How to properly water anthurium?

Anthurium or "male happiness", as it is commonly called, is a very beautiful ornamental plant native to tropical and subtropical climates. During the flowering period, a number of exquisite inflorescences appear from the bright green cap of the anthurium leaves. At home, the condition and appearance of this plant directly depend on the correct care and watering.

Lack of moisture by experienced growers is determined by the following criteria:

• the usually juicy color of the bracts becomes dull;
• leaves cease to be elastic and shiny, lose color;
• the ends of the leaf plate become dry and brownish spots appear;
• the angle of inclination of the leaves becomes less than 45 degrees;
• you can determine the lack of moisture by the weight of the pot.

The irrigation schedule and its strength are dependent from the following external factors:

• Pot material. Anthuriums planted in clay pots always ask for more water, which is explained by the physical properties of clay, which perfectly permits moisture through itself and allows it to evaporate from the outer surface of the pot. Anthuriums planted in plastic need less water when watering.
• Plant age. If the anthurium is young, then the top layer of soil in the pot should always be moistened. An adult plant is comfortable in drier soil.
• Development period. During flowering and activation of growth, anthurium needs a lot of moisture. At the same time, during the dormant period, it is an indication to reduce the volume of irrigation by 2 times.
• Substrate composition. If the anthurium is planted in a moss substrate, then watering must be done as it dries. At home, the dryness of the moss can be determined by lightly rubbing it with your fingers and hearing a slight crackle. And also due to a lack of moisture, the moss begins to turn yellow. At the same time, it is not worth pouring the moss, since there is a danger of rotting the root system of the plant.

For watering anthurium, experienced flower growers recommend using settled water. Watering can be done in two main ways.

• Top watering. Water the plant from above until water appears on the pan. As soon as the pallet becomes wet, watering is stopped and the flower is left alone for half an hour. After this time, the excess liquid, which is glass in the pan, must be drained. During the top watering, it is necessary to ensure that water droplets do not remain on the leaves and upper roots, as this can lead to the development of various diseases.
• Watering through the pallet. Many growers prefer to water their plants from below through a sump and consider this method to be the most correct. The essence of this method is uniform watering around the entire perimeter of the pallet. When watering through the sump, you should pay attention to how quickly and correctly the water flows from the bottom to the top. Sometimes the drainage layer becomes an obstacle to the rise of water, and the aerial roots do not receive moisture.

Anthurium belongs to subtropical exotics, therefore it responds with gratitude to spraying. For this procedure, various kinds of hand sprayers are used.Spraying allows you to moisten not only the plant itself, but also the air around it. This is of particular importance during the heating season, when the air humidity drops significantly. The procedure must be performed at least once a week.

Anthurium, like any living plant, adheres to a certain rhythm of life, which depends on the season.

• Winter. In winter, the flower needs moderate watering once a week. During the heating season, it is especially necessary to pay special attention to the humidity in the room and maintain it at the required level by all known methods: use a humidifier, a container with water, and others.
• Summer. In the summer, exotic anthurium develops especially intensively. At this time, you can observe the main phase of its growth and flowering. In this vein, it needs more moisture, so water can be poured sparingly, especially if high-quality drainage is used. After watering, after 30 minutes, water must be drained from the pan. And also in summer, daily spraying is actively used, and on especially hot days it is done up to 3 times a day.
• Autumn. In the autumn, it is necessary to monitor the activity of the plant. In conditions of continued flowering and growth, watering should be continued in summer mode. If growth slows down and new peduncles do not appear, then watering should be reduced.
• Spring. Before the awakening of anthurium after hibernation begins, it should be watered in winter mode. As soon as the flower comes to life, the amount of added liquid increases.

In addition to seasonal characteristics, there are also individual species characteristics of some anthuriums, which must also be taken into account when watering. It is worth paying attention to the following types:

• climbing anthurium does not have a dormant period, so it needs year-round watering; in addition, constant spraying of aerial parts is useful to him: leaves, stems and aerial roots;
• when growing Scherzer's anthurium, it is mandatory to reduce watering in winter and completely abandon spraying before the onset of heat;
• crystal anthurium prefers uniform watering at any time of the year;
• anthurium Andre during growth needs regular watering, which is reduced by winter; in addition, it must be sprayed daily;
• Linden's anthurium is watered exclusively through the pallet;
• Hooker's anthurium during the period of active growth is watered often and abundantly, but moisture stagnation is not allowed; during the rest of the plant, watering must be reduced;
• Wendlinger's anthurium is watered according to generally accepted rules, with the exception of spraying - it is produced up to 2 times a day in summer and 1 time in 3 days in winter, while the flowers are protected from moisture;
• Anthurium Veicha also prefers a standard watering scheme in summer and moderate watering in winter; in addition, in the warm period, the plant is sprayed every day and once every 2 days in winter.

Anthurium reacts to the state and properties of the water that is used to irrigate it. For example, if the concentration of calcium salts in the water is increased, it is too cold or hot, then watering can harm the plant. Young anthuriums are especially susceptible to these indicators. They react with yellowing and falling leaves, as well as a general deterioration in the condition. For watering anthurium, warm water at room temperature with a neutral pH level without bleach and heavy metals is suitable. These elements have the property of settling on the roots of the plant and disrupting its normal nutrition and growth.

You can also water the anthurium with rainwater. To do this, use the water that has accumulated after prolonged showers. Intermittent rains carry harmful substances, especially in industrial areas. There are several ways to improve the quality of your tap water.

• Freezing. The procedure is best done outdoors in winter. Water is poured into a metal container and exposed to frost. After half of the liquid has frozen, the remaining water is drained, and the ice is melted and used for watering. Similarly, you can prepare water by freezing water in a plastic bottle in a freezer.
• Defending. This is one of the easiest ways to prepare water for anthurium. It only takes 1 day to prepare it. The next day, the water softens as the salts settle to the bottom. Only the upper and middle layers of water should be used, and the part where salts have accumulated should be poured out.
• Boiling. This method also makes the water softer. To prepare water for watering, it should be boiled and cooled to room temperature. During the boiling process, it is possible to get rid of the lime that settles on the walls of the dishes.

For information on how to properly water anthurium, see the next video.