Anthurium scandens are extremely popular plants these days. The reason is their fresh leaves, flamingo flowers, and clusters of berry fruits. We think this is the perfect Anthurium for starters and seasoned plant carers alike.
Make sure that you go through our compact guide to find out what this plant needs, to learn all about this beautiful plant.
What Is An Anthurium Scandens?
Anthurium scandens pumila is a tropical plant from the Costa Rican forests. It has a thin brown stem with glossy lance-like leaves. It produces purple or lilac-colored berries along with flowers. In nature, it grows on top of rocks but does well in potting soil.
Anthurium Scandens Care
This plant needs indirect light of moderate intensity and 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. You can use 100 percent peat-based soil and keep it moist by watering regularly whenever it dries up. Each of the points has been elaborated on below.
– Water Requirements
Anthuriums like to be watered regularly with their soil kept moist. However, it would be best to wait for the whole soil to dry before the next watering. Whether summer or winter, always check the soil before watering.
Keep in mind that it is easy to see if your plant is ready for more water or not. Insert a thin rod through the soil near the rim. If it comes out with dry, crumbly soil attached to it, only then proceed with watering.
Most importantly, use reverse osmosis filtered water; however, distilled and rainwaters are fine too. Continued tap water use will lead to the accumulation of salts in the soil. Sometimes these soils will precipitate right on the surface of the leaves.
– Light Requirements
Anthurium does not tolerate direct sunlight very well. It likes seven to eight hours of indirect sunlight that doesn’t scorch its leaves whether you decide to keep this plant indoors or outdoors.
Anthuriums surely look good indoors, especially if their light requirements are fulfilled. It is best to place them in a well-lit room with windows. If the window faces the south, keep the plant three feet away or filter the light using a curtain.
An eastern or a western side window receives direct light for barely three to four hours. You just need to cover the windows during these few hours. As for the northern-side window, its light is too mild and needs artificial substitutes.
LED artificial lights are very reasonable to buy and keep on all day. They work as effectively as natural light, if not better. Choose a larger plant or a tree under which to place this Anthurium.
Light will fall in dappled form over the plant, just like in rainforests. Otherwise, a shaded corner or patio is the best spot for this plant. If your outdoor space has a north-facing wall, it too will protect this plant from direct light.
– Soil Requirements
Moisture retention is the primary need of any Anthurium soil. This plant doesn’t like its roots to stay in dry soil for long. Besides regular watering, you must also ensure that the soil retains moisture for long periods without causing overwatering.
Moss, especially peat moss, is a wonder ingredient for Anthurium soil. It is an organic ingredient and acts as a sponge to absorb a substantial quantity of water given to the soil. Then, it releases this water into the soil slowly, just as the roots need it.
A 100 percent peat-based soil works great for Anthuriums. However, we do add some perlite and coarse soil to shake up the soil a bit. They prevent the moss from clumping together. They also create air and water channels within the soil.
– Temperature Requirements
Scandens will survive temperatures from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Such a wide temperature range means that maintaining the right temperature during summer should not be a problem.
If your area receives extremely cold winters, you might take a few precautionary steps. Immediately move the plant indoors when outdoor temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even indoors, a window left cracked open for the night will shock the plant.
Two things happen when an Anthurium is cold-shocked. It drops all of its leaves or goes into hibernation mode to drop its energy. Once the plant goes into this mode, reviving it can become nearly impossible.
– Humidity Requirements
This plant can easily survive in a humidity range of 30 to 90 percent. Technically, it is a humidity-loving plant but how much humidity it needs depends on other factors. If the plant was indoors and watered regularly, slightly lower levels would be sufficient. Higher levels might pose the risk of developing bacterial and fungal infections.
On the other hand, if the plant is being grown outdoors, it might need higher humidity levels. More intense sunlight exposure and dry winds cause it to become drier faster than an indoor-grown counterpart.
If your plant shows signs like brown and curled edges, check the humidity around it. This can be done using an instrument called a hygrometer that you can order online at very reasonable prices. If it seems inadequate, there are several ways to improve it, start by moving the plant to the most humid rooms inside the house: the washroom and the laundry room.
