Anthurium superbum is an exotic plant that you should keep as a big secret. It’s an easy to grow, beautiful houseplant with an interesting history and versatile use. An anthurium superbum care guide will tell you that it likes humid environments and bright indirect light – but what if your home doesn’t have enough humidity?
What if the lighting in your house is too harsh for anthurium superbum to thrive? In this article, we’ll talk about common problems with anthurium superbum and tips on keeping them happy!
What is an Anthurium Superbum?
Anthurium superbum is an anthurium variety that has been bred to be bigger and more colourful than the original anthurium. It looks like a cross between an orchid and an anthurium, which makes sense when you find out its Latin name: Anamorophus Superbum. The leaves are much larger in an anthurium superbum than in an anthurium, and they are bright green.
Sometimes mistake and anthurium plowmanii, an anthurium superbum flower usually only have two colours at once–the red petals contrasting with the white sepals or leaves. But on an anthurium superbum, you might find three to four different colours present at one time. They’re an explosion of colour with deep red tips on top, a green stem and a dark pink base.
Origins of Anthurium Superbum Plant
This superbum anthurium, an antherium plant that is native to Costa Rica and other Central American countries. It’s distinctive for its large leaves, which can be up to 12 inches long and five inches wide! This anthurium has been in cultivation for many years but it was formally introduced to the United States by Dr. Fenton L. Martin in 1870. The anthurium got its name from the Greek word “anthera” which means “flower.”
Anthurium Superbum Plant Care Guide
Anthurium superbum plants are an excellent beginner plant for people who have never owned an anthurium before. These low-maintenance beauties come in a wide variety of colours and shapes, but grow best when they’re kept out of direct sunlight. Many people think this flower is difficult to keep alive because of the anthurium superbum care requirements, but it can be done if you follow these simple tips.
Soil
Anthuriums will do best in an acidic soil mix. This means that the potting mixture should be made up of one part peat and two parts sand or pumice (or an equal amount by volume of any other type). If you are planting your anthurium, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate its root ball, remove the anthurium from its pot and place it in the hole with good soil mix around the roots. I
f you are repotting an anthurium that is already planted, dig a wide enough circle around it to allow for drainage (at least as deep but not wider than twice your anthurium’s diameter) and move some of the soil from beneath it to an area outside of this circle.
Fill in under and around the anthurium with fresh potting mix, packing gently but firmly as you go. You should not have any remaining bare roots showing after repotting is complete; if you do, wipe away excess dirt until only a small amount remains at the surface.
An excellent soil mixture for an anthurium is one part peat and two parts sand or pumice (or an equal amount by volume of any other type). If you are planting your anthurium, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate its root ball, remove the anthurium from its pot and place it in the hole with good soil mix around the roots.
Light
Anthurium superbums are indoor plant. They need at least 12 hours of light, but they will not be happy with direct sunlight for an extended period of time. You should place them in a room that gets lots of natural and artificial light or keep your anthurium near the window where it can get plenty of indirect suns.
Anthuriums need a lot of light to thrive, so an east-facing window is an excellent location. While plants will grow in partial shade, they won’t flower nearly as well and may become leggy or spindly from lack of sun. If you don’t have an east-facing window, try for the south; an anthurium will grow in north light but you’ll have to supplement with artificial lighting.
Watering
Anthurium Superbums need to be watered at least once a week, or more if the air is dry. To water, an anthurium superbum use lukewarm water and sprinkle it on the soil so that it penetrates well into the potting mix. The anthurium may look like its wilting, but anthuriums actually suck water up from the potting mix. If an anthurium is wilted it needs more watering than usual.
Temperature
Anthuriums are epiphytic plants, meaning they like to be high up in the tree canopy. This means that an anthurium will do well with a lot of light and good air circulation. The temperature range for most anthurium varieties is between 55-85°F.
Anthurium Superbum prefers slightly cooler temperatures of 60-75°F, but the anthurium’s natural habitat in Central and South America is hot and humid. The anthurium needs a minimum temperature of 55°F (12°C) during dormancy to initiate flower production the following year.
Humidity
Humidity is an important component of anthurium superbum care. The plant needs high humidity, so it should be grown in a greenhouse with the door closed but open at night to allow venting when there is lower atmospheric pressure and higher relative humidity.
It can be problematic to replicate anthurium superbum’s natural environment in the home, so it may require an artificial humidifier and mist of the leaves with a water bottle or small sprayer. To prevent anthuriums from drying out on cloudy days when there is less light for photosynthesis, spraying them regularly will keep anthuriums healthy.
Fertiliser
In anthurium superbum care, it is crucial to use the correct type of fertiliser. This plant needs a balanced fertilizer with an NPK value of around 20:20:20 or 17:17:17. The pH level should be between neutral and slightly acidic (between six and seven).
If an anthurium superbum has a pH level of over seven, then the soil might be too acidic. If an anthurium superbum is being grown in water and not potting mix, it’s important to add an acidifier every two weeks or so (this can vary depending on how much rainwater they’re getting).
Alternatively, fertilizing an anthurium once a month with liquid fertilizer or every two months with slow-release fertilizer is an excellent way to keep an anthurium superbum healthy and growing well.
Toxicity
Toxicity is an issue for any plant, but anthurium superbum toxicity is very minimal. The sap of the anthurium plant can be burned on the skin and cause a rash, but it usually doesn’t reach your skin because you need to use boiling water or alcohol when washing an anthurium flower. I
f this happens, wash the affected area of the skin with soap and water as soon as possible.
The anthurium plant is generally considered to be safe for children and pets because it doesn’t produce nectar or pollen that can cause allergies as other plants do. The anthurium is also an excellent indoor plant because it is very forgiving when you forget to water it.
