Help, please!
My anthurium Radicans x Luxurians isn't happy, and I don't know why. I had her in my west-facing kitchen, a distance away from the window, near a humidifier, and have tried to keep up with watering. But they started to look worse and worse, with droop, dry, brown areas, and leaves that won't unfurl. So I combined them into one pot. The roots looked great, so I'm not sure what is going on! Can someone please help? Thanks so much! #anthurium #anthuriumqueen #plantsmakepeoplehappy
6ft to light, indirect
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 years ago
9
@wolfqueen I got one of these last month and it is my first serious anthurium. It sounds like you’ve given a lot of thought to how to care for this plant. Assuming this is not a result of humidity issues or too much sun (west window would be a concern but if it’s back enough not to get direct sun this should be okay). What is the composition of the substrate? Below is a diy for optimal substrate. If yours is not similarly amended to provide drainage, it can lead to excessive moisture in the substrate that would explain the drooping. I’m also concerned about the brown necrotic tissue and the yellow halo around it. It’s impossible to say on the basis of pictures, but I would treat it for fungal disease. I’ll provide my notes on that below. Otherwise, considering the thought you’ve put into caring for the plant, perhaps tweaking the care somewhat is in order. I have been in the habit of using a light meter and have discovered how difficult it can be to eyeball suitable light conditions. Does Greg say the light ks adequate in the profile? A light meter can be had for $12 on Amazon. Between 200-400 foot candles would provide sufficient light. Anything over or under might be where the cause if it’s unhappiness would be. An ideal potting mix for Anthurium radicals x luxurians usually consists of a well-draining blend. Here's a general composition by part:
Orchid Bark or Fir Bark: 2 parts - Provides aeration and assists in moisture retention without leading to waterlogging.
Sphagnum Moss: 1 part - Helps in moisture retention and aids root establishment.
Perlite or Pumice: 1 part - Enhances drainage and aeration, preventing soil compaction.
Coarse Sand: 1 part - Contributes to drainage and prevents the mix from becoming too dense.
Potting Soil: 1 part - Some potting soil with good organic matter content can provide essential nutrients for the plant.
This mixture aims to mimic the Anthurium's natural environment, offering both moisture retention and excellent drainage, crucial for its healthy growth. Adjust ratios based on the specific needs and environmental conditions of your plant. To treat fungus: Sterilize a pair of sharp scissors with Rubbing alcohol. Prune away any infected foliage. Next you want to apply an antifungal as a foliar spray to treat any sports on the leaves surfaces as well as the soil drench to treat the soil as the contagion is actually soil borne. The Clemson school of Agriculture has identified to antifungals that are effective for this disease, anti-fungal made with copper sprays as well as a bio-active treatment sold under the Brand name Bonide “Revitalize.” Either of these will do, but make sure you buy the concentrate, not the ready to use (RTU). The latter is great for the foliar spray but you will need the fungicide in as a concentrate to make a soil drench (unless you want to spend a lot of money using RTU in sufficient quantities for a proper soil drench). Follow the directions on the label.
Treating fungus can require several applications. Be sure to quarantine the plant, as the pathogen is contagious. In general, be careful with crowding too many plants together because that can create ideal conditions for a fungal outbreak without increasing ventilation accordingly. Wipe away an unnecessary moisture when you water and consider using pebbles as a top dressing to reduce exposure between the soil and the leaves.
Below are some tips on how to prevent fungus from occurring in the first place and how you can protect your other plants from contagion.
Hope this helps !
Tip: when I water my plants, I often put them in front of a fan or below a ceiling fan to whisk off any moisture can create landing pads for fungal spores.
Tip: the way that you water your plants has a big impact on whether they contract fungal diseases. A proper watering technique safeguards against leaf and brown spot and many potential pests and diseases. Use a watering can with a long spout. Position the spout underneath leaves and move in a slow methodical fashion so the water can saturate the soil as it moves across the surface. Be sure to keep the leaves dry. Once water starts coming out of the drainage hole , stop watering.
Tip: Preventing fungal infections through sound cultural practices (ensuring proper light, water, etc) is much easier than treating it. Whenever one of these care criteria are deficient, the plant becomes weaker and more vulnerable to pests and disease—stop a domino effect by matching Greg’s recommendations with the conditions you provide.
Tip: it is helpful to conceptualize plant care the way a hospital manages disease control: bacteria and fungal spores can be present on everything. Always sterilize and shears in rubbing alcohol prior to use. Sterilize saucers or anything else that can come into contact with a plant’s potting media as many fugal diseases are soil borne. Rubbing alcohol can be used to sterilize shears while a 10% bleach solution or a product sold under the label Physan-20 can be used to sterilize planters and everything else. (Available on Amazon).
Tip: fungal diseases are often soil borne so adding an inorganic top dressing like polished pebbles can create a physical barrier to prevent contagion. The 3/8” size I find are the ideal size and they can be obtained cheaper from pet supply stores like chewy.com as they are sold for reptile terrarium habitats.
Orchid Bark or Fir Bark: 2 parts - Provides aeration and assists in moisture retention without leading to waterlogging.
Sphagnum Moss: 1 part - Helps in moisture retention and aids root establishment.
