To keep your anthurium healthy and thriving, it’s important to provide it with the right nutrients. Feeding your anthurium a half-strength, high-potash feed, such as tomato food, on a monthly basis is recommended. This will supply the plant with the necessary potassium, which is essential for promoting flower production and overall plant health.
When feeding your anthurium, it’s important to follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging and dilute it to half strength. This ensures that you don’t overfeed the plant, which can lead to fertilizer burn and damage to the roots. By providing a balanced and diluted feed, you are giving the plant the nutrients it needs without overwhelming it.
In terms of timing, it’s best to feed your anthurium during the spring and summer months when the plant is actively growing. This is when it will benefit the most from the additional nutrients. During the fall and winter months, when the plant may enter a period of dormancy or slower growth, you can reduce or even stop the feeding.
Aside from feeding, it’s also important to remove spent flowers from your anthurium. Gently pulling away the faded flowers not only keeps the plant looking tidy, but it also encourages new flower production. By removing the spent flowers, you are redirecting the plant’s energy towards producing new blooms rather than putting energy into seed production.
Another practice that can benefit your anthurium is misting the leaves regularly. This helps to increase humidity around the plant, which mimics its natural tropical environment. However, it’s important to avoid misting the flowers directly, as excess moisture on the flowers can lead to fungal diseases. Instead, focus on misting the leaves and ensuring that the water droplets do not linger on the flowers.
If misting is not feasible or you want an alternative method to increase humidity, you can place your anthurium on a pebble-filled tray of water. As the water evaporates, it creates a humid microclimate around the plant. Just make sure that the bottom of the pot is not sitting directly in the water, as this can lead to root rot.
Feeding your anthurium with a half-strength, high-potash feed in spring and summer, removing spent flowers, and providing adequate humidity through misting or a pebble-filled tray of water are all important practices to keep your anthurium healthy and thriving. By following these guidelines and providing the right care, you can enjoy the beautiful blooms of your anthurium for years to come.
