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My Anthurium is not thriving at the moment

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
in Problem solving
The main issue I notice is that the red blooms are coming out misshapen, like half a bloom not a full one. And one got stuck trying to open.
Also the leaves are paler green and not so shiny.
Just not so healthy nowadays.
I keep it in bright light but no direct sunlight, and water when the soil goes dry or the pot feels light.
Any suggestions on how I might help it? Thanks very much for any help.







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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Pink678 I know very little about houseplants but if it was mine I think I would gently tip it out and see what is happening with the roots.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you Suze that is excellent advice, because i think possibly I did get overenthusiastic with watering in the weeks before this happened. So I did check the roots a couple of days ago just by tipping the inner pot out (it's a double pot with holes on the inside pot, and no holes on the outside pot). There was a slight smell, possibly mouldy. The roots coming out from the inner pot were a bit waterlogged with standing water inside the outer pot.
    So I cleaned out the inside of the outer pot, then put the inner pot back in, and am now being much more careful not to overwater.
    I wonder if this is the only problem with it.
    I have never fertilised it, I don't know if I should.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited July 2022
    I just checked again now by pulling out the inner pot, and the roots are not waterlogged any more but it's only been a few days since I sorted that problem. The roots at the bottom are dark brown in colour and dedraggled looking.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Pink678 678 Wonder if it is pot bound, the fact that you can see the roots at the bottom. Hopefully someone else has advice in potting them on?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Repot in size larger pot maybe 2 size larger It’s roots are much too crowded .That should fix it .
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you bcpathome, I will do that then!  I am new to repotting, can I use just multipurpose compost, or should I mix it with something for drainage, or use a different type of medium?
    And I am thinking the new pot should have holes in the bottom, as I need to be careful the roots don't stay wet?
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I know you can get compost for houseplants. Unsure of the advantages as different houseplants must prefer different growing mediums.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited July 2022
    That sounds like a good idea Suze, I will look into possible houseplant composts. Thanks very much Suze and bcpathome for the solution, hopefully my anthurium will cheer up once repotted.

  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    @Pink678. I have had an Anthurium for quite a long time now and some time ago lifted it out of its pot and was appalled at how root bound it was so immediately repotted it with no particular compost just what I had available. It responded very well and even now I feel as though it should be repotted again but if I keep on doing it, it will be too big to have on the kitchen window sill! I recently gave it a tomato feed and am impressed at how many new flowers are pushing their way through. I don't think it matters what you repot it in as long as you give it a feed. Mine is potted and put in another pot. I water it about once a week and there is never excess water in the outside pot. Good luck with yours. I think they are quite resilient.  :)
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited October 2023
    Many thanks for the help.
    I didn't get round to repotting it, so I am finally looking to do it now.
    Here are pictures of it from today. The outside leaves are looking pale, and overall not very healthy looking. I have been watering daily but letting all the water drain through, so it's not waterlogged any more. It's been getting ample light but not too hot.
    This is my first time for repotting a plant, so I'm not quite sure what I'm doing! I thought I'd use houseplant repotting mix, and I'm guessing I should gently remove as much of the old soil I can from the plant roots before putting into the new pot.
    I've got a few more questions, if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.
    I have all-purpose plant food in granule form. Should I mix some of that into the repotting mix?
    Should I use tomato feed, and is there a season for that - perhaps they don't want to be producing flowers over winter so I shouldn't give them feed until spring?
    Should I put broken pottery/stones at the bottom of the pot, or is there no need for that? There will be holes in the bottom of the pot.
    The current size pot is 13cm diameter at the top - I have the option of 22cm, 24cm, 28cm for a new pot, which would be best?
    Any other tips gratefully received!





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