Anthurium Watermaliense is an easy-to-care-for, exquisite plant commonly known as the Black Anthurium. It can be grown indoors, and its evergreen foliage with dark heart-shaped blooms is a delight in every way.
Read this detailed guide where our experts list out tips and techniques to grow a healthy plant and also tackle the most common problems faced by it.
If this Anthurium variety is on your mind, you must continue reading this article to gain insights on how you could keep the plant thriving in all seasons by letting them adorn your home and garden spaces.
Contents
What Is Anthurium Watermaliense?
Anthurium Watermaliense is an exquisite tropical plant with evergreen and perennial foliage. The plant is a complete delight due to its heart-shaped dark blooms and is thus also known as the black variant of Anthurium. It is commonly grown indoors in homes and offices due to its air purifying abilities.
Anthurium Watermaliense Care
You can easily care for this Anthurium variant with just a few basic gardening skills. The evergreen plant thrives through the year when the temperature is just right, with ample light, well-draining soil, and moderate humidity.
In the section below, our experts examine each of these aspects and provide the right information to help you grow a thriving plant.
So read on to understand the complete care process to provide the plant with the right and healthy environment.
– Water Requirements
The health of the plant greatly depends upon the amount of water it receives. This Anthurium requires just moderate levels of water so do not worry much if you have forgotten to water it once in a while. It is safer if the plant does not get overwatered as soggy soil hampers growth. It prevents oxygen from reaching the roots thereby making the plant go weak and limp.
Check the level of moisture by pushing your finger in by at least two inches into the soil, and add in more water only if it comes out dry. Warmer months will require more frequent watering whereas in winter you will have to scale back.
– Light Requirements
Grow Anthurium in well-lit yet indirect light conditions. The plant cannot tolerate direct and harsh sunlight as this leads to the leaves getting scorched. As much as over-exposure is detrimental to the plant, underexposure too will result in brittle and dried foliage. Thus place your plant in a bright and ventilated spot.
To provide the plant diffused sunlight, place it on patios or balconies, under tree canopies or use garden sheets to partially block out the sun’s rays. If you are growing your plant indoors, move it near a north or west window for adequate sunlight. You could place it near sheer curtains to give it a diffused effect or under artificial grow lights which also works very well.
– Soil Requirements
The plant requires slightly acidic soil so keep the pH range between 6 to 6.5. It needs to be well-draining and porous and thus clay-like and loamy type soils will not work.
Prepare a mix with one part peat and one part perlite along with worm castings or compost. This will not only help in soil drainage but also retains nutrients. Aerated soil is essential to prevent root rot and fungal diseases.
– Temperature Requirements
Grow the plant in a temperature range between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 30 degrees Celsius). At temperatures out of this range, maintaining healthy foliage becomes difficult and under this stress condition, you will find discolored leaves and brittle stems.
Anthuriums also dislike sudden temperature fluctuations. Thus you will have to maintain a constant range around the plant. Move the plant indoors in winters away from cold drafts, frost, and chilly winds and grow them under artificial grow or fluorescent lights.
– Humidity Requirements
The plant is tropical and needs a humidity level between 50 to 80 percent to thrive. If you are growing the Anthurium in a dry zone, increase the humidity levels by misting the plant regularly. Additionally, you can also place a pebble tray with pebbles below the pot or container. As the water in the tray evaporates, it will kick in some moisture around the plant.
You could also choose to group your plant with other similar ones to benefit from their collective humidity. If you are growing indoors use a humidifier to increase humidity around the plant.
– Fertilizing Requirements
The Anthurium watermaliense does not require very frequent fertilizer use as it is a light feeder. You could add a formula annually, especially during the warm and growing months. The ideal formula would be a slow-releasing fertilizer added a little away from the base to prevent fertilizer burn at the roots.
Spring and summer are the ideal months to add fertilizers as the growth is relatively higher. Scale back in winters as the plant is in a state of dormancy and excess fertilizing can result in a salt build-up at the roots.
– Pruning
Pruning anthuriums are not required as the plants are low in maintenance and seldom grow wild and unruly. However occasional pruning is recommended to boost growth, tackle pest infestations and reduce the risk of the spread of fungal diseases.
Before you prune the plant, always sterilize all your tools with a diluted solution of alcohol. Schedule turning the plant before the growing season to encourage fresh growth in the warm months ahead.
Propagation
Propagate the Anthurium in a hassle-free way by using stem cuttings. The process is easy and with just a few basic tools and beginner-level gardening skills, you can be successful in generating a new offset of the plant. In the section below we list the steps in detail and the technique by which you can achieve success.
– Right Season To Propagate
The right season to propagate the plant is in the warmer months of spring and summer. This is the time when there is enough heat and light to boost plant growth and help it sustain its health and developing foliage. Avoid winter months as the plant will seldom establish healthy roots in the excess cold when it enters a state of dormancy.
– Tools Required
Keep all your tools ready and at hand. You will require sterile and sharp garden pruners, a suitable potting mix, pot or container, and a plastic sheet for wrapping the stem.
– Propagation Method
As mentioned earlier, the easiest way to propagate this Anthurium variety is by using a stem section from a healthy and mature adult plant. You can alternatively purchase seeds from a store and germinate them, however, the process takes much longer. Find below the detailed steps on how you could propagate the Anthurium by using stem cuttings.
- Pick a healthy mother plant from which you will be snipping a stem section. With the help of a sharp and sterile garden pruner, cut a section of the stem in such a way that it includes some section of the roots as well.
