When To Repot Anthurium

Before wilting and being replaced by new flowers, anthurium blossoms typically last for two to three months. This is a typical stage in the life cycle of an anthurium.

Every two to three years, or when they outgrow their current pot, anthuriums should be replanted. It’s time to graduate your anthurium to a new pot when it reaches 20 inches in height in a five-inch-diameter container.

Are anthuriums tolerant of root binding?

You might need to repot your plant in order to maintain the lovely green leaves and blossoms of your dazzling anthurium. Your anthurium likely needs repotting if you’ve kept it for more than six to twelve months in order to keep it healthy.

A plant with its roots confined to its pot will not flower as well or be as healthy as one with space for its feet. You can use a number of signs to determine when to repot anthurium.

If grown under the appropriate circumstances, a robust anthurium can be encouraged to bloom all year long.

The two most obvious symptoms that your plant needs to be repotted are browning leaves and roots straining to escape the pot.

Do anthuriums require large pots?

Get a pot ready that is one size bigger than the one you have. Generally speaking, the new container’s diameter shouldn’t be more than one or two inches (2.5–5 cm) greater.

To prevent potting soil from escaping through the drainage hole, cover it with a small piece of mesh, a paper towel, or a coffee filter.

A moist rootball makes it simpler to repot the anthurium and is much better for the plant overall. Water the anthurium well a few hours before doing so.

Use potting soil that is as close as possible to the plant’s present potting mix. A very light, loose medium with a pH of about 6.5 is necessary for anthurium. Use a mixture if you’re unsure, such as two parts orchid mix, one part peat, and one part perlite, or peat, pine bark, and perlite in equal amounts.

Add just enough additional potting soil to the new container so that the top of the anthurium’s rootball is at least an inch (2.5 cm) below the rim. The plant should be replanted at the same soil depth as it was in the original pot.

Carefully remove the anthurium from its pot. To loosen the roots, gently tease the compressed rootball with your fingertips.

After setting the anthurium in the pot, cover the root ball with potting soil. Firm the potting dirt lightly with your fingertips.

If additional potting soil is required, add it after softly watering the soil to settle it. Once more, it’s crucial to place the anthurium’s old pot at the same height as the top of the root ball. If a plant is buried too deeply when planting, it could rot.

For a few days, place the plant in a shaded spot. If the plant appears a little worse for wear the first few days, don’t worry. Repotting anthuriums frequently causes slight wilting.

After repotting an anthurium, wait a few months to fertilize it to give the plant time to adapt to its new container.

How are anthuriums replanted?

Repotting an anthurium is a simple process that should be carried out every two to three years. To assist avoid additional water accumulating, use a fresh container with good drainage holes. Terracotta is a good choice if you know you tend to overwater, whereas ceramic or plastic pots are better for those who tend to forget to water. It should only be two inches bigger than the pot it replaces (for example, if you have a six-inch pot, you should upgrade to no bigger than an eight-inch pot).

The steps for repotting your anthurium are as follows:

  • The day before repotting, give the anthurium plenty of water. For this plant, a wet rootball will make repotting simpler because it will lessen the risk of root shock.
  • Your prepared potting soil should be poured into the new container. Just enough to allow the anthurium’s root ball to hang approximately an inch below the container’s rim. The roots shouldn’t be submerged at the base of the pot.
  • Take the anthurium out of its existing location. In order to accomplish this, tip the pot to one side and carefully pry the plant off the base. Never tug at the stems since you can harm the plant. If necessary, you can work the soil around the pot’s edges loose with a rubber spatula.
  • Eliminate extra dirt. Use your fingers to gently break up any large soil clumps around the roots in order to free them.
  • Put the anthurium in the fresh container. With your potting mix, fill up the spaces around and on top of the roots.
  • Water sparingly. After the soil has settled, you can top it off as necessary with a little more mix.

Avoid planting the anthurium’s crown too deeply because doing so increases the likelihood that the plant will rot. Repotting anthuriums might cause slight wilting, so if your plant doesn’t seem completely happy for a few days, don’t worry. It should quickly start to perk up.

