Soil for anthurium - what kind of soil is needed for a flower

The key to active growth and development of anthurium is a properly selected soil. The people call the flower "male happiness" - it is an atypical houseplant with many distinctive characteristics, and therefore the requirements for its content are increased.

Ground requirements for anthurium

The soil must meet the following characteristics:

• High degree of friability.
• The presence of air pockets.
• No earth caking and compaction.
• Good conductivity to the roots of water and air.
• The reaction is slightly acidic. The recommended pH level is between 5.5 and 6.5.
• Environmental friendliness and purity of soil elements.

The secret of beauty and abundance of flowering "male happiness" lies in the correctness of the soil mixture used

Such requirements are justified by the fact that the root system of the anthurium is similar in structure and characteristics to the roots of an orchid, which practically do not need soil.

Prepared or purchased soil must be selected so that it does not differ much from the usual environment for a flower.

What soil is suitable for "male happiness"

Land for anthurium needs a certain composition, each element in which has its own purpose:

• Peat provides the soil with the necessary level of acidity. Thanks to peat, the soil becomes loose and airy. This element is a source of nutrients and minerals.
• Sphagnum moss permeates water, gives lightness to the earth. It is needed in order to maintain a certain level of moisture near the plant's root system, preventing drying out. Promotes the best and quickest survival of young flowers and a decrease in stress for the plant after transplanting. It is placed in the pot last, on the soil. It is always recommended to keep the moss in a slightly moist state.
• Sand is responsible for the lightness of the soil. The presence of sand in the substrate prevents soil caking and moisture stagnation.

The correct mixture of all components and their dosage provides the flower with a nutritious basis for growth and flowering

• Overripe needles are the most valuable element for soil with a low acidity level. The needles make the earth loose and light, and maintains the pH. Has a bactericidal effect, reducing the likelihood of infections.
• Turf is an organic ingredient that makes the substrate porous.
• Charcoal increases the resistance of the substrate to bacteria and fungi. It is also used as drainage. And the presence of charcoal in the soil is the prevention of infections and fungus.
• Leafy earth makes the soil loose and light. The presence of rotten and overripe leaves provides a slightly acidic pH level.
• Compost is decomposed organic matter that nourishes the earth and saturates it with macro and microelements.

The soil for "male happiness", as a rule, is enriched with a large amount of nutrients and minerals.What kind of land is suitable for transplanting anthurium - made independently or purchased, each gardener decides for himself. When transplanting, the transshipment method is used: the flower is carefully taken out of the old container, a lump of the old earth is left around the roots. It is placed in a new pot. The voids are covered with earth.

Pros and cons of purchased soil and prepared independently

In which land to plant anthurium, ready-made purchased or prepared independently, each gardener chooses for himself. Homemade and purchased land have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Ready substrate

Purchased soils should be selected only of high quality

DIY flower soil has the following advantages:

• the use of the same substrate, when planting and transplanting anthurium, reduces the level of stress and contributes to the fastest acclimatization of the plant;
• the ability to accurately dose all the elements, according to the recipe for soil preparation;
• confidence in a sufficient amount of macro and micronutrients;
• saving.

Disadvantages of using a DIY potting mix:

• additional time spent on collecting all the ingredients and preparing the soil, since not all components can be found on the site;
• the likelihood of contamination of ingredients by fungus or infection;
• additional expenses for the purchase of ingredients.

How to cook earth at home

To be sure that the potting mix is ​​of good quality and that all the ingredients are present, it is best to prepare your own potting mix. There are several recipes for preparing earth that is suitable for anthurium. In all recipes, ingredients are mixed in equal parts:

• Soil mixture for azaleas, substrate for epiphytes, crushed charcoal and sphagnum moss.
• Peat, pine needles, deciduous humus. All ingredients that are collected independently in the natural environment must be treated with sterilizing agents or chemically decontaminated.
• Soil from coniferous forest, only the top layer that lies under shrubs and trees, deciduous humus and peat.

If sod is present in the recipe, it is taken 1 part more than the other ingredients. If there is compost, add 1 part less.

How to choose a ready-made substrate

If the gardener decided to plant anthurium in purchased soil, when purchasing it, you should focus on the following characteristics:

• Suitability. It is important to always look at the production time of the potting mix. It is prohibited to purchase an expired product. Peat during long-term storage changes its chemical and physical characteristics.
• Ingredients. It is important that the mixture contains minerals and is balanced with each other.
• The three most important trace elements are phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, each containing from 300 to 400 mg / l.

