Anthuriums are very beautiful plants of the Araceae family, usually, people mistake their spathes for flowers. In this article, I will explain everything about Anthurium fertilizer, so your Anthurium will always grow correctly.
Anthurium in nature obtains nutrients from biomass, but when Anthurium is grown indoors or in pots, it cannot obtain nutrients from biomass. It is not a very demanding plant in terms of fertilization, but fertilizing Anthurium will help in the development and growth of the plant.
Many gardeners prefer to use fertilizers with a lot of phosphorus in Anthurium, but in this article, I will explain why it is not necessary to use this type of fertilizer in Anthurium.
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What Fertilizer for Anthuriums
What Fertilizer for Anthuriums? If you normally fertilize your garden plants you will have noticed that fertilizers have numbers and dashes on them. When you look at a fertilizer package you will see something like 10-5-10 or some other number, these are the NPK values.
NPK stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Now I will explain a little more in detail what each nutrient does in plants:
- N: Nitrogen is very important for the development of Anthurium leaves and helps in the photosynthesis process.
- P: Phosphorus is a nutrient that plants use for their overall development. Roots, stems, flowers, and fruits develop better with phosphorus, but you should never abuse phosphorus either.
- K: Potassium gives the plant greater resistance to pests and diseases. Potassium is also good for plant development.
Each NPK number indicates the percentage of the nutrient in the product, for example, if the numbers 10-20-10 appear in the fertilizer for Anthurium it will mean the following:
- 10% of Nitrogen
- 20% of Phosphorus
- 10% of Potassium
An excellent fertilizer for Anthurium can be 16-5-11 or 11-35-15. In the following paragraphs, I will explain the difference between these two fertilizers for Anthurium.
Best Fertilizer for Anthurium
For Anthurium, two types of fertilizers can be used, fertilizers with high phosphorus or lower phosphorus. Phosphorus is very good for the development of the plant in general, favoring the growth of roots, stems, flowers, and fruits.
If you want to fertilize your Anthurium to provide more nutrients to the plant and give it a balance of nutrients, it is best to use an Anthurium fertilizer 16-5-11, a balanced formula for Anthurium. This means that the fertilizer for Anthurium will have 16% nitrogen, 5% phosphorus, and 11% potassium. The rest will be other nutrients and minerals that plants also need.
- Lasts up to 180 days. Sprinkled on top of potting medium. Application rates on package labels.
- A 100% Urea Free blend with a 3:1:2 Ratio which is proven to produce outstanding results
- Fantastic for ALL Plants, including Anthuriums, Philodendron, Ficus, Bromeliads, Palms, Bonsai, Orchids, Calathea, Alocasia plus many more
On the other hand, if you wish to have bigger flowers and the Anthurium develops with more strength, you can use a fertilizer 11-35-15 as it is used for orchids. This means that the Anthurium fertilizer will have 11% nitrogen, 35% phosphorus, and 15% potassium.
- Orchid plus bloom booster fertilizer
So, you may ask, what is the best fertilizer for Anthurium? The best fertilizer for Anthurium is either of the two options I mentioned, you just have to choose if you want a balance in the development of the Anthurium or bigger flowers.
If your Anthurium is in good condition and growing well, I recommend using 16-5-11 fertilizer. But if your Anthurium is not growing or had some disease, I recommend you to use the fertilizer 11-35-15.
I recommend always reading the fertilizer manufacturer’s directions to verify the proper dosage and how often to use the fertilizer. Each fertilizer may vary in the correct dosages.
When to Fertilize Anthurium
When to Fertilize Anthurium? Only fertilize the Anthurium during its growth and development stage, which is during the spring and summer. According to TNAU University, a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5 is ideal for Anthurium development.
It is advisable to measure soil pH so that the nutrients are better absorbed and utilized by the Anthurium.
How to Fertilize Anthurium
How to Fertilize Anthurium? As mentioned above, the Anthurium should only be fertilized during its growth stage, which is in spring and summer. You can fertilize Anthurium with liquid or granular fertilizers.
If using a slow dissolving granular fertilizer, spread the Anthurium fertilizer evenly over the entire plant. Whenever you fertilize your Anthurium make sure the soil is moist before fertilizing. Read the fertilizer manufacturer’s directions for the proper rate to apply.
If you are going to use liquid fertilizer for Anthurium you must dilute the fertilizer correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, liquid fertilizers are applied every 15 to 30 days, but these indications vary according to the product purchased.
Whatever fertilizer you choose, the most important thing is to only fertilize the Anthurium plant in spring and summer. Finally, always follow the fertilizer manufacturer’s directions for proper application. Remember that over-fertilizing is also not good for Anthurium or any other plant.
How Often to Fertilize Anthurium
How Often to Fertilize Anthurium? You should only fertilize the Anthurium during the development and growth stage of the Anthurium, which is in spring and summer. Also, spring and summer are excellent times to propagate Anthurium plant.
Read the instructions for the Anthurium fertilizer you choose because the dosage may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, slow dissolving Anthurium fertilizers should only be applied once in early spring and then at the beginning of summer.
Do not fertilize Anthurium during the fall and winter, nor do you fertilize recently propagated Anthuriums. Wait until the next season to fertilize propagated Anthuriums when they have good roots.
I hope this article on Anthurium fertilizer will be useful and that you will be able to fertilize your Anthurium correctly. I recommend our article about how to make a worm composting bin.
