Anthurium is a flower that can be used for general decoration of the house as well as for special occasions. Anthuriums are in great demand for home gardening, local markets and exports. Although the popularity of many flowers varies from time to time, the demand and popularity of the anthurium flower has remained the same for a long time. Its popularity continues to grow. In addition to the flowers needed for the garden, anthurium is also a lucrative crop.

Anthurium Varieties

        Anthuriums, like other flowering plants, have different varieties of anthuriums. Meanwhile, anthurium andrianum is white. The anthurium flower is white and the leaf is slightly elongated. This white anthurium is often used for funerals, weddings, and corporate events.                Although there are two types, the most widely grown is the anthurium for flowers. 

1. Anthuriums grown for flowers
2. Anthuriums grown because of the variety of leaves

 We are talking about Anthuriums grown for flowers. 

Red Anthurium

        It should be mentioned here that there are varieties of red anthuriums among red anthuriums. Among the small red anthurium and large anthurium flowering anthurium, the short red anthurium variety Anthurium is the most valuable. Normally in the market a short anthurium with these red flowers sells for around Rs. 350 to Rs. 400 (LKR).

Anthurium Kotmale type

        This anthurium flower is a fairly large flower with light red ripples. Make a bouquet like that, use it more for festive occasions.

Anthurium Andrianum orange variety

The flowers are light orange in color and are usually a very expensive anthurium.         So I mentioned just a few of the anthurium varieties. There are over 20 species of anthuriums in Sri Lanka. The humid climate is ideal for growing this anthurium. Anthuriums should be watered at least twice a day.

Pink and purple anthuriums

         Anthuriums include pink anthuriums as well as purple anthuriums. The purple anthurium is expensive and relatively rare. In areas like Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Kandy there is a good demand for these purple anthuriums.         So I mentioned just a few of the anthurium varieties. There are over 20 species of anthuriums in Sri Lanka. The humid climate is ideal for growing this anthurium. Anthuriums should be watered at least twice a day.

How to Grow Anthuriums?

     A place with climatic requirements for anthurium cultivation should be selected. 

Climatic requirements for anthuriums:

        Anthuriums can be grown well in the region up to 4000 feet above sea level. As this is a shade-loving plant, 60% to 70% shade should be provided. Since anthurium is a plant that needs a lot of shade, it should be grown in a natural shade or artificially shaded with rope mats or shade nets. 

• • • Temperature      – 25 ℃
    • Humidity       – 75%
    • Anthurium also needs well drained soil.

        Prepare a well-drained bed and first add coir rice, red brick pieces and coconut coir to the soil. Place anthurium seedlings on the bed and place coconut husks around the anthurium. Add dried manure, mildew twigs, pieces of charcoal decaying leaf litter to the bed. 

         Remember that anthuriums should be in a bed or in flowerpots or in a shady place. Because moisture and shade are very important for anthurium flowering. Also, water the anthurium plants at least twice a day. So you can take fresh anthuriums from the same bush and plant them in a separate place to expand your anthurium cultivation little by little. Keep good scissors to cut the anthurium flowers. Don’t let everyone cut anthuriums.

 Planting the plant:

An apprentice for Cultivation Anthurium seedlings of suitable quality for cultivation should be procured from a place where the seedlings are sold. It is advisable to immerse 5 seedlings in pots. Pots with a diameter of 30 cm should be selected for planting. Plants should be placed on the holes in the bottom of the pot with tiles and bricks about two inches high, with decayed leaf litter and a mixture of anthurium fertilizer on top. About an inch of the top of the bowl should be left intact.

(Chemical fertilizers should be mixed in the above proportions and applied in one of the firebox lids, about three weeks after planting. Fertilizer should be applied away from the plants near the edge of the pot.)         Fertilization should be done once a month and once in two weeks after flowering in the morning after watering. It is sufficient to apply organic manure once in 3 months. The pots should be kept in a shady place and maintained.

Planting in seedling beds:

If anthuriums are planted in beds, they can be planted in two ways.

1. Construction of drains and cultivation
2. Preparation of beds and cultivation

Whichever of the two methods is used, the artificial method should provide shade. If drains are constructed and cultivated, drains should be prepared at a depth of 25-30 cm on a flat ground and a layer of bricks should be applied at its base Then a chemical should be applied to control the mites. Planting can be done after 5 days by applying the fertilizer mixture on the bricks. If the beds are to be cultivated in a systematic manner, the soil should be loosened to a depth of about 25 cm and the beds should be prepared and fertilized with insecticides. After that it is advisable to plant the seedlings at a spacing of two feet between the seedlings. Fertilizer application, watering and weed control should be done systematically.

Here are some essential nutrients for anthurium cultivation. The most nutritious of these are phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. While these components are essential, there are also nutrients that need to be applied secondary. Thus calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, molybdenum, boron, etc. can be used to get a rich flower harvest. Although all these can be applied properly, the fertilizer should be applied according to the growth stages of the plant.

Growth stages of anthurium cultivation:

• Small stage up to 8-10 months
• Intermediate stage 8-10 months to 1,1 / 2 years
• Flowering period from 1,1/2 years upwards

Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied sparingly at a young age and phosphorus should be applied more at a moderate stage. It is best to apply plenty of potassium during flowering. Fertilizer application occurs in two stages, liquid and granular. You can use any of these methods.

Apply liquid fertilizer:

        In the small stage N P K / 30 10 10/20 20 20 or / 28 14 14/21 21 21 should be alternately diluted in water twice a week at low concentration during the first 4 months and once a week for the other 4 months during the nursery period. Intermediate stage Dilute the following two mixtures alternately in water. Fertilizer application is slightly different in the intermediate stage. Here, too, caution must be exercised. N p K / 10 30 20/20 20 20 or 06 30 30/21 21 21 Anthurium also needs a lot of fertilizer during the flowering stage and the two fertilizer mixtures should be applied alternately every two weeks. N P K / 10 30 20/20 20 20 or 06 30 30 21 21 21 There are many types of granular fertilizers used in anthurium cultivation. Accordingly, short-term fertilizers and long-term fertilizers are divided into two parts. Short-term dissolving fertilizers should be applied within a short period of time. Apply 5 to 10 g of granular fertilizer. The other important thing to know when applying granular fertilizer is that granular fertilizer should be applied after the roots of the plants have adhered well to the medium of cultivationDepending on the time it takes for the manure to dissolve, the tree may not receive proper nutrition.  Therefore, the granular manure should be allowed to dissolve quickly. Anthurium trees suffer from malnutrition if it takes too long for the manure to dissolve. Therefore, as we told you last week, you can decide which liquid fertilizer is more suitable and which granular fertilizer is more suitable. It is important to apply the right amount of fertilizer for the size, quality and leaf growth of anthurium flowers.

If you are a commercial anthurium grower, you need to choose the most suitable method. It is not advisable to use both methods except for one of the two methods.Protection against pests: Pests such as oysters, mites, leafhoppers, powdery mildew, aphids, etc. can damage anthurium leaves, shoots and flowers and should be treated appropriately.