduce watering so that the roots do not rot. But it is worth spraying according to the usual scheme and regularly
Be careful with fertilizing: you can feed the plant two months after transplanting.
How to properly care for an indoor flower anthurium. How to care for anthurium at home after purchase
The most common cultivation crop at home is Anthurium Andre (Andrianum). The plant got its name in 1877 in honor of the French botanist Edouard André, and during this time it was successfully adapted for home breeding.
To properly care for a plant, you need to know its features. In fact, not everything is so complicated. Anthurium does not make great demands in leaving. Let's talk about them. The native land of the plant is tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Hence his preferences follow: high humidity, warmth, diffused light.
Usually at home, flowers are on the windowsill. For our plant, this is not a very good choice, since direct sunlight will burn the leaves and dry them out.
Lack of light also affects negatively - the color of the leaves changes and dying areas appear on them. The best place in the house will be the north window, if there is none, then place the pot about a meter from the window, and in case of bright sun shade with curtains. In the summer, take the flower out to the balcony or loggia, protecting it from direct sunlight.
The plant loves high humidity in the surrounding air. It is difficult to humidify the air in apartments, so just spray Anthurium periodically, arrange a shower with warm water at a temperature of about 30-35 degrees, covering the roots from waterlogging. After the shower, let it stand for a while so that the flower has cooled to the ambient air, and then move it to a permanent place.
Water as needed with lukewarm water only when the topsoil is dry.
If water has formed in the pan after watering, be sure to drain it, the plant does not like moisture stagnation.
In winter, watering is carried out once a week, but it is more correct to do this as needed.
Anthurium is a plant with a large green mass, and it needs fertilizing.Use only liquid fertilizers. Depending on the phase of plant development, a different amount of fertilizer and a different chemical composition are required. So: nitrogen is needed to build up green mass; phosphorus for the formation of the root system, is necessary during the flowering period, increases the resistance of plants to diseases; Potassium maintains water balance, is a building material, promotes drought and frost resistance, and also increases resistance to disease.
Here we come to the most important thing - fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are used for young, growing, growing green mass of plants. Fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium are used for flowering plants. If you overfeed anthurium with nitrogen, you will get a lot of leaves to the detriment of flowering. The ratio of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) during the growth period should be 3-1-3, during the flowering period and for the rest of the time 2-3-3.
I don't like horse and chicken manure fertilizers due to the high nitrogen content. It is very good to use vermicompost, but only in liquid form, liquid has a reduced amount of nitrogen. It is enough to feed Anthurium once a month.
The main principle: it is better not to feed the plant than to overfeed, the consequences of overfeeding can be dire.
Normal air humidity
For anthurium, the moisture content of the air masses is very important in order to grow well and actively bloom at home. It is ideal at least 75-80%. To maintain this level, especially during the heating season, you can turn on a household humidifier and irrigate the foliage with warm water.
Some housewives place the flowerpot on a pallet of wet gravel. The foliage of anthurium in the winter months should be dry so as not to turn black and fester from the cold. The matte textured leaves of the ornamental plant do not like water. Small decorative fountains are suitable for beauty and humidification of the air.
Fertilizer at home
The "home" fertilizers used for feeding anthurium include:
- Dry yeast solution. Contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Preparation of the solution involves dissolving ½ teaspoon of dry yeast and 2 tablespoons of sugar in 5 liters of warm water. The mixture must be left for 1 day, then diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 5 and watering the anthurium at the root.
- Sleep coffee and tea brewing. It is applied at the root no more than 2 times a month.
- Citrus infusion. The peel of the fruit should be crushed, filled with water and left for several days, after which it should be used for watering the plant.
- Natural ash solution. To prepare it, you will need 1 tablespoon of ash and 1 liter of water. Plants should be watered 2 times a month.
- Onion peel decoction. The recipe provides for pouring 50 g of husk with 2 glasses of hot water. Then the mixture must be boiled for 10-15 minutes, then let it brew for 3-4 hours. The resulting broth should be filtered and used for watering the anthurium.
Adjusting the amount of water
When watering, you must take into account the pot in which the plant is located, and also know the quality of drainage. If the anthurium is contained in a plastic container, where there is excellent drainage, then less water will be required for it. A flower in an earthenware pot needs more moisture, since the clay absorbs moisture well enough.
Indoor anthurium must be watered abundantly during the intensive growth period. During hibernation, much less water is needed. The plant should be watered until water appears in the pan. After 30 minutes, flush out all the liquid from the pan to prevent root rot. Experts agree that epiphytic flowers, in which the roots protrude outward. It is required to frequently spray the root system of such plants. You also need to know that such varieties are extremely demanding on high levels of humidity.