8 Common Anthurium Problems and How to Fix Them
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Anthurium common problems include yellow leaves, brown leaves, drooping leaves, brown leaf tips, leaf spots, lack of blooms, pests, and diseases among others.
Both the popular Anthuriums types and the rare Anthurium varieties, are exquisite houseplants prized for their lush green foliage and vibrant blooms.
However, like all plants Anthuriums can experience various issues. In this guide, we will cover the most common Anthurium problems and provide practical solutions to restore its health.
Anthurium Troubleshooting and Treatment Guide
(A) Yellow leaves
Anthurium leaves turn yellow before falling off. Yellowing may start at the edges or affect entire leaves.
Causes and Solutions
- Overwatering
- Water your Anthurium extensively during the growing season and allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist. Do not water on a schedule.
- Cut down on watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
- Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from being waterlogged.
- Pot your Anthuriums in a airy, well-draining potting mix that does not hold excess water.
- Underwatering
- Regularly check the soil moisture. If it feels dry, water your Anthurium thoroughly until water drains through the drainage holes. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
- As you decrease watering in the cold season, do not allow the soil to dry out completely for prolonged periods of time. Learn more on how to water houseplants the correct way.
- Low Light
- Position the plant in a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright indirect away from sunshine or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is too low.
- Nutrient Deficiency
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.
- Reduce or stop feeding in the cold season to avoid fertilizer burn as growth is reduced at this time.
- Cold Drafts
- Keep your Anthuriums away from drafty conditions and maintain an average warmth within the range of 18-270C.
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow leaves in Anthuriums. When roots sit in water for too long, they suffocate and start to rot, resulting in yellow leaves.
How to Fix It
If the soil is too dry, roots cannot absorb nutrients and water efficiently, therefore, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
How to Fix It
If your Anthurium does not get enough light, its leaves turn pale yellow. Insufficient light weakens the plant and affects chlorophyll production which is needed for making food for the plant.
How to Fix It
A lack of essential nutrients, especially nitrogen, can cause pale or yellowing leaves. Nitrogen deficiency results in overall yellowing, while iron deficiency leads to yellowing between veins.
How to Fix It
Cold drafts coming from drafty windows, windy doors, air conditioning units and others will lead to sudden drops in temperature which will result in reduced growth, yellow leaves and lead drop.
How to Fix It
Read more on these 15 Common Causes of Yellow Leaves in Indoor Plants.
(B) Brown leaves
Brown leaves in Anthurium are caused by incorrect watering, too little light, wrong feeding, poor quality soil, being root-bound, pests, diseases, hot temperatures, age among others.
Causes and Solutions
- Incorrect Watering
- Water your Anthurium liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in the cold season but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
- Too Little Light
- Place your Anthurium in a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light. You may instal a grow light if natural light in your home is not adequate.
- Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant absorbs enough light on all sides to avoid unbalanced growth.
Either extreme can result in brown leaves. Overwatering will lead to soggy soil (excess water in the soil in the rootzone) which kills the roots. Since the dead roots cannot take up water and nutrients the plant begins to die; leaves yellow, brown and drop.
Underwatering results in too little moisture in the soil for the plant to take up to the leaves. Therefore, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water to the leaves which turn yellow, them brown and begin to fall.
How to Fix It
Enough light is needed for making food that is required for energy and growth of the plant. If the light is too low the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the plant begins to die from the leaves which turn yellow, brown and eventually die.
How to Fix It
Check out these 10 Causes of Anthurium Brown Leaves and their Remedies.
(C) Drooping or wilting leaves
Anthurium wilting or drooping leaves are soft and floopy.
Causes and Solutions
- Underwatering
- Water the plant immediately and the leaves should perk up.
- Never allow the soil to dry out completely; maintain the soil moderately moist during the growing season and fairly moist in the cold period.
- Poor Quality Soil
- Pot your Anthurium in loose, free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Potting mixes designed for Aroids are ideal for these plants.
