Soil requirements for anthurium
Experienced gardeners know how to properly prepare the soil for planting indoor flowers. This applies to tropical plants that require external conditions close to their natural habitat. For anthurium grown in an apartment, it is necessary to maintain a constant level of humidity and temperature.
In suitable conditions the plant blooms profusely
In the flower's homeland, in the forests of South and Central America, it grows, attaching itself to the bark of trees or on the leafy litter. The root system of the plant goes deep into the nutritious organic layer of fallen leaves, branches, overripe fruits and berries. Nutrient biomass provides anthurium with everything necessary for normal growth and development.
Note! Garden soil is too dense for anthurium, it does not allow moisture and air to pass through well, and is poor in composition. Under these conditions, with a constant lack of oxygen, the root system quickly rots.
Anthurium cannot be grown in a universal soil mixture that suits most indoor plants. A capricious flower needs a substrate with the following properties:
- weak acid reaction (ranging from 5.5 to 6 pH);
- ease;
- looseness;
- permeability to air and moisture;
- environmentally friendly composition.
Ensuring sufficient air circulation in the root zone is possible only if there are coarse-grained drainage elements of natural origin in the soil.
Drainage
Drainage is an important element in anthurium soil mixture. The following materials are used for this:
- The shards are broken. They can be prepared from earthenware, which is crushed with a hammer.
- Polystyrene foam - the plate breaks into small fragments.
- Stones with a diameter of up to 1.5 cm. You can buy them at a store that sells aquarium supplies.
- Expanded clay. Before putting it in a pot, you need to rinse it thoroughly, or even better, boil it to remove harmful salts from it.
Drainage is required for anthurium
Expanded clay is preferable for anthurium as drainage. It is taken large to ensure better looseness of the soil, and with it the entry of air into the root system. In addition, expanded clay has a positive effect on pH levels.
What soil composition is needed for a “male happiness” flower?
Soil for spathiphyllum - what kind of soil is needed for a flower
The closest substrate in composition suitable for anthurium is soil for orchids. These representatives of tropical flora come from the same places, and their growing conditions are largely similar. Both plants prefer well-drained soil that allows moisture and air to reach the roots without drying out too quickly.
The soil must be loose
Ready-made soil mixtures recommended for the Orchid and Anthurium families usually contain:
- Peat in the soil gives it the necessary acidity, makes it lighter and airier, and provides a supply of nutrients.
- Fragments of turf litter add greater porosity and permeability to moisture and air to the substrate.
- Coarse sand makes the soil light and helps remove excess moisture from the pot, thanks to which the soil remains loose.
- Leaf soil, consisting of half-decomposed fallen leaves, gives looseness to the soil mixture, enriches its composition and adds acidity.
- Sphagnum moss is included in soil for exotic plants to make it lighter. It allows you to balance the level of moisture at the roots, disinfects the soil and creates suitable conditions for the adaptation of young plants.
- Rotten pine needles are another component that moderately increases acidity, making the substrate light and loose. The positive side of its use is its preventive effect on fungal diseases and chlorotic infections.
- The compost mixture, which represents decomposed organic matter, makes the soil more saturated in composition. Due to its too strong biological activity, this element is never used in its pure form, but only small amounts are added to the already prepared earthen mixture.
- Charcoal perfectly drains the substrate, making its structure more permeable to moisture and oxygen. The organic component gives the soil protective qualities, serving as a prevention of fungal damage.
All these components can be included in the soil mixture in various proportions. It is the ratio of the listed elements that determines the quality of the substrate for anthurium.
Should the land for planting and replanting be different?
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A florist who has managed to achieve the ripening of the fruits of the exotic plant in question may wonder: in what soil should the anthurium be planted? It will be easier to obtain seedlings from seed by mixing a loose structured substrate with perlite or vermiculite. A good result can be achieved by placing flower seeds on a layer of sphagnum moss laid out in a small flat container. When using such a moss bedding, seedlings are expected to appear within 1.5-2 weeks.
Additional Information! Hatched seedlings are picked after the first leaf appears on the sprouts. What soil is suitable for transplanting anthurium? They use a substrate similar in composition to the “adult” one, but consisting of components of a smaller fraction.