- Take a pot or container, fill an adequate potting mix, and place the cut stem section in it. Cover this with a plastic sheet with holes to kick in some moisture. Additionally, place this in a warm and well-ventilated spot and also maintain the soil so that it stays slightly moist.
- Turn the pot regularly so that all sides get equal exposure to sunlight. In a few weeks, this cut section will begin to sprout its juvenile roots. They will establish themselves strongly in the soil in a couple of weeks and soon will sprout fresh leaves. Care for the plant as you would do to a mature plant now.
Problems
Much as anthuriums are low in maintenance, you are not going to be spared a problem-free plant. There are a few basic challenges that you may face, however, they are easy to tackle. In this section below we give you a roundup of the most common problems faced by the plant and some hassle-free and quick-fix solutions to tackle them. So read on below.
– Pest Infestations
The most common garden pests that attack and infect the Anthurium are mealy bugs, aphids, and spider mites. These pests can be quite notorious as they such out all the fluid and nourishment from the plant making them look wilted. The plant may seldom bloom and the foliage will look weak and limp. Thus it is important to tackle any sort of infestation as soon as it is spotted.
Look for clusters on the underside of leaves where pests generally lay eggs. You may also spot web-like textures and sticky substances which further attract ants to the plant. As soon as you spot any of these plants, isolate the plant to reduce the risk of spreading to other nearby plants.
Spray an organic insecticide directly on the affected area until all of the pests have fallen off. You can also use neem oil which repels the pests with its pungent odor. Regularly mist and maintain good plant hygiene by wiping off any dust with a damp cloth. Pests like a dry and dusty environment to lay eggs so keeping the moisture high and the plant dust free can prevent their occurrence.
– Plant Not Producing Blooms
There are multiple reasons why your plant may not be producing blooms. Pest infestations, inadequate light conditions, excessive humidity, dehydrated soil and lack of nutrients can all prevent the plant from producing adequate blooms.
The ideal blooming season is in the warm days of spring and summer when the plant produces dark purple heart-shaped flower-like spathe, surrounded by a thick coating of spadix making it a delight to look at.
Fertilize the plant in these months, utilize the warmth of the season and place the plant in a well-lit and ventilated spot. Care for the plant as per the details mentioned in our care section and you should soon have it producing several blooms.
– Leaves Turning Yellow
Extremes in temperature or sudden fluctuations can cause the leaves of the Anthurium to turn yellow. The plant will not be able to sustain its glorious foliage below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). At the same time exposure to scorching heat can put it under stress, too. Moreover, sudden fluctuations make it difficult for the plant to cope and it thus reacts by turning the leaves yellow.
Tackle this condition by providing the plant with subtropical temperatures and avoiding exposure to sudden changes. Keep the plant away from harsh weather preferably indoors where it can be grown under artificial grow lights.
– Brown Spots on Leaves
Brown spots on leaves could be due to excess salt build-up in the soil due to over-fertilizing. The plant is a light feeder and seldomly requires excessive formula use. Further, additional nourishment is not to be added during the colder months as the plant prepares itself to enter a period of dormancy. Scale back on fertilizer use and move the plant to warm bright sunlight and it will slowly grow back to its normal splendour.
– Root Rot
Root rot is a condition that occurs if the plant has been overwatered or if the roots are allowed to sit in too much water for a long time. Soggy soil prevents the roots from taking in enough oxygen and thus becomes a breeding ground for fungal diseases. Scale back on the watering as soon as you suspect root rot.
Gently lift the plant from the soil and remove any blackened and infected sections. Repot the plant in fresh well-draining potting soil and allow it to recover from the transplantation shock. Maintain a proper watering schedule by adding in more only when the top is dry by at least an inch. This should take care of the condition and help the plant get back to life easily.
– Slow or Stunted Growth
Slow or stunted growth can occur if the plant has been overexposed to sunlight or even if it has been under-exposed. This Anthurium needs just a few hours of sunlight every day and it will thrive happily and healthily. Keep the plant in a well-ventilated spot and avoid dingy corners.
Ensure the light it receives is partial and you are not placing it directly under harsh sunlight. Typically morning sunlight is perfect for the plant’s growth. Place the plant under appropriate light conditions and you will see its foliage and blooms in their complete glory and vibrancy.
FAQ
– Is Anthurium Watermaliense Toxic?
Anthurium Watermaliense is toxic – to humans as well as animals. If someone ingests some of it is important to seek medical advice.
– How Often Do Anthuriums Bloom?
They can bloom year-round when cared for adequately. Every bloom lasts between two and three months. If you keep the environment at an optimal level you can as many as six blooms per year.
Conclusion
You have now read how easy it is to care for and grow the Anthurium plant in this detailed guide.
Let us summarize all that we have learned through the below synopsis:
- Anthurium Watermaliense is an easy-to-care-for exquisite plant commonly known as the black variant. Native to South America this exotic plant produces attractive dark purple spathe-like blooms.
- It can be grown both indoors as well as outdoors and requires moderate light, heat and humidity.
- Keep the plant away from frost, chilly winds and cold drafts as well as temperature fluctuations.
- Propagate the plant in early spring or summer by using stem cuttings, when the warmth of the season will help it to grow and develop healthily.
- Tackle all challenges of the plant by keeping pests and fungal diseases at bay and ensuring it is provided with the right levels of light, warmth and water.
Having read all about the attractive Anthurium variant, you can now grow them in your own home and garden hassle-free. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and bring these beauties into your life and experience them charming you.
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