Anthurium Veitchii Care Guide
Anthurium Veitchii houseplant care
The Anthurium Veitchii also called the King of the Anthuriums is quite a sight! The Veitchii is native to the Columbian rain forests. These kings are fairly easy to care for given the right growing conditions. These are Epiphytic in nature, meaning they rely on host plants, using their roots to grab on to trees absorbing their moisture and nutrients from moss or the air around them. The leaves can reach lengths of up to 6 feet given the right environment! Who doesn't want that right?! amazing if you ask me.
Light:
Bright Indirect-Indirect light. We find that the brighter the light the faster they will burn.
Water:
They prefer to stay slightly moist but not soggy. We keep ours moist but never allowing them to completely dry out. They don't like that.
Soil:
This is very crucial as these are Epiphytes. They are not found in soils, and in fact can rot if planted in a soil mix. These need airy substrate as they need air flow through their root systems. We keep ours in Sphagnum Moss, sometimes mixing it with Coco Coir Chunks and/or Perlite. Enough to drain excess water but still retaining moisture.
Containers:
Do to their enormous size potential, they actually don't require a large pot. In fact, they can do just fine in a 6-8 in container just fine given the correct care. They do like to have air flow through the roots as mentioned above, so using a coco coir basket or an Orchid container work great, however a regular pot works just as well!
Humidity:
Keep humidity around 50% or higher, especially during their growth spurts. Daily misting 1x-2x a day is recommended as they grow poorly in dry conditions. If you live in a dry climate like us in Eastern Washington, then a daily misting or 2 will help keep their leaves thick and green. We find with daily misting(s), they grow a little faster.
Temperature:
Keep temperatures above >65 degrees as they do poorly in cooler climates. Cooler nights are fine.
Fertilizer:
Generally any commercial water soluble fertilizer will do just fine, fertilizing every other watering. However, Epiphytes (that grow in soilless mediums) require higher amounts of Magnesium and Calcium. This is strongly suggested in a fertilizer because soilless mixtures usually require nutrient supplementation due to not holding on to nutrients as well as regular soils. The easiest way to find these essential nutrients is generally found in commercial Orchid fertilizers. Foliar feedings are highly suggested as they can absorb more nutrients through the pours of their leaves better than their root systems.
General Maintenance:
Regular plant keeping is essential for maintaining strong healthy leaves and vigorous growth. Trimming off yellowing leaves, removing dead or decaying plant matter from the plant and regularly inspecting the leaves and plant weekly for signs or illness or pests.
Common Pests:
Naturally pest and disease resistant, they have very few pests and problems for the most part. Usually indoor plants will have a better chance at staying pest free. Fungus Gnats, Spider Mites (eek) Aphids, and Thrips are the most common pest you would encounter.
Troubleshooting:
Damaged leaves and root rot are probably the most common things to happen with your Veitchii. Due to their leaves being capable of reaching 6 or so feet long, they're going to need support over time to keep their leaves from snapping off. Snapping of the leaves will happen when the leaves get too heavy.