What you need to know about anthurium
The homeland of epiphytes is located in the subequatorial and tropical climatic zones of Central and South America. Plants live in tropical forests on tree trunks and practically do not need soil. Anthurium roots feed the plant from the forest floor, so it is necessary to grow it at home, taking into account the usual climatic conditions and the peculiarities of the existence of life forms.
Anthurium flowers are a unique decoration for the interior of any home, and achieving anthurium flowering at home is the dream of every gardener.
Selecting the right land means ensuring success in this matter. And, if the time has come to replant the anthurium, then the soil for it should be loose, airy, as close as possible to the cover of a tropical forest.
Anthurium can be planted either in a ready-made mixture or in self-prepared soil for replanting. A florist who knows all the rules of replanting will be able to accurately determine which additive is suitable for the flower and in what soil the anthurium should be replanted.
Pros and cons of ready-made soil and homemade soil
How to replant a fern - what soil and pot are needed
Knowing what kind of soil is needed for anthurium, you can grow a healthy and profusely flowering plant. The main advantage of ready-made substrates is that there is no need to spend time and effort preparing soil mixtures. It is not always possible to check the compliance of purchased soil with the necessary requirements:
- compliance with the proportions of components for a specific flower (for example, the same anthurium);
- carrying out disinfection;
- acidity indicator.
The quality of the finished soil mixture can often be called into question. When choosing land in a specialized store, it is important to first read the descriptions of the various brands and make sure that the manufacturers are honest.
Experienced gardeners like to mix the soil themselves. In the case of “male happiness” this is especially true, since one has to take into account his needs.
Which pot to choose for anthurium
Anthuriums need to be replanted periodically. For the first five years, transplantation can be performed annually, then much less frequently. Anthurium replanting is required not only due to an increase in the volume of the pot, due to the growth of the plant, but also to refresh the soil in case of illness or simply for prevention. It is better to choose plastic, thin-walled pots. It is easier to remove a lump of earth from such pots. It is enough just to slightly crush the walls of the pot and, with a gentle upward movement, gradually lift the lump of earth with roots from the pot. If the plant shrinks due to its growth, then the pot needs to be used 2 cm larger in diameter.
How to prepare soil mixture at home
It can be difficult to find a substrate in the store that is suitable for the Orchidaceae or Aronicaceae (Aroidaceae) family, which includes anthurium. There are several main ways in which soil for anthurium is mixed, which is close in composition to optimal indicators.
The soil for anthurium can be prepared with your own hands
Substrate based on universal soil mixture
Based on ordinary soil for indoor flowers, a good mixture is prepared that is suitable for anthurium. Typically, such soil already contains a sufficient amount of peat, which gives it a light and loose structure and also creates weak acidity.
To such a substrate add pine bark crushed to a medium sliver. As a result, the soil becomes more drained, moisture-absorbing with excellent air permeability.
Soil-based substrate for azaleas and orchids
Another simple method of preparing a suitable composition is to enrich purchased soils for Azaleaceae and Orchids with a number of additional components. The complete list of components used will be as follows:
- ready-made soil for azaleas;
- orchid substrate;
- sphagnum moss;
- coarse charcoal.
Additional Information! All elements are mixed in equal parts. The soil will be quite nutritious and corresponding in structure to the needs of the anthurium.
Soil from components collected in natural conditions
Experienced flower growers use components collected with their own hands in accessible places to create soil mixtures: in the garden, in the forest, in the field. In natural conditions you can find such components as:
- peat;
- leaf humus;
- fallen pine needles or topsoil from a coniferous forest.
Before mixing these elements, they are subjected to disinfection treatment. Steaming is more suitable for peat and humus, and pine needles should be washed with boiling water and kept in a solution of potassium permanganate.
It would not be superfluous to add sphagnum, coal and dry pine bark
Important nuances
The prepared mixture must be disinfected in one of the following ways:
- Place in frosty air (-5-7 degrees Celsius) and leave for about 5 days;
- Heat in the oven or microwave at 80 degrees for 30 minutes;
- Steam by placing in a colander over boiling water for half an hour;
- Pour a hot solution of potassium permanganate (3 g per 5 liters of water);
- Treat the soil with a solution of a fungicidal preparation (Fitosporin, Agat, etc.), prepared according to the scheme on the package.
