Anthurium



Anthurium

Yesterday one of our local florists delivered a gorgeous Anthurium plant to my office, a birthday surprise from a dear friend.   It is so beautiful and I really want to keep it looking that way.

Anthurium is a tropical plant that grows easily as a houseplant in most homes.  The foliage is a shiny, waxy-appearing dark green which is beautiful just by itself.  Top it with heart shaped red, pink, lavender or white spathes, each of which can last for up to eight weeks , and you have wonderful addition to your houseplant family.   Anthurium is also known as Flamingo flower, which is a pretty descriptive name, and by the not so glamorous name of Pigtail plant.  I tried to find the origin of the “pigtail” plant but couldn’t find anything specific.  I suspect it might be because of the round, fleshy spike that emerges from the “v” of the heart shaped “flower” and looks something like a pigtail, especially when they develop “curls”.   

Cut blooms of the Anthurium can last as long as three to four weeks in a vase.  With the right conditions and proper care, Anthurium plants can bloom almost continuously.

Similar to the poinsettia, the part of the Anthurium that provides its beautiful color is not truly the flower, but a spathe, or a modified leaf.  The spathe curls around a round, fleshy spike called a spadix, (that “pigtail”) which is where the true flowers develop, appearing as a roughness on the surface of the spadix.  This is what allows each “flower” to last for such a long period of time.

Anthuriums must have approximately six hours of bright, indirect light each day but should not be set in the direct sun.   They are a jungle plant and are accustomed to bright shade.  If light levels are too low, the Anthurium will stop blooming.  In direct sun, the leaves will sunburn, turning yellow and brown.

Anthuriums in nature are epiphytes, or air plants, so they need a light, well-drained potting mix.  A mixture of 1:1 peat moss and vermiculite, or 1:1:1 peat moss, vermiculite, and pine bark  is a good mix.  Pots with drainage holes are a must when growing Anthuriums.  Too moist an environment will cause stem and root rot.

Anthuriums should be watered thoroughly each time, and allowed to dry slightly between waterings (the surface of the soil should be dry to the touch).  Standing water should not be left in the drip basin.  Over-watering causes the leaves to turn yellow.  Dark, crispy areas around the leaf margin are an indication the plant has gotten too dry.

To get continual blooms, fertilize every other month with a high phosphate fertilizer, such as a 12-55-6 formulation.  The more light it receives, the more foliage it grows, and the more water you give your Anthurium, the more plant food it will require.

Anthuriums like warm temperatures and should be kept in a place where temperatures do not drop below 68 to 70 degrees.  They prefer even warmer temperatures during the day.  It is important to keep them out of drafts and avoid significant fluctuations in temperature.

Keep the Anthurium well groomed by trimming faded or brown flowers and removing any dead or tattered foliage at the base of the plant.  This will not only keep the Anthurium looking nicer, it prevents disease and pest problems.

Like most tropical plants we grow as houseplants, Anthurium  attract some undesirable critters – especially those dreaded fungus gnats.  To help avoid them, allow the surface of the soil to dry out between waterings and  keep the drip basins clean and dry.    Keep a watchful eye also for signs of aphids (honeydew on the leaves, stems and flowers) , scales (small, brown, oval patches on the back side of the leaves or at stem junctures), and mealybugs (small, white cottony appearing flecks).  Keeping the foliage and the pot clean will help prevent these.

Anthuriums need a six week rest period in the winter to encourage blooming the following spring and summer.  Reduce the watering to minimal and place the Anthurium in a location where the temperature will be consistent and as close to 60 degrees as possible.

Anthuriums are “air cleaners” in our homes.  They remove chemicals that can be irritants or even toxic to humans that can be brought in through carpeting, cooking, wood, finger nail polishes or any other numbers of ways.  Anthuriums are great cleaners for removing ammonia, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene fumes from our homes. 

The downside is that all parts of the Anthurium plant contain calcium oxalate crystals which can be fatal if ingested in large quantities, but even in small quantities can cause burning and blistering of the mouth and throat, as well as nausea and vomiting.  Anthuriums should be kept out of the reach of small children and pets.  The sap from Anthuriums can cause skin burning and rash where it touches, so handle the plant with care and immediately wash any sap off the skin with warm water and soap.

I’m looking forward to enjoying my Anthurium for a very long time.  For now, it will stay in the west window of my office.  When the weather is warm enough to assure that I can transport it home without sending it into shock, it will live in a nice, warm, light location where I can enjoy it year round.