- Being pot-bound
- Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole. Repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is loose enough and well-drained. Take a look at these self watering planters with drainage hole on Amazon.
- Repotting shock
- To reduce repotting shock, water your Anthurium thoroughly one day priot to repotting; a well hydrated plant experiences less repotting shock.
- Avoid making too many changes at once. For instance, after repotting, maintain the plant in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.
- Temperature stress
- Avoid hot direct sunlight and place your plant in bright indirect light.
- Keep your Anthuriums away from drafts to prevent extreme temperatures. Maintain an average temperature of 18-270C. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for these plants. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Too dry soil causes the leaves to lose of turgidity (stiffness) become dehydrated and droopy.
How to Fix It
Poor quality soil does not drain easily and easily becomes compacted or soggy which negatively impacts the growth leading to drooping leaves. Soggy soil can lead to root-rot and droopy leaves.
How to Fix It
When the Anthurium Plant is pot-bound, the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant. Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their stiffness and they begin to wilt and droop.
How to Fix It
Repotting may cause your plant some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and drooping leaves before it can adjust to the new growing conditions.
How to Fix It
Exposing your plant to hot direct sunshine and hot hot drafts from heating sources, stoves and others will result in extremely high temperatures. On the other hand cold drafts from AC units, drafty windows, windy doors and others will cause too cold temperatures. These extreme temperatures will stress the plant leading to wilting and drooping leaves.
How to Fix It
(D) Brown leaf edges and tips
Leaves develop brown, crispy edges or dry tips.
Causes and Solutions
- Low Humidity
- Maintain humidity above 60% for your Anthurium to thrive. To increase humidity use a humidifier or set the pot a wet pebble tray.
- You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen and other moist areas in the home.
- Inconsistent Watering
- Check soil moisture frequently and water when needed. If it feels dry, water the plant but if it feels wet do not water.
- Excess Fertilizer
- Take care not to over fertilize your plant by following the manufacturer's instructions on the label.
- To remove excess salts, Flush the soil with water every 1-2 months. Run a steady stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage hole. Repeat the process several times. Learn more on how to feed houseplants.
- Hard Water or Dissolved Chemicals
- Use filtered, distilled, or rainwater to water your Anthuriums.
Dry air results in too low air humidity which causes leaf edges to dry out and turn brown.
How to Fix It
Alternating between too much and too little water stresses the plant. This cause the plant to respond with brown leaf tips and edges.
How to Fix It
Too much fertilizer can cause salt buildup, leading to brown leaf tips.
How to Fix It
Chlorine, fluoride and other dissolved chemicals in tap water can cause brown leaf tips. Anthuriums are sensitive to chemicals dissolved in water.
How to Fix It
(E) Brown leaf spots
Leaves develop irregular brown spots. Spots may spread or cause leaf drop.
Causes and Solutions
- Fungal or Bacterial Infections
- Trim off and discard (burn) affected leaves to minimize spread of diseases.
- Avoid soggy soil by making sure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is well-draining.
- Ensure that there is good airflow around the plant.
- Scorching
- Replace the plant in a more shaded place away from hot direct sunshine but ensure it receives bright indirect light for a lush growth.
- Pest Damage
- Inspect leaves closely and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Ensure to follow the manufacturer' instructions on the label.
Wet and humid conditions coupled with poor circulation create the perfect conditions for disease infestations. One of the most common fungal disease in Anthuriums is leaf spot.
How to Fix It
Hot direct sunlight falling on your Anthurium leaves can scorch the leaves resulting in ugly brown marks (spots).
How to Fix It
Insect pests like aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus gnats can leave brown spots.
How to Fix It
(F) Lack of blooms (flowers)
Anthurium flowers are spectacular to have and adds to their charm. But when conditions are wrong, they will not bloom.
Causes and Solutions
- Insufficient light
- Place your Anthurium in bright indirect light and avoid deep shade.