Humidity is also increased when you keep all your humidity-loving plants close together. Don’t push them so close to compromise airflow and light accessibility. Furthermore, twice a week, you may lightly mist the leaves of the plant and even try wiping them with a damp cloth as part of their grooming can also help with humidity.
Nonetheless, if you feel like nothing is working, then a humidifier is your last hope, you may keep it running 24/7 for the best results. An automatic humidifier turns on and shuts off on its own and also saves up on electricity bills.
– Fertilizer Requirements
Fertilizing isn’t all that necessary for this plant and this is because Scandens, like its sister plants Anthurium obtusum and Anthurium bakeri, is grown in a mostly organic potting mix. This is where it derives most of its nutrients from.
However, you can still fertilize it once every two or three months with commercial fertilizer. This is only during the growing period when you want your plant to start flowering.
Remember that while a nitrogen-rich fertilizer produces the healthiest-looking leaves, it also suppresses flowering. For scandens anthuriums, you should use a phosphorous-rich fertilizer with little nitrogen.
A slow-release type of fertilizer mostly comes from balls or pellets. You have to wet the soil and then bury them in it two to three inches deep. Note that you may do this one time three months before bloom time. These pellets will slowly dissolve in the soil and release their nutrients.
Comparatively, most rapid-release fertilizers come as liquid formulations. They must be diluted by adding water before they can be used. Even while diluted, you will have to water the soil first. Rapid release fertilizers will need to be used each month during the four to five months of growth and flowering.
Because fertilizing isn’t necessary for scandens anthurium, why don’t you go for compost instead? Compost can be purchased from stores or made at home. Homemade compost is a pretty neat way of recycling many of your edibles.
Take a rake to mix a small quantity of compost with your soil once a month. It is homemade, natural, and contains no chemicals. You can also use mulch along with compost for additional benefits.
– Pruning Requirements
Pruning this plant is no less important than watering and feeding. To keep your plant in shape, all stems growing in off directions will have to be cut off. The same goes for any leaf that is too old, brown, or doesn’t look right.
Furthermore, pruning additionally means keeping the plant clean and dust-free. You don’t have to wash your plant to clean it; just wiping a damp cloth once a week would suffice.
Keep an eye out for pest colonies under the leaves when grooming and pruning. See if any suspicious spots are forming over the plant. Take this opportunity to see if there is something wrong with your plant.
After use on any plant, it is best to soak gardening tools in a bucket filled with alcohol. Any commercial disinfectant can be substituted for alcohol too. Some people prefer just to rub alcohol on the tools with a cotton roll.
You can go for any method that seems the most convenient for you. Afterward, washing the plant thoroughly with just water is equally important. We cannot emphasize how important it is to clean the instruments before using them on plants. You will prevent bacteria, fungi, and other pests from infecting your healthy Anthurium.
Propagation
Scandens, like Anthurium gracile, can be propagated by three methods. Each of these methods is straightforward and equally effective. Carry on reading to find out which propagating method you like the most.
– Propagating Anthurium By Rhizomes
Rhizomes are roots that grow horizontally right under the surface of the soil. Tiny vertical roots grow from rhizomes downwards. Here is how you can use these underground roots to propagate new rhizomes.
Moisten your soil until it becomes soft enough to take the adult plant out. Gently wash the roots with water to see the rhizomes.
Start by dividing one root ball into two by splitting it right in the middle. Then divide each section into two more until you get the number of plant sections you want. Each divided section of the rhizome will have its own stem and branches.
As a rule, the original root ball should not be divided by more than one-third of its diameter. Prepare pots and soil for each divided section of the plant that you have. Again, a peat-based organic soil mix is perfect for Anthurium propagation.
Take each pot to a bright, warm, and humid place for optimal growth. You can wrap a plastic wrap over the pot in the beginning to promote humidity.
– Propagating Anthurium By Tubers
When you take an Anthurium out of its soil, you will find tubers and rhizomes. Tubers are thickened sections of stem underground. They can also sprout a new baby plant when potted.
Take each tuber and cut it into pieces that are two to four inches in length. Each cut piece should have buds on one of its surfaces. Take a small pot or a seedling tray and fill it with peat-based potting soil.
