Copy of my collection.
If you are a follower of the blog, you may have read that there are certain colors that are not very common in nature. This is so because there are many plants that need pollinating animals, and many pollinators that need plants, and therefore have adapted to them. Black is one of those colors that we see less of, as there really are very few species that are attracted to it. And so, you might think that the black anthurium is such a rare plant that it is not naturalbut artificial.
But when I saw it for sale in an online store I didn't hesitate for a second: I had to buy it! It has ever happened to me, buying a dark-colored plant and then realizing that it had been treated to be that way, but not with the black anthurium. this is real. It produces flowers that, although they are not completely black, it is a color that is quite close to this.
What is its origin?
It is a cultivar of the species anthurium andreanum, that is, its scientific name is Anthurium andreanum cv Black Knight. It has characteristics typical of the pure species, since it can measure more or less 1 meter in height, and develops heart-shaped leaves with pointed ends. These are also leathery in texture, and measure a maximum of 6-8 centimeters long by more or less the same width.
The flowers of this anthurium are actually an inflorescence made up of a spathe, which we confuse with a petal and which fulfills the same function as the latter. It is dark brown, almost black, and usually sprouts in summer. In tropical climates it can bloom throughout the year.. Each flower stays alive for about two months.
Black Anthurium Care Guide
We have this beautiful and, why not say it?, delicate (at least in appearance) plant, and of course, we want it to live… everything that has to live; that is, years and years. But of course, if we want that to happen, we have to learn to take care of it; and therefore it is important that we know what your needs are. So let's get to it:
- Climate: it is a plant that does not resist the cold at all, that is why it must be kept indoors if during the autumn and winter the temperatures remain below 15 degrees centigrade. This is not a problem, since with what I am going to tell you, it is very likely that it will not cost you much to have it beautiful inside the house.
- Light, direct or indirect?: always indirect. Light or direct sun burns the leaves, so it will be vitally important to have it either in the shade if it is going to be outside, or away from windows if it is going to be indoors.
- air humidity: as anthuriums live in humid tropical forests, when they are grown in dry environments it is necessary to spray their leaves daily. But beware: if the place where you are going to have it has a humidity above 50%, do not spray it with water or, otherwise, it will fill with fungi.
About everything else, irrigation, land, etc., we will now tell you in detail:
When should I water the black anthurium?
This is a question whose answer seems easy, but in reality it is not. And it is going to depend on many factors: whether it is inside or outside the house, whether it is planted in the ground or in a pot, the season of the year in which we find ourselves,... So, so that there is no margin of error, or at least so that it is minimal, I recommend that you do one thing: check the humidity of the soil before watering with a wooden stick.
You just have to insert it to the bottom. When you take it out, you will see if a lot of soil has adhered to it, in which case you would have to leave watering for another day, or if on the contrary it is almost clean and, therefore, you would have to water it.
Yes, it is very important that you use rainwater, or one that has little lime. Also, when you water, you have to soak the soil well so that the plant hydrates.
What type of soil do you need?
Black anthurium is an acid plant, so we will plant it in an acidic soil whose pH is low, between 4 and 6.5. If it is going to be in a pot, we will put a substrate for acid plants such as this, or alternatively coconut fiber, which also has a low pH.
If planted in alkaline soil, with a pH of 7 or higher, the plant would be deficient in iron, and therefore both the leaves and the flowers would lose their natural color. This would also happen if it is irrigated with calcareous water, hence it must be irrigated with adequate water.
When do you have to pay it?
This will depend on the weather: if there are never frosts in our area, and temperatures remain above 18ºC, we can pay it throughout the year. Otherwise, you will have to do it yourself. in spring and in summer.
To do this, we will apply an organic fertilizer, such as mulch, manure or guano. If you are going to be at home, we can choose to apply a fertilizer for acid plants such as this, but in any case, you must follow the instructions for use.
When should the black anthurium be transplanted?
It will be transplanted in spring, when the roots come out of the holes in the pot, or when about 3 or 4 years have passed since the last transplant. In case of doubt, what can be done is to hold the plant by the base of the stem with one hand, and the pot with the other. With the latter, it is pulled out a little, just to see if the earthen bread begins to undo or if, on the contrary, it remains intact.
In the event that it is well maintained, we can change its pot, or if the climate is tropical and the soil is acidic, in the garden.
And you, do you have a black anthurium?