How to grow and care for Anthurium radicans Indoors
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Botanical name: Anthurium radicans
Family: Araceae
Anthurium radicans Description
Anthurium radicans also known as Anthurium Malyi is a popular houseplant for its lovely, glossy, blistered-looking, heart-shaped, dark-green leaves which are deeply veined and for its showy flowers with a maroon pinkish color.
Anthurium radicans has been greatly used by gardeners to produce a lot of new hybrids with remarkable features, but these hybrids can only produce sterile flowers.
Anthurium radicans Size
Anthurium radicans is a small herbaceous evergreen tropical perennial plant which grows to a height of about 1.8 ft.
Anthurium radicans Flower
The beautiful flowers in Anthurium radicans have both female and male organs but the female becomes more receptive before the male and therefore rely on insects for pollination.
Anthurium radicans Origin
Anthurium radicans is native to Southeastern Brazil and some parts of Ecuador where it can be found growing as a small creeping plant.
Buy beautiful Anthurium Plants from Etsy.
Photo Credit: Shopee Malaysia
Anthurium radicans Care Indoors
Anthurium radicans grows best under bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil. It requires average warmth and humid conditions inorder to thrive.
The best soil for growing Anthurium radicans should be free-draining and rich in organic matter. Continue reading for a detail account on the best growing conditions for Anthurium radicans.
Anthurium radicans Light Requirements
Anthurium radicans grows best in bright, indirect light. A curtain-filtered sunny window is perfect. It can also grow under a grow light.
Protect your Anthurium radicans from direct sunlight to avoid scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
How to water Anthurium radicans
Water Anthurium radicans liberally and keep the soil moist at all times during the growing season but reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist. Read more on how to water houseplants
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of your Anthurium radicans.
Temperature for Anthurium radicans
Anthurium radicans requires an average warmth with a minimum of 160C to thrive.
Protect the plant from cold draughts to avoid sudden changes in temperature. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Anthurium radicans
Anthurium radicans thrive in humid conditions. Raise humidity for your Anthurium radicans by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Clean the leaves of your Anthurium radicans by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust. Do not leave water drops on the leaves as it may cause fungal infestations. Read more on how to clean houseplants.
Anthurium radicans Fertlizer (Feeding)
Feed your Anthurium radicans every 4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, liquid fertilizer. Withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.
Regularly flush out accumulated salts in the soil for your Anthurium radicans by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Allow it to run for a few minutes and repeat the process several times. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Anthurium radicans Repotting
Repot your Anthurium radicans every 2 years at the beginning of the growing season. Use a pot one-size larger and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot.
Soil for Anthurium radicans
The best soil for Anthurium radicans should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.
Most potting mixes designed for aroids are ideal for Anthurium radicans. Buy quality Aroids Potting Soil for your Anthurium radicans from Etsy.
Anthurium radicans Pruning
Pruning your Anthurium radicans is easy. Remove yellow and dead leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
Cut the leaves at the base of the stem with a sharp sterlized knife or scissors to avoid unnecessary injuries which can lead to disease infestations.
Cut away any dead and wayward leaves in your Anthurium radicans to maintain the shape of your plant. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
Anthurium radicans Propagation
Anthurium radicans can be propagated during the growing season from from splits by plant division. We have outlined herebelow Anthurium radicans propagation by plant division.
How to propagate Anthurium radicans by plant division
Water the Anthurium radicans thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.
Take out the Anthurium radicans from its pot and carefully divide it into sections by pulling apart the roots. Ensure each section has adequate roots to hasten establishment.
Select a 6 or 8 in. pot and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.
Fill the pot with loose, free-draining potting mix and make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the Anthurium radicans section.
Place the Anthurium radicans section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base while taking care not to bury it too deep; maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.
Water the soil thoroughly and place the set up in a well-lit, warm place until the new plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.
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Anthurium radicans Problems Indoors
Anthurium radicans problems indoors are brought about by cultural faults. These problems include; brown leaf tips, yellow leaves, leaf spots, drooping leaves, pests and diseases among others. Read on for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Anthurium radicans brown leaf tips
Two reasons are responsible for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium radicans. One reason for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium radicans is that the air is too dry.
Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for your Anthurium radicans. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second reason for brown leaf tips in your Anthurium radicans is soggy soil. Maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining (drains easily).
Anthurium radicans yellow leaves
There are two causes of yellow leaves in your Anthurium radicans. One cause of yellow leaves in your Anthurium radicans is soggy soil.
Maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining.
The second cause of yellow leaves in your Anthurium radicans is cold draughts (cold air). Protect your Anthurium radicans from cold draughts or place it away from windy doors and windows.
Anthurium radicans brown leaf spots
The brown leaf spots are sunburn marks caused by exposure of your Anthurium radicans to direct sunlight. Move your Anthurium radicans to a shaded place or use a curtain to filter the light.
Anthurium radicans drooping leaves and stems
There are four causes of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium radicans. The first cause of drooping leaves in your Anthurium radicans is low humidity.
Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for your Anthurium radicans. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium radicans is incorrect watering; either underwatering or overwatering.
Maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.
The third cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium radicans is too high temperature due to exposure to direct sunlight. Protect your plant from direct sunlight by filtering the light with a sheer curtain.
The fourth cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Anthurium radicans is pests and diseases infestation. Inspect your plant and take control measures for these pests (see below).
Anthurium radicans pests
The common pests in Anthurium radicans are spider mites, aphids and fungus gnats. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Anthurium radicans Diseases
Anthurium radicans is prone to root-rot disease which is more prevalent in soggy soil.
Maintain the soil moist but not soggy. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil.
Is Anthurium radicans toxic?
Anthurium radicans like other Anthuriums is toxic to both humans and pets.
Anthurium radicans contains oxalate crystals which can cause digestive distress, breathing problems and skin irritation.
Always wear gloves when handling your Anthurium radicans and wash your hands thereafter.
