Anthurium wendlingeri is a collector’s plant through and through. It is more difficult to buy this plant than to take care of it. Its long, fresh strap leaves look awesome hanging down a basket.
Keep reading this well-researched guide will teach you how easy it is to care for and even to propagate this rare houseplant, all through this article.
What Is Anthurium Wendlingeri?
Anthurium wendlingeri is a unique tropical species of anthuriums originating from Costa Rica. It is a hanging plant with lush-green leaves hanging down long and flat. It produces the classic flamingo flowers in late spring. It is a sister plant of Anthurium crystallinum and Anthurium regale.
Anthurium Wendlingeri Care
Wendlingeri is best grown in baskets within a rich and loose soil mix, in addition they would thrive beautifully around the months of early spring. Don’t worry, we have it all covered, keep reading this guide and you’ll know all about it.
– Light Requirements
The plant’s placement in a yard or garden is very important. Put some kind of shade or canopy over it. Even a tree placed overhead would filter out the light for this Anthurium.
Indoor light needs are quite safe when keeping Anthuriums. However, you don’t want your plant suffering due to lack of light either. You must ensure that it is kept in a plant with access to bright light. Otherwise, you might have to install a few artificial grow lights.
A room with a southern-facing window is going to be the brightest. Any corner in such a room is good for your Anthurium. Don’t place it near a window where direct light falls on it.
The eastern and western windows in a room work well too. You can place the pot near these windows as well. In the morning, if the direct light seems to be burning the plant, you can just place a curtain over it.
The northern side window is the safest window ever. Your plant will chill even if placed on a window sill. Even if your room lacks windows, you can still grow an Anthurium there.
You will have to install a couple of LED grow lights overheads and run them for 13-14 years each day. Keep in mind that direct sunlight will damage this plant and cause sunburn. This plant will keep growing well with only moderate intensity partial sunlight.
– Water Requirements
It may prove to be tricky to figure out watering for this plant. We have figured out that only the topsoil needs to be allowed to dry. You should water this plant right away then because it likes moist soil. Because of this, your watering regime will change depending on the season. Depending on how quickly the soil dries, you will have to water less frequently in the winter than in summer.
A moisture meter will tell you exactly how dry or moist the soil is. In the case of Anthurium, insert the probe of the meter only within the top one or two inches of the soil. You will know when to water depending on the reading that comes up. A lot of seasoned gardeners just push their fingers in the topsoil. You will get general awareness regarding the soil condition, whether it has dried or not.
You can also keep a popsicle stick or a skewer to keep an eye on the soil. Keep in mind that using these methods, you’ll need to check the soil every other day. This is so you can water the plant immediately when it becomes dry. If you are serious about growing an Anthurium, always use distilled water. This water is the safest and leads to the healthiest plants.
Using tap water for a long time will make the plant sick. The minerals within it accumulate in the plant and precipitate on the leaves. They cause burns and make absorption of nutrients difficult. You might have a hard time using distilled water all the time, hence you can start collecting rainwater for watering your house plants.
– Soil Requirements
Wendlingeri is an Anthurium that is best grown in a basket instead of a pot. This closely mimics how this plant grows in nature; by growing bare-rooted on other plants and boulders. We think it also looks pretty cute hanging from a basket.
As for the growth medium, mix ordinary soil, moss, and perlite equally. This moss can either be in the form of peat, sphagnum, or both. You may add chunks of bark and charcoal to the mix to make the soil more breathable and loose.
The looser your soil is, the better your roots will grow. Trust us, all the time you invest in making perfect soil will be worth it. It will save your plant from many problems in the future, like water accumulation and root rot.
– Temperature Requirements
70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the scale of temperature at which wendligeri grows. This makes it a moderately warm-loving plant.
Indoors, this plant is usually grown in a bright, humid, and temperature regulation environment. The temperature is also warm inside as per its liking. Keep it away from direct drafts of chilly air from a vent or a window.
Outdoors, summers are spent quite successfully. Consider moving this plant indoors in late summer when the nighttime temperatures drop. This plant will not be able to survive frosty cold winters and will drop all its leaves off.
– Humidity Requirements
This plant has impossibly high humidity demands for a houseplant. It constantly needs more than 70 percent humidity to keep its leaves healthy and plump. Such high humidity levels are very hard to maintain for an indoor plant. It will also get uncomfortable to be in such a humid room all the time.
In short, you will not be able to keep this plant in the living room or the bedroom. A bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room with naturally high humidity might be better.
Of course, a greenhouse would be ideal for growing any Anthurium. A humidifier is the only way you can provide the same levels of humidity as needed by a plant. Move all your tropical plants to the same room and put a humidifier.
