Do you like Anthurium? It may be a plant that, at first, does not call your attention too much, but when you get closer, and you become curious to know other varieties, in addition to the common one with red flowers, it is very easy for you to fall in love with this genus. botanical, so much so that when its leaves turn brown, it’s no wonder all the alarms go off.
You may be wondering if you’ve been watering it too much, or if it just doesn’t feel comfortable where you put it. Well, first of all, the best thing you can do is… calm down. Yes, because then I’m going to tell you why anthurium can have brown leavesand what measures you have to carry out to recover its natural beauty.
direct sun or light
If there is something that they fear anthuriums more than anything, it is in direct sun. They are plants that want a lot of light, but their leaves are not designed to withstand the direct impact of the sun’s rays.nor those that go through the windows. This is so because they are plants that live in the shade of others that grow much larger, such as trees, palms and climbers with which they share a habitat.
Therefore, if we see that one day dawns with yellow or brown spots that the day before did not have, and that these spots are only on the leaves most exposed to light, we can assume that our anthurium is burning. So that it doesn’t get worse We’ll move it around.
Unsuitable land or water
The anthurium is not a difficult plant to grow, but if there is something that can make its health worse by leaps and bounds, it is planting it in unsuitable land and/or using unsuitable irrigation water. Why? Because it is an acid plant, that is, it grows in soils whose pH is acidic, between 4 and 6. If we plant it in one whose pH is neutral or alkaline (that is, 7 or higher) and/or if we water it with alkaline water, the leaves will turn brown over time.
And it is that this type of plants need iron to grow and carry out photosynthesis normally, but in alkaline soils this nutrient, although it may be present, is inaccessible. That is why it is so important to plant the anthurium in acid soilcontaining blonde peat and/or coconut fibre. Another option is to buy specific substrate for acid plants, such as the brand Flower, Battle o box. Likewise, it is necessary to irrigate with rainwater whenever possible, or with one whose pH is low, between 4 and 6.
If we see that it has chlorotic leaves, that is, they turn yellow from the tip and margins inwards, leaving the nerves green, we must know that they will later turn brown, also starting from the outermost part of the leaf towards the inside. To solve it as soon as possible, we will apply a spray foliar fertilizer for green plants.
Lack of space
It is a cause that usually goes unnoticed, because it is not given the importance it really has. Often, we buy plants and leave them in those same pots for years and years, believing that they do not need a change. But the truth is that if they start to have brown leaves and there is no apparent reason, we will have to suspect that they have run out of space to keep growing.
How to know for sure? The first thing is to stop thinking that they only need a transplant if roots come out of the holes in the pot. Of course, this is one reason why we would have to plant it in a larger one, but it is not the only one. In fact, it should also be done if it is newly purchased, and if after seeing that at first glance it seems that the pot is a little too tight.
We will plant it in a pot with holes in its base, filled with substrate for acid plantsor with coconut fiber, of which we leave you a video so you know how it is:
Excess or lack of irrigation
Both too much and too little water will turn anthurium leaves brown. Therefore, it is time to know what the symptoms of each one are and what to do so that the plant recovers:
- Excess irrigation: When we water too much, the leaves will start to turn yellow and then brown. The first will be the bottom ones, and then the next ones. Also, mold and/or verdigris may appear, and the soil will become very heavy. Therefore, what we will do is apply a systemic spray fungicide such as this, and plant the anthurium in a pot with new soil. Be careful: we will not undo the root ball or root loaf, but if it has loose soil, we will remove it. Then, we will not water, but we will wait for about 3 or 4 days to pass.
- Lack of irrigation: when the anthurium is thirsty, the first leaves to be damaged will be the new ones. These will turn yellow, and quickly brown. Likewise, we will see the dry land and, if we take the pot, we will notice that it weighs little. Fortunately, it is solved relatively quickly, since you simply have to submerge the pot in a container of water for about 30 minutes, and from then on, water more often.
But, how often to water the anthurium? In general, it is advisable to do up to 3 times a week in summerand between 1 and 2 times a week during the rest of the seasons.
Need fertilizer
The anthurium needs nutrients to grow and produce its flowers, which is why when it spends a long time in the same pot, there comes a time when the leaves turn brown. So apart from making sure it’s in the right size container, we must fertilize our plant during the spring and until the end of the summer.
For this we will use a fertilizer, or if you want a fertilizer for acid plants, liquid like this. The instructions for use must be followed, as this is the only way to avoid the risk of an overdose.
Have these tips been useful to you? We hope that your anthurium will be beautiful again soon.
