Anthurium Farm under shade net

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

Anthurium grows well under shade that is protected from strong sunlight. The degree of shading varies with cultivar’s, the age of the plant and the climate under which it is grown. The light requirements ranges from 60-75% shade. Too much sunlight causes yellowing of leaves and bleaching of blossoms. Excessive shades on the other hand, slows down growth, decrease flower production and encourages longer but softer stems.

Various methods can be adopted to provide shade or diffused light for anthurium plants. Three to four layers of fish nets installed at least 2 meters above the plants are commonly used. Anthurium plants can also be grown under trees, which do not defoliate at any one time of the year. Some growers use houses (lathed or with plastic roof) where anthuriums are grown under hanging orchids.

TEMPERATURE

Anthuriums are tropical plants and they are very much adopted to the Philippine conditions. They thrive well where the night temperature is 18-20°C and the day temperature is 27-30°C. Low temperature causes a decrease in the number of flowers produced per plant but this is offset by the development of bigger spathe with better color intensity.

GROWTH MEDIUM

Anthuriums grow best in a well-aerated medium with high organic content. The medium should have good water retention capacity and at the same time provides enough drainage. It must be able to anchor the roots and the stem firmly so that the plant will not dislodge or easily recline as it grows or when it sis subjected to strong wind and rain.

The selection for growth medium depends on the cost, availability, handling, ease, aeration and drainage. Local growers use wood shavings, coconut husks, sugar cane bagasse, coir fibers, saw dust, rice hull, coffee parchment and wood chips. Volcanic cinder is sometimes added to the maim medium for drainage and moisture retention. Some growers use charcoal at the bottom of the pot to minimize root diseases and at the same time to provide enough drainage. The different growth media may be used alone or in combination with each other.

PLANTING

Anthurium plants can be grown in raised beds or in size 9 or 10 clay pots. Some growers used size 12 clay pots once the plants have flowered to minimize repotting and to give the plants maximum room for root growth. Larger pots usually used larger varieties. There should be enough holes at the sides and bottom of the pot to provide enough drainage system. A few broken pots are placed at the bottom of the pot, the plant is set at the center and the roots are adequately covered with the media. The media need not be up to the brim of the pot. For larger pots ½ to ¾ full with sufficient. For suckers, which have been newly separated from the mother plant, coconut coir fibers or dust is use and pressed firmly around the roots so that the latter would have enough contact with the medium and moisture.

The size of the plots or beds depends on the grower but the width should be one meter or so to accommodate nine mature plants per square meter. One-third of a meter distance between plots would be used as footpath. The depth of the raised plot may range from 20-22 cm. To ensure enough drainage, provide a layer of cinder or broken pots or gravel at least 2 inches thick.

One hectare of land can accommodate 60,000-63,000 plants allowing nine plants per square meter and one-third meter for footpath.

REPOTTING

Anthuriums are repotted when they have outgrown their pots, when change for fresh medium, and when roots have grown from the stem above the growth medium. Prune the old, dead and diseased roots before planting.

WATERING

The amount and frequency of watering depend on the medium, degree of shading and the prevailing climatic conditions in the production area. The medium should always be moist but not very wet. Misting the plants would certainly help in keeping them healthier.

FERTILIZATION

Both organic and inorganic fertilizers are used by local anthurium growers. For small plants or suckers/seedlings, urea is applied at the rate of one tbsp/gal of water. For flowering stage anthurium, 14-14-14 is applied at the rate of one tbsp/gal of water. This should be dissolved in water and either sprayed on the plants or applied on the media. For organic fertilizer as in chicken manure approximately 50 grams/plant is applied/top dressed once every two months.

Frequently feeding  (once or twice a month) with dilute concentrations would be more beneficial to plants than using concentrated formulations applied less frequently.