Don’t bury your tubers too deep within. Place each tuber section no deeper than half its length. The growth bud’s surface should face upwards and be as near the surface as possible. Under the right growth conditions, these tubers will grow into a new plant within four to six weeks.
– Propagating Anthurium By Seeds
We find this method to be the most time-consuming of the three. The key is to have the finest quality Anthurium scandens seeds as a starter pack. Take a seedling tray or any standard tray and spread damp peat moss over it. Place the seeds one by one and bury them within peat in rows.
Seed germination requires high temperature and humidity for the first two to three weeks. Place a heating pad under the seedling tray up to the required temperature. Cover the tray with a sheet to increase the humidity in the tray.
Germination takes four to six weeks to germinate and an additional month to grow sufficiently. When the plantlets become large enough to be safely transported, transfer them to a pot immediately without wasting any time.
Problems
Do your Anthuriums look like they have powder sprinkled over it? Are there pests sprawling all over your precious houseplant? Jump down below to learn what is happening and how to stop it from happening.
– Fungal Infections: Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew often attacks the leaves of the Anthurium plant. It is not a potentially harmful disease. It does make your plant weaker and looks terrible.
This commonly occurs when the plant is overwatered, and the leaves are filled with excessive moisture. Other causes are when you mist your plants a lot, water them needlessly, or have higher than normal humidity around them.
Lots of tiny white dots will appear over the leaves and the stems. The plant begins to look as if someone has sprinkled powder over it. Sometimes, this layer of hyphae is so thick that it can even be scraped off using a paper napkin.
Mildew can be easily treated with three DIY natural remedies. You may begin with take some common household vinegar and diluting it by mixing equal parts of water. When used as a weekly foliar spray, this mixture will get rid of powdery mildew disease.
Neem oil is a south Asian wonder ingredient that can be applied to the affected leaves to remove mildew. You can use a Q-tip or a cotton roll to apply two or three drops of neem oil over each leaf. Do this every week until the white spots disappear completely.
Mix water and milk in a ratio of 9:1 to make an anti-fungal foliar spray. Again, spraying once a week for two months will help eliminate the mildew.
– Pests
Mealybugs, aphids, scale insects, and mites are just some of the sap suckers common to house plants. They feed off your plant and produce weakness and stunted growth.
You can see the signs of an infestation in the form of small yellow spots. Leaf yellowing, browning, and curling are other common symptoms. Most of these pests are also visible except aphids which are too small.
Pests can be treated by being placed under running water through the plant so that most of the bugs drain off. Mix a little insecticidal and dishwashing soap into the water.
You may apply with Q-tips dipped in neem oil over the spots on the leaves and over the pest colonies. The foliar vinegar spray mentioned above against mildew is also effective against these pests. Insecticidal sprays should be your last option because they contain harsh chemicals on the plant.
FAQ
Should I Cut Off Dead Anthurium Scandens Flowers?
Dead Anthurium Scandens flowers can be cut off to promote new growth and maintain the plant’s appearance.
How Often Do Anthurium Scandens Bloom?
Anthurium Scandens blooms periodically throughout the year, with flowering cycles typically lasting a few weeks.
When Should I Repot My Anthurium Scandens?
Repot your Anthurium Scandens when it becomes root-bound or every 1-2 years to ensure healthy growth and proper root development.
Conclusion
You are now well versed in how to raise this amazing Anthurium.
- The light requirement for this plant is around seven to eight hours of bright indirect light.
- We suggest you use rainwater or distilled water instead of water from your tap.
- You can propagate this Anthurium using seeds, tubers, or rhizomes.
- Anthuriums need to be repotted every second or third year.
Anthuriums are popular ornamental house plants known for their flamingo-shaped and brightly colored flowers. We think it’s time you bring one under your care.
- Grow Mango Tree Indoors: Best Tips and Tricks For You - September 21, 2023
- Are Lilacs Deer Resistant? 10 Other Deer Resistant Plants - September 19, 2023
- 7 Plants With Red Stems To Add Color to Your Garden - September 18, 2023