You will find a large variety of humidifiers in all price ranges, they do not consume much electricity even if you run one most of the day. Our personal humidifier has a sensor that automatically shuts off when 70 percent humidity is reached. Later, when it starts falling, it starts back up.
A pebble tray is a reasonable alternative to using a humidifier. It is also a good option when you only have one such plant to care for. The water in this tray evaporates over the day and contributes to increasing air moisture levels.
The pebbles in it are for the pot to rest upon. Change the water in this tray every week and keep this water from contacting the pot. This step is important to prevent overwatering and rot.
– Fertilizing Requirements
This plant is a bit of a heavy feeder during its growing period. At the start of this period in early spring, mix pellets of a well-balanced slow-release formula in the soil. These pellets will break down in the soil after coming into contact with water and release their nutrients.
Liquid fertilizer is still needed despite burying these pellets in the soil. Fertilize with a well-balanced liquid formula every month from spring until late summer. What we mean by a well-balanced fertilizer, is that these contain all the macro and micronutrients a plant needs in a balanced amount. The NPK ratio given on their label will be 10:10:10.
Liquid fertilizer can cause burns to your plant if given improperly, thar is why for this plant never skip diluting this fertilizer to half or one-third of its concentration. Use clean filtered or distilled water when diluting a fertilizer. It helps a lot when you water the soil and roots generously before fertilizing.
A direct feed is needed if the new leaves growing on your Anthuriums are smaller than the older leaves. If the stem or leaves come in contact with the fertilizer, they might be burned. So you should always avoid this.
– Pruning
If you’re determined to grow healthy plants in good shape, then never skip pruning. Before pruning, select your chosen cutting tools and clean and sharpen them. Stems often get damaged when cut using rusted and blunt tools.
Decide beforehand which stem or branch needs to be cut back or trimmed. Make an incision at 45 degrees angle for the best result. Try to snip the branch off in just one go. If your plant has too many leaves, some of these need to be cut off too. This will open up air circulation. It will also make it difficult for any pests to hide in the cluster of leaves.
We cannot reiterate this point enough times. This is one of the major ways pests, bacteria, and fungi get transferred to your plants. Leave your tools to soak in bleach or alcohol for at least 15 minutes before using them. This bleach must be washed off with water before you can use the tools.
Propagation
Because Wendlingeri is such a rare plant, it only makes sense to propagate them further. Propagation is super easy, given the timing is right. Anywhere between spring to early summer is a good time to propagate Anthuriums.
When the roots of your plant come out of the drainage holes, you know it’s time to repot it. Why don’t you take this opportunity to divide its root ball and propagate new plants?
Be very careful when pulling the plant out of the soil. You don’t want them to become stressed right before propagation. The next step is to wash the soil and moss off the roots. Use a mild jet of water only to visualize the root ball.
See how many sections you want to separate and which ones. Each divided section should have a couple of roots and two to three stems. Prepare the same airy, loose, rich potting mix you made for the parent plant.
Fill one-third of the pot or basket with this soil. Plant your divided piece or pieces within their individual soils, and dampen the soil by spraying some water over it. Take care that the care requirements of this plant are being fulfilled, and within a few weeks, your new plant will start growing successfully.
Problems
Keeping and growing an Anthurium is no joke. This plant often poses some problems that might be problematic for a beginner. Discover what these common problems are and how to solve them easily.
– Mealybugs
Mealybugs are pests that love to attack and feed on Anthurium plants. Your plant develops yellow spots on the leaves, which also start wilting. The whole plant assumes a sick appearance.
The growth will be severely affected if you don’t solve this problem soon. The plant will not produce new leaves or stems. Flower buds will begin to drop before they have had a chance to bloom.
Touch the surface of the affected leaves. They will be coated with a sticky and wax-like substance secreted by these bugs. Mealybugs like to hide under the plant’s large leaves and stem sheaths. However, you can easily spot them because of their white, cotton ball-like appearance. Just lift the leaves up, and you will see colonies of mealybugs thriving underneath.
As a treatment, you may use a strong jet of water towards the pest colonies using a hose. Most of these will just be ejected off the plant. You can take help from a toothbrush to remove them as well.
Wash the rest of the plant with a good insecticidal soap as well. When the plant dries up, apply a few drops of neem oil over and under the leaves. Keep up this application for several weeks afterward. Another DIY approach is to mix a teaspoon of bicarbonate in one gallon of water. Spray this mixture of water on the plant for a few weeks consistently.
– Aphids
Aphids are the second most common pests to attack an Anthurium. They are oval-shaped pests and can be brown, green, white, or black. They can be a bit harder to spot than mealybugs.