- You may instal grow lights if the natural lighting is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
- Improper watering
- Check the soil moisture content regularly; avoid extremes of dryness or sogginess. Keep the soil consistently moist in the growing period and slightly moist during the cold period.
- Overpotting
- Repot your plant in a snug pot; a slightly root-bound Anthurium blooms better than one in an oversized pot.
- Lack of nutrients
- Use a bloom-boosting fertilizer; feed you Anthurium with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing period. Withhold feeding in the cold season to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.
Low light conditions prevent flowering. Light provides the energy necessary for the plant to make food that is needed for growth and flower production.
How to Fix It
Both overwatering and underwatering can prevent flowering.
How to Fix It
The wrong pot size; a pot that is too large diverts energy into root growth instead of flowers.
How to Fix It
Anthurium requires adequate nutrients to make food that is needed for growth and flower production. Phosphorus deficiency reduces blooming.
How to Fix It
(G) Rot disease
Anthuriums are prone to root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil.
How to Fix It
- Use a pot with a drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting overwet.
- Mix perlite or sand into the soil to improve aeration and drainage.
- Check the roots. Remove the plant from its pot, trim black, mushy roots, and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution. Repot the plant in fresh soil.
- Cut down on watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.
(H) Pests Infestations
Common Pests in Anthuriums are;
Spider mites: Tiny, red or brown dots with fine webbing on leaves.
Mealybugs: They are white, cotton-like clusters on stems and leaf joints.
Fungus gnats: The larvae of small, black, flying insects.
Aphids: Tiny, soft-bodied insects also commonly called plant lice.
How to Treat Pest Infestations
Spider mites & mealybugs
- Spray the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days.
- Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove pests.
- For a heavy infestation, spray the plant with a systemic insecticide as indicated on the label.
- Increase humidity, as dry conditions encourage mites.
Fungus gnats
- Always allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out before watering to deter the fungus gnats from infesting the soil.
- Cover the soil surface with a layer of sand or ornamental stones to prevent the gnats from getting to the soil.
- Use yellow sticky traps to capture the adults before they lay eggs.
- Drench the infected soil with a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part alcohol.
- Drench the infected soil with a solution of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water and repeat as necessary.
- Sprinkle mosquito bits over the surface of the infected soil and water them in.
- Drench the infected soil with the Pyrethrin-based insecticide as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Aphids
- Wash off the aphids with a high pressure stream of water. For delicate foliage, turn the plant upside down and dip the foliage in a bucket of water to wash off the pests. Repeat as needed.
- Wipe off the pests with cotton buds or a soft cloth dabbed in rubbing alcohol every 7 days.
- Spray a severely affected plant with a contact Pyrethrin-based insecticide as instructed by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
Anthuriums are tropical plants that require proper care to stay healthy and vibrant. By understanding and addressing common issues like yellowing leaves, brown tips, pests, and lack of flowers, you can ensure your Anthurium thrives year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are my Anthurium leaves turning brown?
Brown leaves in Anthurium usually indicate low humidity, overwatering, or excess fertilizer. Increase humidity, adjust watering, and reduce fertilization.
2. What should I do if my Anthurium has yellow leaves?
Yellow leaves are often caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Allow the soil to dry slightly before watering and ensure the pot has drainage holes.
3. How do I revive a wilting Anthurium?
Check the soil moisture. If too dry, water it thoroughly; if too wet, improve drainage and let the soil dry. Maintain warm, humid conditions.
4. Why is my Anthurium not blooming?
Lack of blooms is often due to low light or nutrient deficiency. Move your Anthurium to a brighter spot and use a bloom-boosting fertilizer (phosphorous-rich fertilizer).
5. What is the best soil mix for Anthuriums?
The best soil for Anthuriums is a mix of orchid bark, peat moss, and perlite which ensures good aeration and drainage, preventing root rot.
6. Can I grow Anthuriums in low light?
Anthuriums prefer bright indirect light. While they can survive in lower light, they will grow slower and will not bloom as often.
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