Anthurium (Male happiness) flower - description and cultivation
Content:
Anthurium (anthurium) is a plant of the Aroid family, which growers grow indoors and is often called "male happiness". Decorative culture can be a decoration for any interior. Shiny flowers of various shapes give the perennial a special sophistication. The aroma of flowers depends on the type of anthurium.
Description of the flower
Male happiness is a flower that will become a real decoration of any interior. Experts have more than 70 plant hybrids. The leaf plates of the decorative culture are painted in a dark green palette. Their length is within 35-40 cm.
Male happiness
The foliage is heart-shaped or arrow-shaped. Flowers in appearance resemble cobs, painted in white, yellow and pink shades. They are surrounded by luxurious, shiny “bedspreads”, the shade of which can be either white or dark red. The veil is heart-shaped.
You can admire the flowers for 7 months. Properly caring for a perennial, you can achieve a voluminous plant, the height of which will reach 75-85 cm, and the diameter will exceed 48 cm.
Popular varieties of anthurium
Experts count more than 70 hybrid varieties of the plant, which is popularly called "male happiness". Anthurium can decorate any room. The abundance of varieties makes it possible for each grower to choose the most suitable type of perennial.
Among the most popular varieties of anthurium, it is worth highlighting:
- André is an ornamental culture, the height of which reaches 90-100 cm. The leaf plates are large in size. The root system is airy. The length of the peduncles is in the range of 12-15 cm. The glossy veil is endowed by nature with a heart-shaped shape. Its length can exceed 18 cm. This is an anthurium, which is easy to care for at home and can become a real decoration of the room.
- Scherzer is a common type of male happiness. The stem length indicator reaches 38-40 cm. Matte leaf plates are painted in a dark green palette. The sheets are covered with dots on both sides. The length of the peduncle is within 28-30 cm. The ears are colored orange or yellow.
- Crystal anthurium is a flower with leaf plates painted in deep green shades. The foliage is shaped like a heart. The bedspreads are velvety with crystal luster and silvery veins. During the flowering period, a rather nondescript flower appears on the plant, the veil of which does not exceed 8 cm in length. The tiny ear, which is within 20 mm, is purple in color.
- The majestic anthurium is a plant belonging to the category of decorative leafy culture. The variety is characterized by fast growth. Large velvety leaf plates can reach 40 cm in diameter. The tips of the leaves are pointed. White veins are clearly visible on the green mass, creating amazing patterns on the surface.
- Dissected anthurium. The green foliage is large and dissected. The edges of the green mass are wavy.The bedspread is painted in cream tones, and the inflorescences are in a beige-green palette.
- Climbing red anthurium is a flower whose height, with proper care, reaches 100 cm. Leaf plates can be oval or lanceolate. On the underside of the foliage, small dots are clearly visible, which begin to turn black. The peduncles of the variety are rather short, the inflorescences are inconspicuous. During the period of setting berries, anthurium takes on a very spectacular look. Flowers of this variety are most often painted in white, pink, red, purple palette. The variety is capable of growing fast enough.
Crystal grade
Features of anthurium care
By properly caring for an ornamental crop, you can achieve the longest flowering and spectacular appearance of the bushes. How to care for anthurium? Below you can familiarize yourself with the main features of caring for anthurium.
Temperature
Male happiness is a tropical culture, so the plant belongs to the thermophilic category. Throughout the year, it is important to maintain the indoor temperature within 22-28 degrees.
When choosing a place for placing a pot of flowers, it should be borne in mind that male happiness does not like direct sunlight on leaf plates. Failure to comply with this rule can provoke the occurrence of burns on the green mass.
In the winter months, it is permissible to reduce the temperature in the room to 20 degrees. However, to speed up the onset of the flowering period, the temperature should be raised to 22-28 degrees after the buds are laid on the plant.
Air humidity
Anthurium prefers high humidity, which prevails in tropical forests. The humidity indicator in the apartment can also reach 75%.
It is advisable to carry out systematic spraying of the plant in the summer months. For this purpose, you can use a spray bottle.
Climbing variety
Lighting and location selection
Tropical culture prefers diffused and soft lighting. In the absence of a sufficient amount of light, the plant will cease to please with flowering and will begin to wither.
Flower pots should not stand in areas where direct sunlight falls so that ultraviolet radiation does not cause burns on the leaf plates and does not lead to the death of the flower.
When choosing a place for placing pots with flowers, it should be borne in mind that the eastern part of the room near the windows is ideal for tropical culture.
Watering and fertilizing rules
Experts recommend moistening the soil abundantly, but not often. In the summer, it is enough to water the anthurium 3 times a week. At the same time, moisture should not stagnate, which will make it possible to avoid the occurrence of fungal infections and mold. In the cold season, the frequency of soil moisture is reduced to 1 time in 7-10 days.
Is it necessary to feed the flower of male happiness? Anthurium needs systematic fertilization during the period of active growth. Experienced flower growers recommend applying mineral and organic fertilizing every 10-14 days.
