What Kind of Soil is used for Anthurium?

The Aesthetic Anthurium is one of the favorite indoor plants. The plant makes the best indoor decoration even in a small space. Anthurium is known for its attractive spathe or flower, and beautiful leaves with a unique attractive shape. 

The anthuriums need less attention and care while growing if you keep the plant happy by choosing the right soil. With a little knowledge about the soil for the plant, you can buy or better make your own soil for the plant. 

In this article, you will learn more about anthurium soil, components, mix, and DIY soil to make on your own.

Also Read: What kind of soil do you need for an African Violet?

What is Anthurium?

Anthurium is a herbaceous plant from the Araceae family. The plants are native to America and the Caribbeans.  Anthurium is majorly produced in Hawaii. They bloom in all seasons and can grow 12 inches tall. Even though they are toxic to pets, they come in three attractive colors. The slow growth and less care make it the best indoor companion. With proper care, this climber can live for more than 3 years.

Types of Anthurium

• Anthurium Andreanum– They prefer warm climates. The bright-colored leaves love to live in tropical regions. Mainly used for ornamental purposes. The plant is toxic with spiky flowers.
• Anthurium Crystallinum– They belong to the rainforest area and are grown under the tree as houseplants. The leaves are oval-shaped with white veins lining all over. They are less attractive because of the same color leaves.
• Anthurium Faustomirandae– This type has a huge leaf that can grow over 4 ft tall. It is a tough plant that grows in cooler climates. They are originally from Mexico.

What is the Soil pH for Anthurium?

The Ideal soil pH for Anthurium is 6.0 to 6.5. Anthuriums like to grow best in slightly acidic soil. If the soil is too alkaline, it may affect the plant. To make your anthurium soil acidic, add peat moss to it. pH is tested to find the potential of hydrogen and uses a chemical scale to identify the nature of the soil. Testing for soil pH is the first step in getting to know the soil. Ph can range from 0 to 14. Any soil with a pH higher than 7 is alkaline and less than 7 is acidic. Do a pH test to find the soil pH level. 

What Kind of Soil is used for Anthurium?

The best soil for Anthurium is no soil. Anthurium is adapted to climb cliffs making the need for soil less. They prefer a growing medium that is looser with lots of air pockets, unlike regular soil. Regular soils may trap water and make soil damp which may lead to root rot and plant death. Stay away from garden soil which is less porous.

Avoid Clay or loamy soil which may get compacted and prefer sand-based soil. Some of the soilless potting mixes also are not suitable for anthurium. Instead, look for a potting mix specially made for Anthuriums or orchids which gives the right place for the plant. Anthuriums can get water from the air in a way also from bark or moss.

Components of the Best Soil for Anthurium

 Three main components that should be present in the soil to make it the best soil for Anthurium are:

• Well-Drainage- A well-draining soil is essential for Anthuriums. If grown in a pot, it needs a drainage hole for proper drainage. Water sitting in the pot may lead to fungal disease and destroy the root. Adding pebbles to the pot with soil will help solve the problem. Adding coco coir will improve drainage in the mix of the anthuriums.
• Good Aeration- Anthuriums like light soil that should have good aeration. As they love dry and porous soil to get the proper aeration, giving that will help them grow. Providing extra aeration to the soil will boost the growth of the plant.
• Texture- The texture of the soil for Anthuriums should be from coarse light. The Anthurium soil prefers a very light and loose soil which also holds enough moisture which helps in root growth. The texture of indoor and outdoor soil can vary as one will be in a pot and the other in the land.

Did you know?

• Anthurium is the largest genus in the family Araceae with more than 1000 species of the plant variety.
• Anthuriums don’t have flowers. The colorful and attractive flower-like leaves are called Spathes which come in various colors.
• Atriums symbolize hospitality. As they have this open heart shapes spathe with a pleasant look.
• Anthuriums are the most popular Tropical flowers.

What kind of potting mix is good for Anthurium?

Anthurium prefers a well-draining potting mix that is coarse and provides aeration to the plant root. An orchid mix with sand mix is perfect for the anthurium soil. To make the soil more porous add coconut husk, pumice, and perlite. Keep a check on the acidity level of the soil and don’t miss out on any change in soil which may affect the plant.

How to Prepare a Potting Mix for Anthurium?

To prepare the potting soil for anthurium, add one part of the Perlite, one part of Peat to one part of the Pine Barks. Depending on the texture of the mix, add one or two parts of coco coir to it to improve the aeration. You can add perlite (volcanic rock) or gravel or marbles to increase the drainage of the soil.

