The anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower because of the characteristic shape of its bracts, is one of the most popular houseplants and is actually very easy to care for. But why does this pretty plant let its leaves droop and what can you do about it?
Why does the anthurium droop its leaves and how can you save it?
The anthurium droops its leaves when it suffers from a lack of water caused by a substrate that is too dry, a location that is too hot or air that is too dry. To save the plant, you should immerse it in water until the roots are saturated and then place it in fresh substrate.
Why does the anthurium droop its leaves?
Anthuriums typically let their leaves droop if their substrate is too dry - the plants suffer from a lack of water, which is why the foliage ultimately loses its elasticity. However, a lack of water does not only occur if you water the flamingo flower too rarely. These reasons can also lead to dryness:
- Anthurium is in a hot and sunny place
- Air is too dry (especially in winter!)
- Planter is too small
Place the anthurium in a partially shaded location and, if possible, not above or near a heater.
How to save the anthurium?
When it's dry, the only thing that helps is to water the plant. If the leaves are already hanging, it's best to pot them up and place them in a bucket filled with water. Now let the roots soak up the moisture. You can recognize saturation by the fact that more air bubbles are now rising. Then place the plant in fresh substrate.
But be careful: limp leaves can sometimes indicate waterlogging, as this causes root rot and the resulting lack of water.
How do you water the anthurium correctly?
So that anthuriums do not suffer from drought stress, you should water them moderately and, above all, regularly. Proceed as follows:
- Check substrate moisture before watering
- should be superficially dried
- water moderately
- Substrate should be slightly moist, but not wet
- Always pour out excess water from the planter
You can tell whether the plant is receiving enough water by looking at the leaves: Are they bright green, shiny and upright? Then everything is fine! Discoloration, on the other hand, usually indicates too much wetness or dryness.
Why do the tips and edges of the leaves turn brown?
Brown tips or edges of leaves show that the air is too dry. Anthuriums are rainforest plants that need warm (above 18 °C all year round) and moist air. A humidity of around 80 percent is optimal. You can achieve this by regularly spraying the leaves with stale, room temperature tap or rain water. Alternatively, you can also shower the anthurium.
Tip
Yellow leaves if the location is too sunny
If your anthurium has yellow leaves, it is too sunny. The plants like it bright, but shaded to partially shaded. So the south window is definitely not the right place! Dry, brown leaf spots, on the other hand, are often caused by sunburn, which the flamingo flower quickly gets in the sun.