Splitting your anthurium

You’ll require the aforementioned supplies in addition to a pair of sterile shears to split your anthurium. You should do the following actions while repotting your anthurium if you want to split it first:

  • The day before repotting, give the anthurium plenty of water.
  • Your prepared potting soil should be added to the new containers.
  • Take the anthurium out of its existing location.
  • Eliminate extra dirt.
  • Figure out where the roots of the offshoots are connected. You will divide them up here, which is typically not far from the plant’s base.
  • Start peeling apart slowly. You should avoid using excessive force, but if the roots aren’t overly tightly packed, you should be able to separate them with just your hands. Try using your fingers to gently untangle any knotted roots, but if some of them are stubborn, you can also make some cuts with your sterilized shears.
  • The anthuriums should be put in their new pots.
  • Add potting soil on top after a little irrigation.

How do you prepare the soil for an anthurium plant?

The best potting soil for anthuriums is gritty, loose, and well-draining. You should avoid using the typical bag of indoor mix. Make your own using two parts orchid mix, one part peat moss, and one part sand or perlite for the best results. Anthuriums flourish in this mixture, which produces the ideal atmosphere for them.

So, instead of using the oil nutrient-drained soil, repot your anthurium in the same mixture it was previously in if you know what it was previously potted in and it was healthy.

Are anthuriums fond of little pots?

Although they eventually outgrow smaller containers, anthuriums thrive in them. You should try to repot your plant every two to three years in order to promote growth.

However, you should raise the pot size gradually. Never repot a houseplant in a container that is substantially bigger than the one it was originally given because doing so could startle the plant.

Find a container that is roughly 20% bigger than the plant’s present container instead. This method of repotting will lessen shock and give the anthurium room to expand.

How will you be able to tell when your anthurium plant needs to be repotted? Simply examine the plant’s root system to see if it needs to be replanted.

Lift up your anthurium by the base to reveal the roots, then gently tilt the container to one side.

Repotting is necessary if roots extend to the soil’s bottom and sides. Additionally, it’s time to repot if roots are tangled and growing out of the drainage hole.

View the image below to see how this anthurium’s root system is starting to appear very root-bound. Although it’s not too bad, reporting now is a smart idea in case things get out of control.

How to Water an Anthurium Plant

Overwatering this house plant is the fastest way to kill it. This is why it’s crucial to understand how to water anthuriums properly.

Always keep in mind that, similar to pothos plants and succulents, this tropical plant dislikes sitting in moist soil and does not like to be overwatered.

Water your indoor anthurium plant only when the soil is dry. Simply insert your finger about an inch into the dirt to gauge how dry it is. Watering should be done if the soil seems dry.

You should never plant houseplants in pots without a drainage hole, so grab your watering can and wet the soil until you see water escaping from the hole.

It’s time to stop watering once you notice water dripping from the container! Let your plant absorb the necessary water by letting it soak up any remaining liquid in the saucer. Up to your subsequent watering, let the soil completely dry.

During the cooler months, you’ll typically need to water your anthurium once a week, and every few days during the summer.

An inch of the soil should be dry before you water an anthurium because they can survive dry soil.

Observing the Leaves of Your Anthurium

Your lovely anthurium plant’s leaves will show you whether or not it is receiving the proper amount of light and water.

You can identify any issues your plant may be having if you pay close attention to it.

You should move your plant further away from the light source if, for instance, the leaves are turning yellow. This indicates that your plant is likely receiving too much sunshine.

If your plant’s leaf tips begin to brown, you may be watering it too much or too little.

Give your plant a hearty watering if the soil feels dry, and wait a few days before watering it again if the soil feels damp.

Additionally, if the blossoms are not developing color, the plant is not receiving enough sunlight. The majority of anthurium blossoms are red, pink, white, or yellow, therefore if the blooms match the foliage color, you should move the plant closer to the sun.

Place your anthurium in a location that receives several hours of indirect sunshine each day because anthuriums require enough light to develop their flowers.