The preparation of a potting mix for anthurium is easy and cost-efficient. Succulent, cactus soil is quite opposite to garden or potting soil. Succulent soil loves to have a very good porous drainage but having that for anthuriums might be a wrong idea. Adding potting mix directly for anthuriums makes the root of the plant rot. But adding the minerals and mending the soil to improve drainage and aeration will make the potting mix doable. 

DIY Tips to make soil for Anthurium at Home (Complete Guide)

Soil for most plants can be made by mixing potting soil or some minerals and organic matter. But for anthuriums, it needs a soil-less mix. Anthuriums are very picky about their choices to grow with a very light mix with no compaction. So, making a Do-it-yourself soil is your best choice. To make your own DIY soil for your anthurium plant:

Preparation

• Collecting all the ingredients before making the soil.
• Take time to mix the ingredients.
• Learn other items like reading a pH tester, types of nutrients, and their uses.

Now you can start making the DIY with the below-given ingredients and follow up,

Tools

• Gear up with gloves to avoid dirt from the soil.
• Measuring cup or instrument to measure the ingredients.
• Bucket or vessel to make space to mix the soil.
• A small shovel/ Trowel to mix the soil.
• Dust mask.

Ingredients

• Perlite– Perlite is formed from volcanic emission. They make the best aeration for the succulent soil.
• Peat moss– This soil amendment is made from peat bogs. This active decomposing peat moss is used to hold water in the soil.
• Coconut coir– The coconut fiber is made from coconut husk and used for many purposes. They are used in soil to improve soil texture, drainage, and aeration.
• Sand– The sand is added to give a loose texture to the soil. The coarse sand is added to reduce the clay content in the soil.
• Compost– Compost is a mixture of organic waste formed and added to soil to enrich it. 
• Pine Bark
• Pumice– Formed from volcanoes when they erupted explosively. The liquid explosion is formed to pumice rock making the aeration for the soil.

Recipe

Mix 1

• 1 Part Peat Moss
• 1 Part Perlite
• 1 part Pine bark

Mix 2

• 1 Part Coco Coir
• 1 Part Pumice
• 1 Part Compost

Follow-up

After collecting all the required ingredients and tools add the measured ingredients to the bucket with the help of a trowel and equal parts of Peat moss, perlite, and pine bark and mix it well so all are mixed for mix 1. Add one of each compost, coco coir, and pumice and mix all well to make the best soil for your Anthurium. If you are using a potting mix then add the required amount of porous to it and other nutrients to reach the pH requirement of the plant.

Where to Buy Soil for Anthurium?

Soil for anthurium can be bought in a nearby commercial store or online. Store-bought soil is ready-made to use but may contain fertilizers. Online, you can make your choice based on your research with the review, rating, and the right mix mentioned in the label. With whatever way of buying the soil, adding some soil conditioner will help for the betterment of the plant as well the soil.

3 Best Commercial Brands to buy soil for Anthurium

Soil Sunrise

The Soil Sunrise- Anthurium potting mix is specially made for indoor Anthurium plants. This light and the fast-draining mix contains Sand, charcoal, perlite, peat moss, and fir bark. The product is certified for the standard. This ready-to-use mix also can be used for tailflower, flamingo flower, and laceleaf. They give premium quality, value-for-money products at a reasonable rate. They also provide various other types of potting mixes, and all-purpose soil. Plant food and fertilizers at affordable prices for the plants.

Creative plant mama

The Creative plant mama- Anthurium growing medium is a custom handmade soil potting mix. The blend is all organic and provides proper moisture retention, drainage, and nutrient to the anthurium. The Mix contains earthworm castings, Charcoal, fertilizer coco coir, and potting soil. This is the best long-term investment for your anthurium to grow happy and healthy. They are free of fertilizers and are handmade especially for anthuriums.

Miracle-Gro

Miracle-Gro Houseplant potting mix is a peat moss, coconut coir, and perlite which provides well draining indoor soil mix for plants. They are not specifically made for Anthurium but are best and value for money. This soil is less prone to gnats and other common household pests. This is a certified product but Mulch and soil are the industrial standards. The soil can feed indoor plants for up to 6 months. The product comes with how-to-use and care tips for indoor plants on the label.

No	Name of the product	Quantity (Quarts)	Price($) (approx)
1	Soil Sunrise Anthurium potting mix	4	12
2	Creative plant mama Anthurium Growing medium	4	13
3	Miracle-gro Houseplant potting mix	4	12

Tips and Tricks

• Keeping the Anthuriums in a brightly lighted area will make the plant grow faster. Direct sunlight burns the plant leaves.
• Anthurium needs water once a week if you live in a moderately humid temperature. If the hot weather increases then increase the watering frequency.
• Anthurium needs a mix that is well draining and mildly acidic free from compaction.
• Water the anthurium with an ice cube. They act as a slow-release watering method.

Can I use Garden soil and Orchid soil for Anthurium?

No, you can’t use garden soil for anthuriums. Garden soil will have lots of clay content in it which is not suitable for anthuriums. Garden soil will be heavy, damp, and moisture retended which is quite the opposite for anthuriums soil. Garden soil should be avoided at any cost.

Yes, orchid soil can be used for anthuriums. Orchid soil tends to have the right acidity which is suitable for the plant. Orchid soil has well drainage and porous soil which make it the best substitute for anthuriums. 

Can Anthurium grow in Cactus soil?

Yes, anthurium can grow in cactus soil. Keeping a check on the sand in the soil will only make the difference. Cactus plants need more sandy soil than anthurium. Often the term cactus and succulent are used indifferently. You may find labels in soil bags stating cactus and succulent soil. As the characteristics and needs of both cactus and succulents are common, they can be used for one another. Since anthurium is a climber, cactus soil can be used but for better results, cactus mix with no soil will do best. Anthurium needs a soil-less mix to grow.

Selecting the Right Pot for Anthurium

Picking the right pot for an anthurium is crucial because of its nature. The right pot for an anthurium is categorized with the size and material of the pot. 

The pot for the plant can be plastic, ceramic, or wood. But the best one for anthurium is plastic because the plant needs soil to be porous and well-draining. Making holes in the plastic pots will prevent overwatering.

The size of any plant can not be fixed. There is no perfect size pot for plants. Giving the plant a pot that is two sizes bigger than the plant will be good. In that way, repotting can be done in a year or two.

When and How to Repot an Anthurium?

Repotting an anthurium Two a year during summer will enrich the plant with nutrients in the new soil. Repotting can be done at certain times:

• When the plant has outgrown the pot or container in which it grows.
• When its plant is externally damaged due to any cause. 
• Fungal or bacterial infections can damage the soil.
• Root rot is not a major problem and the plant can recover on its own. But at times, when it gets severe repotting should be done to save the plant and root.
• When the store-bought plant is in a small pot disregarding its size, repotting is a must:

Repotting should not be done in yellow leaves, dropping leaves, dryness, sunburn, and insect-invaded soil.

• To repot this plant, selecting a container or pot regarding the size of the plant is the first step. The two factors which determine the pot size are Water requirement and growth space.
• Loosen the plant from the pot with a shovel or butter knife and lift it out.
• Remove the root from the pot to add it to a new mix.
• Place the plant in a new pot with a new mix and fill in the sides to make the plant straight.
• Adding nutrients or amendments to make up for the lost nutrients.

Pests in Anthurium

Some other common problems could be pests. The anthuriums are not much prone to pests but there should be a check on them. There are chances they are affected by spider mites, scales, mealy bugs, white flies, and bacterial or fungal diseases. Treating the problem with fungicides and insecticides will help discord the problem. Insects-affected plants show signs with leaves. Keeping a check on moisture as well as plants in the soil will mostly prevent pests. 

Signs You’re Using the Wrong Mix for Anthurium 

Anthurium plants will show certain signs when the mix is wrong. Some of these are:

• Yellow leaf– The cause of yellow leaf is too much drainage in the soil. It also indicates the bacterial problem in soil.
• Brown Spot in leaves– This could be a sign of overwatering that too much water is unavailable to the soil. This mostly won’t happen in anthuriums.
• Dry leaves– This sign is for the dehydration of plants. Providing enough water will solve this issue.
• Dropping leaf– This could be the reason the root is getting too much or little water. Keeping a check on soil texture will help prevent the problem.

Conclusion  

Making or choosing the ideal mix for anthurium is important to grow a healthy anthurium plant. The nature of the plant makes it specific to the soil’s needs. With proper care, your anthuriums will grow to show their beautiful and healthy heart-shaped spathe in return. Follow the DIY and make your anthurium soil. Keep checking the plant and soil to avoid pest problems. If there is any problem with the plant, follow the repotting steps and swap it for better soil.

FAQs

1. Is Anthurium an indoor or outdoor plant?

Anthurium grows best indoors and it can be grown outdoors with the right soil, climate, and sunlight.

2. Do Anthuriums like sun or shade?

Anthurium likes shady warm sunlight to grow. Direct sunlight may affect the soil.

3. Why is my Anthurium dying?

Anthurium dies because of overwatering or soil with poor drainage. Getting the right soil can prevent anthurium from dying.

4. Can I spray water on an Anthurium?

Yes, you can. This will give the plant tropical nature and refreshment.