Anthurium

The anthurium plant is grown as a houseplant in cooler areas and as a landscaping plants in USDA zones 10 or higher. Proper care for anthurium is easy to do as long as you provide a few key elements for the plant. An anthurium growing in your garden or home will reward you with wonderful, long lasting flowers.

Make sure to water your anthurium plant regularly, but do not over water. Only water your anthurium when the soil is dry to the touch. The plant is susceptible to root rot, so too much water can cause the roots to die back. If you allow the plant to become too dry in a pot, it will slow down its growth and the rootball will be difficult to rewet. If the rootball becomes too dry in the pot, soak the pot the anthurium plant is in for an hour to rehydrate it. Care of anthurium plants does not require too much fertilizer. The plant only needs to be fertilized with a one-quarter strength fertilizer once every three to four months. To get the best blooms, use a fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus number (the middle number).

Anthurium plants can tolerate all levels of indirect light, but anthuriums growing in low light will have fewer flowers and will grow slower. These plants cannot tolerate direct light, as this can burn the leaves. It grows best in bright, indirect light. Anthurium care also requires that the soil be free draining but hold some water. If you are growing this plant as a houseplant, half and half mix of potting soil and orchid soil or perlite will provide the kind of soil anthuriums prefer. Outdoors, plant in a well-drained location. Anthurium plants do not like continually moist soil.