The modern market offers a wide selection of ready-made soils, you need to choose those that are intended for epiphytes

What ready-made soil for anthurium is suitable to provide the plant with full care:

• "Gardens of Auriki". Ingredients: pine bark and needles, sand, sod earth, sphagnum moss.
• "Forpro" - birch coal, perlite, high-moor peat and larch (bark).
• "Polessky" - perlite, chips and coconut fiber, charcoal, purified river sand, bark, low peat.
• Rich Land - balance of all ingredients, pH 4.5-5.5. High percentage of organic components. This mixture is optimal for ensuring frequent and long-lasting "male happiness" flowering.

What additives can be used to improve purchased soil

No matter how versatile and high-quality the purchased mixture is, there are always ways to improve it. Anthurium loves a combination of many components. Recommended additives based on the initial presence of certain ingredients:

• sphagnum moss retains moisture at the root system;
• vermiculite or perlite enriches with nutrients, loosens the soil;
• brick or expanded clay chips are used as drainage, provides lightness and looseness to the soil;
• charcoal prevents root decay;
• coarse sand gives lightness to the ground and contributes to the formation of air pockets;
• needles - a source of nutrients;
• coconut fiber and chips - macro and microelements.

Additional ingredients are added only those that are absent in the purchased land and in a small amount, no more than 5% -10% of the total mass of the soil.

Disinfection of soil before planting anthurium

It is recommended to disinfect both purchased soil and prepared independently.

Disinfection of the soil helps to destroy possible infection and fungus that can harm the flower.

Thermal and chemical methods are used for disinfection:

• The prepared soil is placed on a baking sheet, placed in the oven for 1 hour at a temperature of 80 to 100 degrees.
• Low temperature treatment. You can put soil in the freezer or take it outside in winter if it is -7 and colder. Keep the soil in the cold for at least 5 days.
• Steam disinfection. The soil is poured into a container, which is placed on a steam bath. Soak for 1.5 hours.

The method of freezing the earth is used quite rarely, since it has some drawbacks. Firstly, it is not very convenient to use it, and secondly, it is not suitable for those mixtures in which vermicompost is present. Another significant disadvantage of freezing is that it does not rid the earth of the causative agent of a disease such as late blight.

It has its pitfalls and method of cultivating the earth in the oven. Not all pathogens die at high temperatures. Before putting the earth on a baking sheet, it is recommended to pre-pour it with boiling water and mix thoroughly.

The chemical method of treatment includes the use of fungicides. Recommended drugs:

• Fitosporin;
• "Glyocladin";
• Extrasol;
• "Barrier".

They are used according to the instructions.

The method of soil cultivation with a solution of potassium permanganate has proven itself well. For 10 liters of water from 3 to 5 crystals. Watering the land is carried out at a dosage per 1 sq. meter from 30 to 50 ml.

Drainage

Drainage is an important element in anthurium potting mix. For this, the following materials are used:

• Broken shards. They can be made from pottery that is crushed with a hammer.
• Polyfoam - the plate breaks into small fragments.
• Stones up to 1.5 cm in diameter. You can buy them at an aquarium store.
• Expanded clay.Before putting it in a pot, rinse thoroughly, or even better, boil it to extract harmful salts from it.

Drainage is required for anthurium

Expanded clay is preferred for anthurium as drainage. It is taken large in order to provide the best looseness to the ground, and with it, the ingress of air to the root system. In addition, expanded clay has a positive effect on the pH level.

Problems when growing anthurium associated with improperly selected soil

The growth and flowering of anthurium, its immune system, and a tendency to disease depend on the correctness of the selected soil. If the soil is not suitable, this can result in a number of problems with the flower:

• Leaves turn yellow and fall - the presence of mineral components in the earth in excess.
• The appearance of brown spots on the leaf plates - the ingredients in the potting mix are incorrectly selected.
• The leaves turn black - there is an excess of calcium in the earth.

Flower treatment includes removing damaged parts and normalizing conditions for growing it. Transplanting the plant into the correct soil is required.

Anthurium or male happiness - a flower that is not too whimsical, but requires a certain soil for its unusual, aerial roots. A well-chosen potting mix will help grow beautiful, often abundant blooming anthurium. He needs light and loose soil, enriched with macro and microelements, with the obligatory presence of drainage.