Pruning
An anthurium superbum should be trimmed at least once a month to keep it healthy. The shape of the anthurium can determine how often you need to trim, or if you’ve already cut too much off and caused damage that cannot be reversed, your plant may not survive.
Always trim an anthurium superbum from the base of the plant’s stem. Cutting off leaves will help it to grow back because an anthurium is a type of flowering plant, and flowers need certain nutrients in order for them to survive.
If you are not sure how much more growth your anthurium needs, an anthurium should be cut at the halfway point of its stem’s length. Be careful not to trim too much off, because an anthurium will weaken and die if you do so.
Propagation and Growth
Anthurium superbum is an epiphytic plant, not a terrestrial one. It can be grown in pots or as an indoor houseplant but it really needs to get its roots hanging out and attached somewhere above the pot of soil.
The anthurium superbum can be propagated by dividing the plant in either late winter or early spring when new growth has occurred but before flowering begins. There are two ways an anthurium can be propagated: by division or from an anthurium cutting.
- The division is a propagation technique that’s used to create new plants at the same time as dividing and repotting parent plants. It sounds complicated, but all it means is you divide up both the mother plant (the one being divided) and the anthurium cutting you want to grow into a new plant.
- An anthurium superbum cuttings is simply that: an anthurium being propagated by taking off its stem and rooting it in a pot of moist soil with some type of horticultural hormones, such as Rootone or Dip ‘N Grow included.
Repotting
An anthurium should be repotted in an ersatz pot of the same size every year or two, and it may need to be raised up a little bit. The clay pots are not advisable for this plant because they have an uneven surface which is hard on anthurium roots.
In order to know when an anthurium should be repotted, it is necessary to feel the plant’s roots before planting. If they are stubby and brittle-looking, or if you can see through them like spaghetti strands then an anthurium needs a pot change.
The purpose of this step is not just to do an anthurium transplant but also to clean the anthurium from any pests that may be residing on it, such as aphids.
When an anthurium is repotted with fresh potting soil and watered well enough afterwards, it will usually bloom within a few months of its transplant. The anthurium should not sit in water for more than half an hour because an anthurium flower stem will rot.
An anthurium can be promoted to a larger pot by loosening the original soil around its roots and then adding more potting soil, but it should not be planted too deeply into the new location or it may drown in water. The plant essentially needs some room for growth because an anthurium will never stop growing indefinitely.
Plant Disease
No plant is an island. All plants can come across a disease at some point in their lives and anthurium superbums are no exception to this rule. There are many different types of diseases that anthurium superbuams may face, but there’s one thing you should know before we get into the types of anthurium superbum diseases: prevention is the key.
Anthurium Superbums are an extremely sensitive plant and it can be difficult to keep them healthy without proper care guides. A few common anthurium superbum problems may include minor leaf spotting, browning leaves, spider mites, or a virus that will cause an anthurium superbum plant to wither and die.
Anthurium Superbum Variegated
This anthurium is one of the most popular cultivars. It has a long history with hybridizers because it was developed by crossing anthurium giganteum and anthurium denisonianum in 1892. The result was an anthurium that has deeply veined leaves, which are green on top with white underneath. This anthurium is an excellent choice for a container garden because it stays relatively small.
Common Issues with Anthurium Superbum
While anthurium superbum is a beautiful plant, it does have some problems. Some people find that anthurium superbums’ leaves turn yellow or brown and drop off if the air humidity in the home is too low. Anthurium Superbums also need to be put on something like gravel in order for their roots to breathe.
In addition, anthurium superbums need to be watered every day or two and fertilized once a month with an organic fertilizer that is high in nitrogen like blood meal or coffee grounds.
Tips for Keeping Anthurium Superbum Happy
Easily care for anthurium superbums with these simple tips:
- Water your anthurium every day or two (unless it has been raining) and fertilize once a month using an organic fertilizer that is high in nitrogen like blood meal or coffee grounds.
- Place anthurium superbums on something like gravel in order for their roots to breathe.
- Keep anthuriums happy by keeping the air humidity at 45% and don’t forget to put it outdoors during summer months!
Anthurium Superbum Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take care of Anthurium superbum?
Anthurium superbums are an easy plant to care for. They should be watered once a week and fed every two weeks with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer. Anthurium superbum needs indirect bright light, so it is better if they are not in direct sunlight.
The soil can dry out quickly; make sure you water an anthurium superbum twice a week. An anthurium is sensitive to direct sun and should not be planted during the summer months if you want them to stay in good health.
Should I mist my Anthurium?
It is important to mist an anthurium because they store moisture in their spathe that acts as a natural reservoir for the plant. If you are growing your anthuriums outside make sure it’s on a porch or covered patio so that pollen doesn’t get carried away and fertilize anthuriums and other plants in the garden.
Is Anthurium good for indoors?
People often ask whether an anthurium is good for indoors. The answer to this question depends on the type of anthurium you’re talking about. Some anthuriums, such as Anthurium superbum can be grown inside with proper care and maintenance. An anthurium needs a certain amount of light per day so it can grow properly.
How do you propagate Anthurium superbum?
- Adventitious shoot: anthurium superbum is propagated by small offsets that grow from the base of the plant.
- In vitro propagation anthurium superbum can be done with a simple rooting hormone and some softwood cuttings taken in July or August, but it’s not as successful as the adventitious shoot method.
Conclusion
Anthurium is an interesting plant for anyone who wants to cultivate an unusual and exotic looking houseplant. Anthurium superbum care needs to be taken, but if you do so then your new friend will reward you with a shocking riot of colour all year long!
If you’re an anthurium newbie, be sure to ask your local nursery for a care guide. They’ll have tips on how often it should be watered and what type of soil is best – the answer might surprise you! Check out anthurium plants for sale here.
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