Anthurium Tickled Pink

Published April 25, 2017

Tickled Pink
Photo courtesy of Oglesby Plants

Anthurium have been cultivated for many decades for cut flower production. Since the mid 1980’s, Anthurium’s popularity as a flowering pot plant has increased and has become a popular addition to many tropical growers’ product lines. Anthurium is relatively easy to grow, can have attractive foliage and under the proper environment, produce long-lasting flowers year-round. Currently, numerous cultivars with different flower sizes, shapes and colors are readily available.

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Production

Commercially available young plants of pot Anthurium are produced from tissue cultured plants which provide a clean, uniform start. Anthurium can be grown and marketed in pot sizes ranging from 4” to 10”. It is very important to select the proper cultivar for the desired finished pot size. Contact your young plant supplier to get recommendations on optimum container size and finish grow times of each cultivar. To finish in larger containers (8-10”) many growers start plants in 4” pots then after growing approximately 12 to 20 weeks, repot to larger containers.

Photo courtesy of Oglesby Plants

Use a light media mix with a pH range of 5.7-6.2. The best media should have good drainage and aeration and have good water holding capacity. Mixes with two parts Canadian peat to one part perlite or 1:1:1 peat, perlite and composted bark work well. For small pots, the addition of coco coir will result in faster rooting and shorter production times. Plant the young plants deep up to the first node below the apical growing point but do not cover the growing point. Do not overpack media around the plant to allow good air exchange around the roots.
Anthuriums grow under a wide range of light intensities but their actual performance is dependent on the cultivar, elevation, temperature and nutrition. Generally, most Anthurium cultivars grow well at light intensities ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 foot candles (fc) (16-27 klux). Light intensities higher than 2,500 fc (27 klux) can result in faded flower and leaf color.
Optimum temperature ranges are 76-82°F during day and 70°F during night. Temperatures higher than 90°F in combination with high humidity may cause stress.
Fertilize plants with 150 ppm of N constant feed, with well-balanced fertilizer, 7-5-17 or 20-10-20. Avoid urea and high ammonia forms of nitrogen.
Watch for mites, broad mites, thrips and white flies. Growers have experienced phytotoxicity on Anthurium cultivars from the use of certain pesticides, especially systemic pesticides. Never apply pesticides while plants are under any form of stress, i.e., moisture or hot temperatures.
For diseases, watch for botrytis, pythium, phytophthora and anthracnose. Anthurium blight, caused by Xanthomonas, is the greatest challenge for plants grown in open structures and/or with overhead irrigation. Xanthomonas resistant or tolerant cultivars are available so ask your young plant supplier.

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Breaking new ground