Types of flowers anthurium
The soil
It is worth paying tribute to the importance of selecting the correct soil composition. The soil mixture is harvested before planting begins. It should include:
- rough fibrous deciduous soil;
- light turf soil;
- a small part of marsh moss.
Such a slightly acidic soil mixture is capable of retaining moisture. It is important that the substrate is loose. It is important for young plants to renew the soil every year.
By properly caring for an ornamental crop, you can achieve the longest possible flowering, which will delight the owner of the plant from early spring to mid-November.
Features of winter care
In the cold season, the frequency of soil moisture is reduced. Flowers must be taken to a cooler room, the temperature in which reaches 19-20 degrees.
During this period, the plant in the house does not have enough lighting, so it is possible to carry out supplementary lighting with phytolamps.
Pruning
As soon as the flowering period comes to an end, the wilting buds can be cut off. For this purpose, experts recommend using a sharp knife. The flower is cut near the base of the buds.
The area of the slices is sprinkled with activated carbon. As soon as the cover of the inflorescence begins to dry, it can also be carefully cut off. The core dries on its own.
Anthurium during flowering
Reproduction
Several methods are used to reproduce anthurium. The most popular ones are described below.
- Division of daughter stems
Several lateral branches with a root system must be carefully separated from the bush. The cut shoots are planted in a container filled with soil mixture.
- Cuttings
To propagate anthurium using a similar method, it is recommended to cut off the upper part of the shoot and root it in a separate container. The length of the stems with leaf blades should be within 15-20 cm.
The depth of burial of cuttings into the soil with a small amount of vermiculite should reach 5 cm. The soil is systematically moistened. After 20-30 days, a root system will begin to form on the cuttings.
- Seed breeding method
The most time consuming and time consuming. Seeds purchased in a specialized store are washed in a weak solution of manganese.
The planting containers are filled with soil, on top of which a layer of perlite is poured. The seed is buried in the ground, and the container is covered with a film material. Shoots should appear in 21 days.
As soon as the second leaves are formed on the seedlings, they can be cut into separate pots filled with charcoal, leafy soil, mullein and peat.
- Reproduction of anthurium by side shoots
A clod of soil is removed from the container with the parent plant. The shoot is carefully separated from the adult bush. The bush is planted back into the pot and the shoot should be planted in a greenhouse.
A couple of months after rooting, the seedling can be transplanted into a separate container.
- Layers
The tops of long stems are often used for reproduction. Part of the shoot is freed from dried scales and leaf plates, wrapped in sphagnum. A film is wrapped over the dressing to prevent moisture evaporation.
After 7-14 days, thanks to the moss, roots begin to form. Such cuttings are suitable for cutting and further rooting in a separate container. The remaining parts of the stems will soon please with the appearance of lateral processes. Thus, the plants can be effectively rejuvenated.
Scherzer's variety
Transfer
In order to achieve the fastest possible growth, anthurium should be transplanted in a timely manner into larger containers filled with fresh soil mixture.
Young plants need an annual transplant, during which it is important to examine the root system of the plants for the presence of diseased and damaged roots, which should be removed without regret.
A drainage layer is distributed on the surface of the bottom of the pot. After that, a layer of leafy soil, peat is poured into the pot. Plants are transplanted into a prepared container. The soil is abundantly moisturized.
Diseases and pests
In cases of violations of the rules for caring for anthurium, various problems may arise with the plant. Below you can find the most common diseases and pests that can harm the flower of male happiness.
- Yellow foliage often indicates too cool conditions in which plants are kept. When the leaves begin to turn yellow, it is important to move the flowers to a warmer room as soon as possible to reanimate the perennial. It is also advisable to reduce the level of humidity in the air. A couple of days after the change of scenery, the perennial will look much better.
- The lack of flowering often upsets the grower. Such a nuisance can arise against the background of a deficiency of nutrients, too large a pot, and in dim lighting. It is clear that in this case it is better to change the container to a more correct size.
Male happiness is an exquisite plant that needs proper care.
- Anthracnose or septoria, which will be evidenced by brown spots that quickly spread over the leaf plates. It is important to remove the infected plants as soon as possible, and spray the entire flower garden with special preparations. Professionals suggest which drug to choose for treatment in this case: it is advisable to purchase Scor or Ridomil Gold.
- Blackening of leaf plates, which soon begin to dry, is observed when the recommendations regarding the observance of the rules for soil moistening are ignored. It should also always be remembered that the water for irrigation must be settled.
- Gray rot affecting certain parts of the decorative culture. Rot can lead to the death of anthurium, so it is important to spray the flowers with a fungicidal agent as soon as possible.
Anthurium can be harmed not only by diseases, but also by pests such as aphids, spider mites and scale insects. To cope with insects, an ornamental crop should be treated with an effective insecticidal agent. Every 2 weeks, the sheet plates should be washed with soapy water.
Anthurium is an amazing ornamental plant that can decorate any interior. Compliance with the recommendations of specialists regarding the care of the crop will avoid the occurrence of various diseases and pest infestations. Taking some care of your green friend will extend the flowering period.
