The flamingo flower is considered a very robust plant that requires little care and yet shows its attractive flowers all year round. However, it is important for it to thrive that you move the anthurium regularly. The reason for this is not only the growth, but also the fact that regular watering with tap water increases the pH value of the soil. These plants react extremely sensitively to this.
How should you properly repot an anthurium?
When repotting an anthurium, you should use a loose, acidic substrate (e.g. orchid soil or peat growing medium). Choose a pot size that is only slightly larger than the current one and be careful not to plant the plant deeper than before. Procedure: Cover the drain hole, fill in the drainage layer, fill in potting soil, repot the anthurium, fill in gaps and water.
Which substrate is suitable
Anthuriums thrive in nature both on the ground in the shade of large trees and as epiphytes. Accordingly, they love loose, air-permeable and relatively acidic substrates. Meets these requirements:
- commercial orchid soil (€7.00 at Amazon)
- Peat growing medium (low in nutrients, use this, needs to be fertilized more often).
- Mixture of compost, peat and sand
- Commercial potting soil, which you loosen up with polystyrene balls or clay granules.
The pot size
Flamingo flowers do not form a large root ball, but grow from a fleshy rhizome. Accordingly, the plants do not need very large containers. When repotting young anthuriums, a pot that is just one size larger than the previous one is sufficient. Older plants are no longer planted. For them it is sufficient to replace the substrate once a year.
Repotting
Be very careful when doing this so as not to damage the roots, which break easily. First loosen the plant from the planter by kneading or using a very sharp knife running along the inside edge of the pot.
- Cover the drain hole of the new pot with a piece of pottery.
- Pour in a two to three centimeter thick drainage layer of expanded clay or gravel.
- Add about half of the potting soil in.
- Lift the anthurium out of the old pot.
- Carefully remove the used substrate.
- Place in the new pot and fill the remaining gaps with soil.
- Pouring.
Since coarse substrate is difficult to press down, place the pot firmly on it several times. This compresses the earth and you can add some more if necessary.
Tip
Make sure not to insert the flamingo flower any deeper than before. The plant reacts extremely sensitively to this.