It is worth noting that it is not recommended to process all components of the mixture - only those components that may contain pests and fungal spores (leaf, turf and coniferous soil) need to be sterilized.
Peat and sphagnum moss must be added after the main part of the substrate has cooled to normal temperature. These components contribute to the rapid restoration of favorable microflora and help build a healthy root system. Be sure to lay a layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot (approximately 30% of the total height). For this, purchased expanded clay, small pebbles or crushed stone, and crushed red brick are suitable. Drainage will not allow water to stagnate, thereby preventing root rot.
The correct approach to the composition of the soil for anthurium, as well as to the conditions of its maintenance and care will help to grow a strong and healthy bush.
How to choose a ready-made substrate
Having decided to buy ready-made soil for anthurium, it is important to understand what composition is suitable. Despite the specificity of the composition, in specialized stores you can find ready-made substrates for the Aronnikov family. Among the manufacturers producing soil grades for the Anthurium plant today are:
- Ultra Effect+;
- Aurica Gardens;
- For Prof;
- Rich Land.
These popular brands are of high quality. The mixtures they present have a suitable level of acidity and an optimal content of organic components. In such a substrate, “male happiness” will feel comfortable, receiving the necessary nutrition for full growth and development. In addition to anthurium, the composition is also suitable for other representatives of the Araceae family - philodendron, monstera, scindapsus, ivy and vines.
Note! Many manufacturers offer separate components for preparing soil mixtures: pine bark and pine needles, sphagnum, coarse river sand, peat, agroperlite, charcoal chips.
When you come across a new name for a soil mixture from an unknown manufacturer, it is recommended that you carefully familiarize yourself with the composition of the soil. It would be a good idea to analyze the reviews of those who have already used this or other substrates from the same company.
What can be added to purchased soil to improve it?
The enrichment of the purchased ready-made composition will depend on what components are included in it initially. If the description says that the substrate lacks some standard elements (for example, sphagnum or sand), then it is advisable to add them.
You can also add a mineral complex preparation or organic fertilizer to the purchased soil. However, in order not to harm the delicate root system of the flower, you should follow the instructions on the package.
Fertilizer dosage should be minimal
Disinfecting the land before planting or replanting anthurium
Soil brought from a personal plot or from a forest contains microorganisms, bacteria or insect pests. Having bought ready-made soil or mixed it yourself, you often cannot do without a disinfection procedure.
The soil mixture can be treated with Fitosporin, Gamair or Alarin. This will kill bacteria and fungal infections.
Interesting information! They often resort to heat treatment by steaming the soil in the oven at a temperature of at least 120 ℃ or freezing it on the balcony in winter.
Problems when growing anthurium due to incorrectly selected soil
Using unsuitable soil can cause root rot in anthurium. The root system is tender and sensitive, and has difficulty recovering from illnesses. The appearance of the disease can be indicated by black or brown spots on the leaves.
In suitable soil, anthurium will feel great and bloom profusely
A flower planted in an incorrectly selected substrate is urgently replanted. The procedure itself is carried out extremely carefully. Anthurium is moved carefully, by transshipment, along with all the existing root ball of earth.
Note! It is not advisable to remove the substrate in which the plant was located before purchase. You can only carefully remove the top layer of soil and spill the rest with Fitosporin.
By adhering to the specified requirements for soil quality, you can grow a tropical anthurium flower at home. The correct choice of soil will allow you to avoid problems with plant treatment, which is very labor-intensive and not always effective.
How to replant after purchase
After you have purchased the plant. You should inspect the root system and appearance of the plant. Of course, this needs to be done immediately in the store, but you may not notice. At home we inspect the plant for diseases of the roots and leaves. To do this, carefully remove the plant from the planting pot. We examine the roots of the plant. If they are good and there is no rot or damage. We carefully put it back in and take care of it for a couple of days. If there is damage to roots or leaves. Then we transplant the plant immediately. All rotten roots must be removed with a knife or scissors, as well as damaged leaves. Treat with appropriate medications. This can be phytosporin, zircon, epin. Then we take the plant and carefully free it from the planting soil. Where it was sold. We straighten the roots and carefully plant them in the prepared pot. We put it in a permanent place and take care of it.
