Anthuriums are highly sought after for their striking leaf shape, rich, saturated hues, and delicate velvety texture but they are also notorious for being a bit difficult, especially for beginners. I'm here to share my tips that are for sure going to make things MUCH easier for you!
I've created a video where you can watch and listen but also included text below if you'd rather read:
1. Anthuriums love a chunky mix: Anthuriums grow very thick roots and like a lot of moisture so the key here is to get them over to a mix like our Chunky & Funky Indoor Plant Mix so they can have access to water when they need it but aren't going to rot due to lack of oxygen.
Often times the mix they come in if commercially grown is much more dense which suits a very bright, very warm environment like a greenhouse but your home is likely neither of those so we need to minimise any risk of root rot.
2. Clear Pots are the perfect way to keep an eye on root health and to know exactly when to repot: With Anthuriums having very rigious, large root systems you may struggle to know how fast they're drying out unless you've got them in a clear pot. We've got a range of Clear Nursery Pots that will not only help you see when it's time to water but also when is it time to repot your anthurium.
3. Top dress the plant with Sphagnum Moss: Anthurium stems have the ability to grow supporting roots out that can make the plant feel more secure. When you top dress with Sphagnum Moss, it's almost like creating a horizontal moss pole that allows them to root into the moss making them feel super secure and helping them pump out larger leaves.
The big bonus to top dressing with Sphagnum Moss though is that it'll slow down how fast your plant is drying out by mimising the air flow around the top of the pot and create additional humidity for the plant (I water mine directly through the moss).
4. If you're after large leaves, you need to be feeding your plant REGULARLY: I mean regularly - I water my Anthuriums with both Foliage Focus and Rootzone every single watering (We've even got a bundle of these two where you save exactly for this reason). Foliage Focus will support the plant above the soil line while Rootzone is here for all the magic that needs to happen beneath it.
5. Put your nursery pot into a cover pot that can actually contain a little water reserve: Due to the thick roots of these velvety plants, they're probably the only indoor plant I allow to sit in about 1cm of water after watering (This is normally a big no-no but Anthuriums will drink up that excess water in no-time). This will also buy you an extra day or two between waterings and minimise the risk of new leaves growing in damaged.
If your home or the room you're putting these plants in is very humid or has partciularly bad air circulation I'd avoid doing this step but for those Canberrans with low humidity like myself this is a game changer!
6. If you're growing these plants for large leaves, I recommend a bright spot in your home with no direct sunlight after 8 or 9am: The reason I put the time restriction on here is when these plants are growing in new leaves they start quite small and are a bit delicate and the UV will spike especially in Summer by 10am anf you don't want to risk burning any of your foliage. Rooms that get most of their light from east-facing windows is ideal but north facing or south facing can also be suitable (Be consicous that west-facing light can also be the hardest depending on the time of day that light enters your home).
7. These plants are tropical and prefer warmer temperatures: My general tips for most indoor plants is they'll be happiest in rooms that don't go below 18°C and if your room consistently hit the high 20's you'll likely find you're going to need to water more often.
Remember: Higher temps and more light = more water. Lower temps + less light = less water.
Ready to give your Anthurium the luxe life it deserves? Explore our Plant care range or visit us in Fyshwick for hands-on advice.