About the genus:
Anthurium is the largest genus of the Arum (Araceae) family of about 1000 flowering plant species, including both epiphytic and terrestrial plants. Native to rainforests of Central and South America, the majority of Anthurium can be found growing on the sides of trees or in canopy wells above the ground. Anthurium is a widely diverse genus beloved for its seriously stunning foliage that takes on many shapes, sizes, and textures.
Soil:
In the wild, Anthuriums will grow on trees, rocks, or under a canopy, planting its roots into leaf litter, decaying wood, compost and even charcoal remains from forest burns. Due to this, it’s not hard to imagine why Anthuriums need frequent dampening of the roots while also allowing them to dry out quickly.
Indoors, a chunky soil mix is ideal for Anthurium. A balanced mix of coco coir, coco husk or orchid bark, charcoal, perlite, and worm castings is a great go-to. A good trick to confirm whether your soil is chunky enough: grab some in your hand, squeeze it tight. If it breaks apart easily and doesn’t turn into a solid mound, you’ve got a nice chunky mix.
Water:
Nailing your Anthurium’s watering regimen will be key to maintaining its overall health. How often will vary depending on the species, but generally, Anthurium like their soil to dry out slightly, though not completely.
To test the medium for moisture levels, simply stick your finger in the medium or use a moisture meter to determine the dryness. During warm periods, keep a closer eye on your Anthurium to ensure they do not dry out too much. A good indication that it’s time to water is once the top of 1/3rd of the medium has slightly dried and it’s not too wet underneath.
When your Anthurium is actively growing, aim to keep the medium slightly moist but not damp (think of the difference between a fully saturated vs a wrung-out sponge), letting the top layer dry out slightly. During dormant periods, let more time pass between waterings. Compared to other aroids, Anthuriums tend to thrive much better in humid conditions, At least 65% is ideal. Although, it is not impossible to acclimate them to lower humidity conditions.
Light:
While Anthuriums much prefer growing in a rainforest, they can still thrive under medium to bright indirect light provided through the windows of our homes. Some soft morning direct light from a north or east window is just fine, but best to keep them shielded from the direct afternoon sun from a west or south facing window. They are sensitive to direct light and burn easily, so take care to protect from hot afternoon sunbeams.