Garden

Anthurium: care and varieties

Posted on
Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 12 February 2021
Update Date: 28 June 2024
Anonim
Ultimate ANTHURIUM (Flamingo Flower) Care Guide — Ep 195
Video: Ultimate ANTHURIUM (Flamingo Flower) Care Guide — Ep 195

Content



The flamingo flower comprises several 100 species

Anthurium: care and varieties

Anthurium, also known as Anthurium, Flamingo Flower or Cosmos Flower, are wonderfully easy-care and grateful houseplants that thank for a little water and fertilizer with an almost year-round flowering. Especially during the dark winter months, the large, red, white, pink or orange bracts - which are mistakenly often mistaken for the actual flowers - provide welcome splashes of color.

ancestry

The genus Anthurium covers about 600 to 1000 different species native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands. Here the evergreen, perennial plants grow in the majority like orchids epiphytisch, d. H. as a seamer plants on the huge jungle trees. Only a few species are rooted in the soil.

use

In this country mainly hybrids of the two species Great Anthurium and Anthanium and Anthurium scherzerianum are cultivated as a houseplant, occasionally also one of the two species mentioned as well as Anthurium crystallinum. The latter is a rarely cultivated species with broad, heart-shaped and metallic red-glossy leaves.


Growth and size

Flamingo flowers grow horstig, form long stems with large leaves. On average, the plants are between 40 and 100 centimeters high and 30 to 60 centimeters wide, but can also be significantly larger and more extensive in old age. Their size depends largely on their location and the growth and care conditions. The bushy houseplant is very popular because of its colorful foliage, which is usually strongly colored red. However, there are also pink and orange as well as white variants.

Flowering and flowering

These colored bracts are often kept for flower decoration, while the actual flowers are quite unspectacular. Only the piston located in the middle of the magnificent bracts represents the flower. This may be straight or curved and colored red, orange or yellow. Anthurium hybrids flower in principle throughout the year, average flowering times of up to 300 days a year are not uncommon with good care. Only the Little Flamingo Flower (Anthurium Scherzerianum) shows its often very lush colors only between May and June.


leaves

The leaves of the anthurium hybrids can look very different, depending on which genome breaks through. In most commercially available varieties, the dark green, glossy foliage is long-stalked and elongated-heart-shaped. In addition, elongated, lanceolate shapes are possible. The colored leaves or bracts (the botanist speaks of "spathe") have a heart-shaped or oval shape and are characterized by deep indentations.

fruit

Anthurium is extremely rare in a room culture due to the usually missing pollination. This is especially true when it comes to a hybrid - and thus anyway sterile - variety. In their natural habitat, however, the plants from the flowers develop inconspicuous berry fruits, which contain tiny seeds that are approximately grain-grain-sized.

root

The fleshy, compact rootstock of the flamingo flower does not need much space, which is why the planter must be only slightly larger than the root ball. The long leaf and flower stalks grow directly from the roots and do not branch among themselves or above ground.

Is anthurium poisonous?

As a member of the arum family (Araceae) Anthurium is naturally poisonous to humans and animals. Especially the leaves contain oxalic acid and insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mucous membranes and can lead to typical symptoms of intoxication such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. However, the symptoms usually disappear after a few hours, as the plants are classified as only slightly toxic. However, the information center in Bonn advises against poisoning, but nevertheless to consult a doctor, since the poison content varies greatly from plant to plant and also a critical dose is not yet known. Furthermore, it is advised to drink plenty of water to dilute the toxins and excrete as quickly as possible through the digestive tract.

Which location is suitable?

Anthuriums grow in their natural habitat in the shade of the large primeval forest trees. At home, you should reproduce these conditions as much as possible by not placing the plants in direct sunlight - this will quickly lead to ugly leaf burns, especially on southern windows. However, the space must be bright, so you should check the conditions in your apartment carefully. If the window in question goes east or west, the anthurium can also stand on the windowsill, provided it can be protected from the possibly burning midday sun in the summer months. If, on the other hand, the window is facing south, you should place the plant at least one meter away and shade in any case during the midday hours. For example, larger, sun-loving plants on the window sill or even outside trees are suitable.

Caution is advised in winter, the anthurium should be on a windowsill: Underneath are in many apartments radiators whose warm and dry air the flamingo flower can not stand. Instead, it needs a high humidity as a typical rainforest plant, which is why it is often in the bathroom is in the best hands. In addition, she does not like drafts (for example, next to windows that are often open) and feels most comfortable at year-round temperatures between 20 and 25 ° C.

substratum

Put the flamingo flower in a loose, well drained and humus rich substrate. A high-quality, commercially available potting soil is completely sufficient. In addition, the plants can be excellently kept in hydroponic culture, in which they often feel much better.