Perlite or Pumice: 1 part - Enhances drainage and aeration, preventing soil compaction.
Coarse Sand: 1 part - Contributes to drainage and prevents the mix from becoming too dense.
Potting Soil: 1 part - Some potting soil with good organic matter content can provide essential nutrients for the plant.
This mixture aims to mimic the Anthurium's natural environment, offering both moisture retention and excellent drainage, crucial for its healthy growth. Adjust ratios based on the specific needs and environmental conditions of your plant. To treat fungus: Sterilize a pair of sharp scissors with Rubbing alcohol. Prune away any infected foliage. Next you want to apply an antifungal as a foliar spray to treat any sports on the leaves surfaces as well as the soil drench to treat the soil as the contagion is actually soil borne. The Clemson school of Agriculture has identified to antifungals that are effective for this disease, anti-fungal made with copper sprays as well as a bio-active treatment sold under the Brand name Bonide “Revitalize.” Either of these will do, but make sure you buy the concentrate, not the ready to use (RTU). The latter is great for the foliar spray but you will need the fungicide in as a concentrate to make a soil drench (unless you want to spend a lot of money using RTU in sufficient quantities for a proper soil drench). Follow the directions on the label.
Treating fungus can require several applications. Be sure to quarantine the plant, as the pathogen is contagious. In general, be careful with crowding too many plants together because that can create ideal conditions for a fungal outbreak without increasing ventilation accordingly. Wipe away an unnecessary moisture when you water and consider using pebbles as a top dressing to reduce exposure between the soil and the leaves.
Below are some tips on how to prevent fungus from occurring in the first place and how you can protect your other plants from contagion.
Hope this helps !
Tip: when I water my plants, I often put them in front of a fan or below a ceiling fan to whisk off any moisture can create landing pads for fungal spores.
Tip: the way that you water your plants has a big impact on whether they contract fungal diseases. A proper watering technique safeguards against leaf and brown spot and many potential pests and diseases. Use a watering can with a long spout. Position the spout underneath leaves and move in a slow methodical fashion so the water can saturate the soil as it moves across the surface. Be sure to keep the leaves dry. Once water starts coming out of the drainage hole , stop watering.
Tip: Preventing fungal infections through sound cultural practices (ensuring proper light, water, etc) is much easier than treating it. Whenever one of these care criteria are deficient, the plant becomes weaker and more vulnerable to pests and disease—stop a domino effect by matching Greg’s recommendations with the conditions you provide.
Tip: it is helpful to conceptualize plant care the way a hospital manages disease control: bacteria and fungal spores can be present on everything. Always sterilize and shears in rubbing alcohol prior to use. Sterilize saucers or anything else that can come into contact with a plant’s potting media as many fugal diseases are soil borne. Rubbing alcohol can be used to sterilize shears while a 10% bleach solution or a product sold under the label Physan-20 can be used to sterilize planters and everything else. (Available on Amazon).
Tip: fungal diseases are often soil borne so adding an inorganic top dressing like polished pebbles can create a physical barrier to prevent contagion. The 3/8” size I find are the ideal size and they can be obtained cheaper from pet supply stores like chewy.com as they are sold for reptile terrarium habitats.
@Michelle5986, maybe I should try this. I've tried LECA before and just couldn't get it. But I'll get a good, clear, glass container and see. Thank you!
@TexanExpat, thanks so much. I have my anthurium, and many other plants, in a mix of Rosy soil, horticultural charcoal, coarse perlite, orchid bark, and worm castings. Seems like a good mix, so this is frustrating.
@wolfqueen frustrating indeed. Consider the light meter. I was similarly perplexed before and had purchased a light meter for another reason. But then I was checking out areas to rest the meter, it was quite a surprise when I realized why the plants there were dying lol. I do not use leca, but rather lechuza pon. It is the same concept but it’s a different inert medium. There is a lot to know, so I was rather excited when I found this site, that explains so much. https://www.lecaaddict.com/
@Michelle5986, I got them both in leca. Separated them again and returned them their names, Wrza and Juvia. Fingers crossed that they'll turn around. Thanks for the advice.
@wolfqueen no problem at all as long as the roots looked good they should be fine they look good to me
Get rid of the worm castings. Anthurium don’t appreciate worm castings. They cause fungal infections in your plant because Anthurium require their medium to remain consistently moist. Worm castings are the cause of your problems. Repot in a mix of pine bark, leca, charcoal, volcanic pumice, and peat or opt for only sphagnum moss with excellent drainage. They need low light and if you use moss only, make sure you allow the water to drain for an hour or two before placing it on a catch pot. They also need high humidity to keep their foliage pretty.
Right now, you have signs of root issues even though you may not think so. This is just the start of water-logged roots. Use only filtered rain water and give it some liquid copper fungicide. You can read the instructions to apply it to its foliage correctly. Your fungal issues should be addressed with regular copper treatments, a fresh repotting and no further use of worm castings.
Right now, you have signs of root issues even though you may not think so. This is just the start of water-logged roots. Use only filtered rain water and give it some liquid copper fungicide. You can read the instructions to apply it to its foliage correctly. Your fungal issues should be addressed with regular copper treatments, a fresh repotting and no further use of worm castings.