Deadheading Anthuriums

Long-blooming anthurium flowers are well known. The flowers endure around three months before fading off and having a long rest.

Take out your pruning shears or a pair of razor-sharp scissors when your plant’s blossoms have finished, and cut them off. In a few months, your plant will produce more blossoms.

When trimming your anthurium, always wear gloves to prevent mild skin irritation from the plant.

Fertilizing Anthuriums Plants

The right fertilizer can help your plant grow stronger and produce more blooms. The best time to fertilize a plant is in the spring, when the plant is typically starting to emerge from dormancy.

Always choose a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content and a low nitrogen content since phosphorus will promote blooms and nitrogen can choke them out.

Anthurium maintenance is simple and quick. You should be able to enjoy anthurium plants in your home if you can remember to water them when the soil is dry and arrange them in a location that receives lots of indirect sunshine.

Since anthuriums are tropical plants, they do well in humid conditions and indoors. Anthurium plants are perfect for beginners who want to test the waters in gardening.

How are anthuriums divided and replanted?

The good news is that splitting an anthurium plant is simple. Especially if your plant is growing quite large, you’ll be glad you did it. It will keep all the plants healthier and encourage greater blossoming if it is divided into more manageable portions.

Just remove the plant from the pot and divide a few of the roots. Look for the roots that are simple to separate and their offshoots. Replant in a fresh container after removing these.

You might split your anthurium in half or get 10 new plants, depending on how big it is. You should take advantage of this chance to give away your anthurium divisions. Give the ten potted anthuriums to friends or use them as hostess gifts if you don’t need them. A bouquet of these lovely and simple-to-grow tropical flowers would make anyone happy.

How are anthuriums kept from blooming?

Anthuriums are renowned for their extravagant, exotic flower bracts, which frequently bloom all year long and appear in vivid hues of red, pink, and white. Therefore, it can be very upsetting if your anthurium isn’t flowering while generating foliage that seems healthy.

Why isn’t my anthurium in bloom? Since anthuriums are fussy about their surroundings, problems like wet soil or inadequate illumination might keep them from flowering. By giving your anthurium plenty of indirect sunlight, appropriate watering, high humidity, and weekly feedings with diluted phosphorus-rich fertilizer, you may encourage it to bloom.

Seek out a copy of my book, “Houseplants Made Easy,” if you want to maintain all of your indoor plants healthy and flowering year after year.

What is the lifespan of anthurium plants?

When cultivated inside as houseplants, anthurium plants can live for five years or longer. They can be multiplied to extend their lifespan. But a single flamingo flower plant only lives for around 5 years.

Naturally, there will always be exceptions who live a lot longer. It might not be able to revive your plant, though, if it is towards the end of its life. Perhaps nature has completed its task.

The most likely reason for a deteriorating plant that is about or older than 5 years old and you have not changed its care is that the plant is dying of old age.

How frequently do I need to water my anthurium?

H2O and Humidity

Low to medium water requirements apply to this houseplant. In between waterings, let the soil to dry out. If you reside in a hot climate, water your lawn once every two to three days; if it rains frequently, water as needed. The anthurium needs appropriate drainage most of all.

How can the leaves of anthurium be made larger?

Despite appearing lush and robust at the greenhouse or garden center, many new Anthurium owners discover that their houseplant doesn’t seem to be all that interested in expanding. It might be challenging to establish the conditions these tropical plants require to flourish in temperate settings. Let’s discuss the causes of delayed or stopped anthurium growth and how to restart it.

Light, humidity, and temperature are the three most critical elements for anthurium growth. Your plant may appear dormant until spring arrives since those components often decrease throughout the winter. Additionally, it’s crucial to provide your anthurium the proper amount of nourishment and moisture so that it may grow new roots, leaves, and stems.

It’s possible that your anthurium needs to be repotted because it has outgrown its container. Flamingo flowers are actually happiest when they have room to expand, despite some people’s claims that they “prefer to be root bound.” We’ll go over the ideal conditions for anthuriums in more detail before offering some straightforward advice for encouraging healthy growth in your plant.