These aphids puncture the leaves and feed on the sap flowing through the plant’s veins. They also leave a sticky substance on the leaves that traps mold and turns black in color. Other ways to spot an aphid infestation are yellowing leaves, weakness, and growth retardation.
Getting rid of aphids can be challenging because they are so small and camouflage well. Give the whole plant a thorough washing from top to bottom. Use a mild but potent anti-insecticide soap along with it.
Once the plant has dried, soak a cotton roll with neem oil. Use it to wipe the black sooty mold off the leaves. Also, apply neem oil on the undersides of the leaves to kill any larvae present. Mix a teaspoon of this oil in a gallon of water to make an insecticidal spray. You may also use the baking soda spray listed above. Spray weekly on the whole plant for the next three to four weeks.
– Improper Light Conditions
If this plant is getting too much direct sunlight, its leaves will suffer from sunburn. In mild cases, there will be mild bleaching of the leaves. In severe or persistent cases, the leaves turn papery and yellow. Their edges might turn brown and crisp.
On the other hand, if this plant is not receiving adequate light, its growth will be affected. Fewer new leaves and leaf buds will develop. You will have a poor flower yield that year.
That is why the ideal light conditions for this Anthurium are indirect or partial bright light. Keep away from direct light rays but put this plant someplace well lit.
– Improper Fertilization
Fertilization is no doubt important for this plant. If done improperly and too much, it can damage the plant. Fertilizing too much can cause the soil to become alkaline. This will make it difficult for the roots to obtain nutrients.
Over-fertilizing can cause chemical burns to the plant too. This manifests in the form of yellowing around the veins. A nitrogen-rich fertilizer will suppress flowering and make the foliage darker than usual.
So what can you do? Immediately fix your fertilizing habits. Using water triple the volume of your plant’s pot, give the soil a deep watering to get rid of built-up salts and toxins. It is okay to stop watering in the wintertime.
– Overwatering
It is so easy to tell that your plant is being overwatered. Its leaves will be yellow, swollen, and drooping down. Even the pot will feel heavier from all the extra water stored in the soil.
It can be dangerous because it often leads to fatal root rot fungal disease. Check to see whether or not the drainage of the soil or pot/ basket is being compromised. Improve your own watering habits too.
FAQ
– Can Anthurium Wendlingeri Get Propagation By Stem Cuttings?
Yes, and you do not need to depot the parent Anthurium for this propagation method. This makes it a tad bit more convenient. A plant infested with pests or under attack from disease is not a good contender for propagation.
Choose a 100 percent healthy stem to succeed. Cut off five to six inches of a stem with a 45 degrees incision. There should be one to two nodes in your cutting. You can remove the leaves attached to these nodes. Apply a rooting hormone to the part that was cut to promote growth from here.
Create a soil mix and fill a small clay pot to the top. You will need to make a hole right in the middle and insert the cutting in this hole. The end with the rooting hormone needs to go into the soil. Again, moisten the soil and place the pot someplace warm and indirectly bright. A humidifier will help maintain humidity levels around 70 percent.
Alternatively, you can cover the pot using a transparent sheet of plastic. This will create a mini greenhouse around the cutting. Every day, lift this sheet for a few hours to water the cutting and let the plant breathe fresh air.
– Can Anthurium Wendlingeri Be Propagation By Seeds?
Yes, seed propagation is best suited for seasoned Anthurium owners. We must warn you that it is a bit difficult and takes time and effort. The quality of your seeds is the key. Collect them yourself from the flowers at the end of the flowering season. When buying seeds, go for the most reliable sellers out there.
Place these seeds in sphagnum moss spread over a tray. Try to keep a distance of half an inch between each seed. Don’t push the seed deeper than half an inch into the moss. Cover this tray with a transparent covering and place it in a bright and hot spot.
Keep sprinkling water over the moss when it gets dry. Hopefully, some of the seeds will germinate within one to two months. You will still have to wait patiently for a few more months till the plantlets grow big enough. Only then can you transfer each to its own basket.
Conclusion
So far this article we covered a full care guide to this beautiful exotic plant. Here are the sum up points of the article:
- This plant gets sunburnt with direct sunshine so always give it partial indirect light.
- Keep a moisture meter to determine if and when the topsoil dries. Then water right away to keep the soil evenly moist.
- Instead of a pot, this plant grows more healthily in a hanging basket. Fill the basket using loose and well-draining soil.
- For beginners, root division and stem cutting propagation are the most suitable.
- Regular fertilizing from spring till late summer is important.
Anthurium wendlingeri is not just a decorative collector’s plant. It will also fill your house with peace and tranquility. All it needs in return is a little love and attention from you.
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