The Ultimate Guide to King Anthurium Care

King Anthurium (Anthurium veitchii) is a magnificent evergreen plant that can grow quite large with different flowers and deep green colored leaves up to 6.6 feet with its maturity.

Despite its exotic look, I can assure you that King Anthurium is minimal maintenance and very easy to care for.

So without further ado, let’s check out the ultimate guide to King Anthurium care.

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Ultimate Guide to King Anthurium Care

King Anthurium can be grown both inside and outdoors.

You must follow specific care tips to keep this plant healthy wherever you produce it.

1. Watering & Humidity

The watering condition also depends on your soil type and growing condition.

In general, the King Anthurium does not need to be watered regularly.

King Anthurium loves to be watered once a week with more than 60% humidity.

However, inadequate watering results in burning foliage, wilting the whole plant, and stunted growth.

Whereas overwatered plants are more prone to root rots.

Along with watering, providing your plants with proper humidity is also crucial.

Improper humidity halts the plant’s growth and shows the signs like yellowing, wilting, limping, and stunting.

Tips to Provide Watering & Humidity Properly

• Let the top 2 inches of soil dry before watering.
• Increase watering frequency during warmer days.
• Place the water-filled pebble tray under the planter.
• Mist the plant frequently or use a room humidifier.
• Place the overwatered plants in direct sunlight for some hours to dry up the soil immediately.

2. Sunlight & Temperature

It would be best never to grow your King Anthurium in direct sunlight, indoors or outdoors.

The plant is unable to withstand the cold. Therefore, if the temperature drops below 59 degrees Fahrenheit, it is recommended that you bring it inside to protect it from cold damage.

Moreover, overexposure to sunlight cause the foliage to burn, and the entire plant turns brown.

On top of that, similar symptoms are shown in plants displayed in the temperature extremes.

Low light also disturbs the plants’ growth, and the plant starts wilting, yellowing, and limping.

Tips to Provide Proper Sunlight & Temperature

• If your plants are outdoors, cover them with transparent plastics to prevent direct exposure to sunlight.
• Use frost blankets for the plants to prevent cold stress.
• Increase humidity during summer by misting frequently or using a humidifier.
• Place the plant every 3-5 feet away from an east-facing window.

3. Soil & Fertilizers

If you want to cultivate the plant in your yard or a pot indoors, you’ll need nutrient-dense, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5-7.

You must ensure that your soil has a high drainage capacity as roots can decay if soil holds a lot of moisture.

Likewise, terracotta pots are the finest choice for King Anthurium because they absorb excess moisture and prevent the rotting of the roots.

Therefore, if you plant Anthurium veitchii on the ground, you won’t have to bother draining because it will occur naturally.

Along with the well-draining soil, proper food is also essential for King Anthurium.

Inadequate feeding leads to yellowing and drooping of foliage and stunted growth.

In contrast, overfeeding results in the browning and withering of the foliage.

Tips to Provide Proper Soil & Fertilizers

• Fertilize your plants with Miracle-Gro or Osmocote fertilizers every 2-3 months.
• While potting, use fresh or decontaminated soil to prevent infection of soil-borne pathogens.
• Wet the soil one day before fertilizing it to improve fertilizer absorption.
• Use Miracle-Gro and Burpee potting mix to boost the plants’ growth.
• Always fertilize during the growing season i.e., Spring & Summer, as the plant enters dormancy during winter.

4. Repotting the Plant

The spring or summer season is considered to be the best time to repot Anthurium veitchii. Your plant is actively developing at this period.

When repotting, pick a container one size larger than the one it is now in.

Also, King Anthurium despises being submerged in water. However, it enjoys wet environments as well.

This means you’ll need to pick containers holding adequate water while allowing moisture to escape.

Therefore, pots composed of porous materials such as terracotta and clay are ideal choices. And, of course, don’t forget about drainage holes.

You need sterilized equipment like shears, gloves, and baskets for repotting.

Steps to Repot 

• Cautiously remove the plant from the planter.
• Trim the damaged roots and apply fungicides.
• Place the plant in a terracotta pot with the best potting mix mentioned above.
• Next, furnish the plant with favorable conditions.

5. Occasional Pruning

Remove older, dead, or diseased leaves from King Anthurium annually.

You can tell whether these insects have harmed your plant by noticing brown or yellow patches on plant leaves.

Moreover, King Anthurium is susceptible to pythium, bacterial blight, and bacterial wilt.

These diseases halt the plant by browning, wilting, and rotting the plant parts.

Discard infected plant parts with sterilized shears or scissors.

Always consider wearing gloves, as the plant might irritate your skin. And, also you will be using sharp knives or shears, so taking extra precautions will eliminate small possible cuts or wounds.

Practical Solutions

• Spray the plants with Neem oil or Copper fungicides to eliminate pathogens.
• Always use decontaminated soil during potting & repotting to prevent the spread of diseases from soil to plants.
• Isolate the infected plants from healthy plants.
• Use sterilized equipment to prune the plant.
• Avoid physical injuries in plants during pruning, as they can be the entrance for pathogens to the plant.

How Long Do King Anthurium Flowers Last?

The inflorescences of the King Anthurium are its most distinctive feature and source of uniqueness.

In addition, the blossoms of King Anthurium are among the world’s most long-lasting and last for 2-3 months.

The inflorescence of King Anthurium is fashioned like an arrow, and with cream or pinkish-colored spadix, the flower spike is leathery and greenish-white.

If you want your King Anthurium to blossom, consider various elements, including lighting, potting mix, temperature watering, etc.

Even though King Anthuriums may thrive in low-light environments, if you don’t give your plant adequate light, it won’t blossom.

So, place your plant where it will receive brilliant indirect sunlight.

Propagation of King Anthurium Plant

There are two options to propagate King Anthurium: stem cutting and division.

So, let’s look at both methods in more detail.

Propagating King Anthurium Through Stem Cutting

Using our step-by-step instructions, here’s how to propagate your King Anthurium from stem cuttings.

• The first step is finding a portion of the stem with at least two growth nodes. It will be even better if your nodes possess aerial roots, as the propagation will be sped up.
• The next step is to use the sterilized blades to cut a portion (about 1 inch) of the stem.
• Fill the plastic containers with perlite or sphagnum moss and insert the stem cutting. Make sure that your plastic pot has enough drainage holes.
• Place the pot in bright, indirect light in a warm environment.

Propagating King Anthurium Through Plant Division

The division approach is significantly faster than the stem-cutting method because you already have a fully developed or semi-grown plant.

Thus, there will be no danger of it not developing.

• First, remove the plant from its container. You must check the plants once they have been removed from the container.
• Remove any excess dirt and then disentangle the roots.
• Now is the time to select a healthy-looking stem and trace its roots. This is where you will detach the smaller plant from the mother plant.
• Again, to separate the root ball, use a sharp instrument such as a knife.
• Finally, once you have split the section, place both plants in their respective pots and fill them with soil.