Anthuriums

Anthuriums are a plant native to South America and with 100s of species, some are terrestrial and others are epiphytic.

They are easy care as an indoor plant, outdoors they need a sub tropical to tropical climate to flower and grow well. Wonderful flowers, some red, however some species also have great foliage.

The two main species that are used in many of the colorful modern cultivars are A. andraeanun and A. scherzerianum. They are hardy and as the plants get older they get bigger, both in terms of foliage and the flower bract.

Care

General Care

You will notice that Anthuriums have rather thick almost tuberous roots, they require good drainage and do not like to be over watered. Hever they do not like to dry out either.

They are also a plant that resents being moved and repotted, especially when they are dormant, so best repot in spring as they commence new growth.

Do not worry about those ariel roots, Anthuriums produce these and its natural.

If you need to repot Anthuriums use an open potting mix, similar to a fine orchid mix. Normal potting mixes have lots of water retentive materials mixed in and Anthuriums do not like this.

Anthuriums are really tropical plant, so you need to keep them warm, temperatures below 50f can cause flower drop.

Anthuriums getting to big, well you can cut them off near the base of the plant, again in spring. They will re shoot.

Anthurium grande (pictured right) has heavily veined foliage and makes a wonderful indoor specimen, we believe the correct botanical name for this one is Anthurium conspicuum S orido, syn. Anthurium grande Sorido.

Looking at Bromeliads care in more detail

Problems

Like all plants Anthuriums are subject to a few problems, some of the common ones include :

Anthurium not flowering.
Often a problem with Anturiums grown indoors. Anthuriums require bright diffused light and clean water.
SO - bright light for most of the day but not direct sun and
Water through summer every day to second day, the rest of the year 2 - 3 times a week
Brown spots on Anthurium foliage.
Often fungal disease caused by overly wet soil and sometimes by misting.
The key is excellent drainage, so a free draining soil mix.
Anthurium leaves turn yellow.
The technical term is Chloratic foliage and it can be caused by a number of factors including
Cold temperatures - Most common cause
Insects
Build up of salts in the soil mix
Exhausted soil mix
Poor light

Varieties

Over 800 Anthurium species have been identified, some of the more popular species include

Anthurium andraenum - With the wonderful red flowers, also known as the flamingo lily.
Anthurium scherzerianum - Another with brilliant red flowers.
Anthurium hookeri - Also called the 'Birds nest Anthurium', green foliage.
Anthurium crystallinum - Large heart shaped leaves, deep olive green heavily veined with a paler green, most attractive.
Anthurium bakeri - Commonly called the 'Birds Nest Anthurium' rather narrow leaves.
Anthurium gracile - Also known as thr 'Red Pearls Anthurium'
Anthurium plownmaii - Aslo known as 'Ruffles and 'Fruffles' and it grows in drier conditions than most. Large leathery undulating foliage

However it is the colorful hybrids that are the most popular of all.