Multiply anthurium

The simplest way of propagating anthuriums is to divide, which is best done in the spring. Do the following:

Also, larger plants often form kitties, which just have to be separated carefully and implanted separately. Furthermore, an increase in cuttings and sowing is possible, but both are not without pitfalls and takes quite a lot of time.

cuttings

For the propagation of cuttings, use young leaves with existing roots, which are identified by small nodes on the stalk. Carefully separate these leaves from the mother plant without injuring the knots and place them in a jar of fresh, warm water. Place the glass in a bright (but not directly sunny!) And warm location. Change the water daily and do not forget to clean the glass of any coverings. The young anthuriums are not potted until they have formed enough roots.

sowing

Discover small white berries on the anthurium of your anthurium, it means to act quickly. The seeds contained therein - if they are even germinable - must quickly into the soil, as they remain viable only for a short time. Open the berries and carefully wash the flaky pulp. This contains germ-inhibiting substances and must therefore be removed.Then place the few seeds in a sand-filled culture dish, whereby the grains must not be covered as light germ. Sprinkle the substrate with the seeds and keep them evenly moist in the coming weeks. Keep the air drawn by placing the shells in a room greenhouse or covering them with translucent foil. Place the dish in a warm and bright place, keep it well hydrated, and ventilate the cover regularly. Germination should take place after two weeks at the latest, although the failure rate is very high.

Pour anthurium

Anthuriums need a steady supply of water and should not dry out. If the plant is kept too dry, only a few flowers develop or the existing ones are discarded. Make sure that the substrate is always slightly damp, but never stale. Waterlogging also does not tolerate waterlogging and then develops root rot after a short time, which usually ends fatally. A good pot drainage is therefore essential, excess irrigation water should be able to flow away unhindered. Remove this from pots and saucers after just a few minutes to save the plant "wet feet".

Use water that is as soft as possible to pour, as anthurium is quite sensitive to lime. If there is no rainwater, but also stale tap water is very good. This should not be cold, but room warm - or do you like showering cold? Furthermore, the plant should be sprayed or showered with room-warm water from time to time. This not only removes the dust layer on the leaves - which in turn hinders photosynthesis - but also ensures higher humidity.

Fertilize anthurium properly

As a flowering plant, anthuriums need many nutrients, but they are very sensitive to salts. For this reason you should fertilize frequently, but only in small doses. If possible, use a liquid fertilizer for indoor or flowering plants, which should be added to the irrigation water at half the recommended concentration and administered weekly during the summer months. In winter, on the other hand, one fertilizer per month is sufficient.

repotting

Young flamingo flowers are planted each spring with fresh substrate in a larger pot. Older, adult specimens, however, no longer need to be repotted, but here you can rejuvenate by means of division. If this is not desired, just replace the substrate in the spring.

Cut anthurium properly

Basically, cutting measures are not necessary. Only discolored or withered leaves as well as withered flower shoots should be removed directly at the base with a sharp and clean pair of scissors or a small knife.

overwinter

During the winter months, Anthurium should be in a light place at slightly cooler temperatures between 16 and 20 ° C, also is now less frequently poured and fertilized. In this way, the formation of flowers can also be promoted in lazy-rotten specimens.

Diseases

The glossy leaves of the flamingo flower are covered with a layer of wax, which keeps many pests and pathogens from the outset. In fact, many symptoms are less due to fungi or viruses than to nursing mistakes. Waterlogging or a substrate that is permanently too moist not only makes the soil moldy but also rots the roots. Rescue provides in this situation only a quick repot into fresh, dry substrate, combined with a strong pruning of roots and aboveground plant parts.

As long as your anthurium has glossy, dark green leaves without any discoloration and also always produces new flowers, it feels good. In this case, leave them at their location and continue to care for them as before.

Yellow leaves

If the leaves turn yellow, the anthurium is often too light. This is especially the case when the plant is standing directly against a window. Place it a little further away so that it comes out of the direct sun, but still stands bright. Remove the discolored leaves with scissors or a knife, they will not turn green again.

Brown leaves / brown leaf spots

If the leaves edge, the leaves get brown spots or whole leaves turn brown, then your anthurium is likely to suffer from lack of water. The root ball must not dry out, which is why you should regularly perform the finger test: If the substrate feels superficially dry, it is time for casting. If the earth is still wet, you should wait a few more days.

pests

Even with regard to pests, the flamingo flower is quite resistant. Only spider mites and scale insects can cause the plant from time to time. Spider mites, also referred to as red spiders, occur only when the air is too dry and can be easily displaced by increasing the humidity. In contrast, scale insects simply wipe off with a damp cloth and a small amount of dishwashing liquid.

Anthurium does not bloom, what to do?

If the anthurium does not really flower, it probably lacks nutrients. If you fertilize the plant regularly, then soon the first flowers should appear. Another reason for blooming laziness is also a too dark location - the conversion to a lighter place helps.

Tips

The flower stalks of the flamingo flower can also be perfectly arranged as cut flowers in the vase, either in a mixed bouquet or alone. Change the water regularly and place the container in a light, drafty location, then you can enjoy the colorful splendor for two to three weeks.

sorts

The most popular hybrid varieties of anthurium include: