If you have a beautiful Anthurium plant that is your favorite and wondering if you could have another one just like it, then you are at the right place. You can propagate Anthuriums from cuttings, by division, or by germination of its seeds. It's a lot easier than you would imagine, and it's also a lot of fun! To know about Anthurium Propagation more, keep reading.
Anthurium, commonly known as the flamingo flower, is a popular houseplant because of its colorful, heart-shaped petals and ease of maintenance. Even beginner gardeners will enjoy this plant. Although splitting anthuriums to continue their blooming is required occasionally, their maintenance is minimal and simple.
Time and Reason for Splitting Your Anthuriums
Because Anthurium is a tropical plant, most of us usually limit ourselves to cultivating them in pots inside our residences. Anthurium flourishes best in damp, humid environments with indirect light exposure as a tropical forest plant. This plant is resistant and resilient even in the absence of suitable environments. It's an excellent option for someone who doesn't have a garden. However, some maintenance, such as dividing Anthurium plants, is necessary to keep them healthy and happy.
Simply said, splitting anthuriums is a great idea if your plant is doing well and has outgrown its container. You may either replant it or split it to get two new plants. When you find the Anthurium roots sprouting out of the pot's drainage holes or encircling the plant at the surface of the soil, it's time to repot or split your anthurium.
If the foliage is drooping or the water is running straight through the container, your plant has overgrown its container. It's time to split your Anthurium into smaller plants once you've repotted it into many larger containers.
Precautions With Anthuriums
Before going to propagate your Anthurium, you need to know that dealing with Anthurium can cause some damage to your body, especially your eyes, and skin. So, take precautions with your Anthurium plant.
- Before taking cuttings, trimming, or repotting your anthurium, put on safety goggles, gloves, a mask, and other protective clothing. Because, Anthurium can cause injury to your eyes, and skin.
- Keep it out of children's and pets' reach. Because Anthurium includes calcium oxalate crystals, that when eaten or swallowed induce significant discomfort and swelling in the mouth and digestive tract. If your children or pet chew or swallow Anthurium, it’ll cause serious discomfort.
- Soak all cutting instruments in rubbing alcohol or Lysol to disinfect them. Allow the tools to dry naturally. You may also clean the blades between cuts with a cloth dipped in the sterilizing solution.
- Wash older flowerpots by scouring to wipe off caked-on soil.
- To destroy any germs, soak it for at least 10 to 15 minutes in a bleach solution of 1:9, bleach to the water.
- Allow it to air dry after rinsing and scrubbing with dishwashing soap and hot water.
- If the staining remains, soak the pot in a 1:1 vinegar to water solution before rinsing it again with water and soap.
Propagation Methods
Now to propagate Anthurium, you may go for any of these - propagation through cutting the stem, propagation in water, splitting the plant, propagation with seeds. To learn in detail about these, keep reading.
Cutting The Stem
- Cut a stem from the plant and clip off all the foliage close to the stem to cultivate an Anthurium from a cutting.
- Cut the stem into several pieces, at least one of which must have an eye (leaf bud).
- Place the cuttings upright in a container with a loose, well-draining combination of half sand and half peat, and cover them with translucent plastic foil if possible.
- Maintain a temperature of 25 to 30 degrees C and keep the potting soil wet. Within several weeks, the cuttings should begin to sprout roots and leaves.
- Transplant the little plants into larger containers once they are big enough to handle.
Propagating in Water
- Cut a stem from the plant and clip off all the foliage close to the stem.
- Fill jars or glasses halfway with water. The cuts' bottoms should be fully immersed in water.
- Ensure that the leaves do not become waterlogged; otherwise, they may decay.
- Place the cuttings in a light-filled area.
- After this, you'll notice roots sprouting after a few weeks. The rate at which this occurs is determined by the season, temperature, and quantity of light available.
- You can replant the cuttings in soil once the roots are long and firm. However, if you like Anthurium in water, you may leave it alone!
Splitting the Plant
For this, plants that have several stems are necessary because they can be split.
- Gently remove the plant from the pot and separate it into two or more segments, each with its own set of leaves and roots.
- Anthuriums are sensitive to fungal diseases and root rot, so spray the roots and any wounds with fungicide.
- Replant each part in new potting soil.
Propagation With Seeds
Since the vibrant yellow flowers on the spadix emit pollen and are sensitive to pollination at different times, Anthurium seeds are less frequent. To propagate your Anthurium with seeds, follow these steps carefully.
- You may use a paintbrush to capture pollen from one spadix and distribute it across the flowers on the other spadix if you have several flowers on one plant or many distinct plants. The anthurium might take up to a year to develop its small seed-bearing berries.
- Pick the berries as they begin to fall from the spadix and crush the little fruits to uncover the seeds.
- In wet vermiculite or peat moss, plant the seeds and any residual parts of the berry.
- Place the pots or seed-starting tray on a seed heat pad after barely covering the seeds.
- To keep the seeds wet and warm, softly mist them and cover them with plastic wrap or another transparent covering.
- Nurture the seedlings in a warmer, brightly lighted spot once they germinate in five to fourteen days, depending on the climate and variety.
- When they outgrow their pots, transfer them to larger ones.
- Water often and spray as needed to maintain a high level of humidity.
Conclusion
Depending on the size of your Anthurium, you might be able to divide it in two or get ten new plants. This is a wonderful opportunity to give away your Anthurium plants. If you don't need all these potted anthuriums, give them out as welcome presents or send them to your friends. Anyone would feel great to get one of these beautiful flowers. How cool it would be!
