Anthuriums are not just pretty. In fact, anthuriums have a long list of documented benefits. Therefore, anthuriums are one of the best plants to have in your home. We recommend you read this article to know “Anthurium plant benefits” and much more.
Anthuriums, also known as flamingo flowers and Hawaiian hearts, are well known for their long-lasting, vivid attractive flowers. They add a luxurious elegance with their stunning red blooms and rich green foliage. There is no doubt that we all love to see these exotic beauties in our vicinity. They give us a sense of vitality.
01. Air Purifying Properties
When talking about anthurium plant benefits their air purification ability comes first. Due to their ability to improve air quality by removing airborne toxins from the air, anthuriums are recognized as one of the most effective houseplants for indoor air purification.
As per the research studies carried out by NASA, anthuriums, especially A. andraeanum, are competent to remove toxic chemicals including formaldehyde, toluene, ammonia, and xylene from the air.
Further, they say that because of the air detoxification ability of anthuriums, they help minimize the effects of sick building syndrome. So, the anthurium is listed on NASA’s top air-purifying plants list.
These toxic chemicals are the major indoor air pollutants that are released into the air from wall paints, rubbers, wood furniture, vehicle exhaust, and so on. Prolonged exposure to these toxins can put you at serious health risk.
It is advisable to keep an anthurium plant in your workplace, especially near printers, copiers, or adhesives that are used. Usually, those adhesives contain volatile pollutants like xylene and benzene. Anthurium leaves absorb these toxic chemicals, making the air in your living space cleaner to breathe.
The absorbed toxins are later broken down in the roots. Adding up, leaves release oxygen gas into the environment upon photosynthesis. We spend 85% of our time indoors. Thus, indoor air pollution would be a serious threat to our health. That is why we need indoor plants in our homes more than ever.
02. Feng Shui
Did you know, apart from their beauty, anthuriums have some Feng Shui properties? The color red is associated with prosperity and good fortune in Feng Shui. Thus, it is believed that anthuriums are lucky plants that welcome positive energy.
The yellow-colored inflorescence (the elongated structure crowded with tiny flowers) implies holding gold money in your hands. So, it’s no surprise that anthuriums have become so popular all over the world.
The anthurium flower has long been associated with hospitality. These magical plants and flowers are among the most gifted plants and flowers for Valentine’s Day. Shiny red heart-shaped flowers denote love and friendship. They bring good luck to your relationships. So, anthuriums are an ideal option for your love corner.
03. Easy Care
Growing anthuriums is not a tedious task. It does not need intensive maintenance. The most crucial thing is to have a firm grasp of the plant’s basic requirements. If you take good care of the plants, you will get healthy, nice-looking, long-lasting plants that bloom gorgeous flowers all year round.
Light, temperature, humidity, water, and nutrients are the most critical factors that affect the growth of anthuriums. Anthuriums prefer indirect, bright light. They can stand any level of indirect light. However, you will see the best performance of anthuriums in bright light.
When anthuriums are grown indoors, they may receive ample indirect light unless you keep them in a dark room. Keep in mind that anthuriums produce fewer flowers once they grow under low levels of light.
Simply, you can spot your anthurium plant near a window as it soaks in bright light. Anyway, you should prevent the plant from being exposed to the strong sun as it can burn the plant.
Indoors, the ideal temperature for anthuriums lies between 15 and 20 oC. You should keep your anthuriums away from heater vents or any form of heat generator to protect your plant from being exposed to high heat.
You are not supposed to strictly adhere to the day-to-day watering schedule for anthuriums. Be mindful overwatering anthuriums makes them susceptible to microbial infections such as root rot and crown rot. Just water them when the soil is partially dry.
If you are not sure when to water your plant, you can feel the wetness of the soil at 1 to 2 inches of depth. If the soil is crumbling and dry, you may water the plant.
Anthuriums love to grow in a moist environment. They need high humidity levels to surround them. You should try to prevent arid conditions around the plant as it can retard growth as well as blooming. If you feel that the ambient environment is dry, you can just mist the plant to increase the humidity level.
For sure, to ensure healthy growth and a nice display of vibrant flowers, it is essential to feed your anthuriums with a nutritious diet. Here, you can treat the plant with slow-release fertilizer (granular type fertilizer).
As they gradually release nutrient elements into the soil for a period of time, you may not need frequent applications of fertilizer for the plant. In addition, repotting the plant every two to three years will definitely give you positive feedback.
Anthuriums are native to tropical rainforests. So, if you want them to perform as they would be in nature, you should definitely mimic those environmental conditions around your plant. It is worth remembering this concept of having a healthy and stunning anthurium plant in your home.
04. Ornamental Value
Anthuriums are widely used as live ornamental plants due to their eye-catching, vivid spathes and artistic glossy leaves. Thanks to their beauty, they are a familiar feature in living rooms, study rooms, balconies, office rooms, etc.
Certain anthurium varieties are grown for their lush foliage. The leaves come in a wide diversity. They are apparent in different shapes, sizes, and textures.
Besides the common heart-shaped leaves, anthuriums such as A.veitchii, A. Dark Mama, and A. warocqueanum have oblong leaves. Other than that, you can find arrowhead-shaped leaves too. A. warocqueanum, A. forgetii, and A. papillilaminum have rich velvety leaves.
Once you hear the name “anthurium”, you may probably be picturing an anthurium flower in a bright red color. Initially, the flowers were found in a few colors, but now you can find them in a wide range of colors, including green, blue, white, purple, lavender, yellow, orange, bicolor, and so on.
Usually, anthuriums produce heart-shaped flowers, but there are also ribbon-shaped (ex. Zizou), tulip-shaped (ex. Marea and Facetto), and cup-shaped (ex. Peruzzi) flowers too. As with the leaves, anthurium flowers can be found in a range of sizes from mini to large. If you care, the flowers will last for nearly a month.
05. Easy to Propagate
Interestingly, anthuriums are so easy to propagate via root division. This is an inexpensive way to multiply your anthurium plants. It doesn’t demand expert knowledge of that.
Typically, anthuriums should be repotted once they have outgrown the pot. During repotting, after taking the plant out, carefully split the root system with a sharp sterile knife. Make sure not to damage the fleshy roots of the plant.
The use of sterile blades helps prevent the plants from bacterial infections. Later, each of the parts should be individually planted to obtain a new anthurium plant. You can get as many plants as possible as each cutting includes a sound root framework.
06. Help Ease Allergies
As mentioned earlier, anthurium plays a significant role in indoor air detoxication. Studies have shown that anthuriums remove microorganisms and their spores that are having the potential to cause allergies.
Through respiration and transpiration, anthuriums discharge water vapor into the environment. The humidity level around the plant rises as a result of this. Microbial spores are removed from the air circulation due to the wetness in the environment, lowering the risk of allergies. So, have an anthurium plant in your room. It may assist you with allergies.
07. Reduces Stress
Plants clearly have a promising effect on stress reduction and mood elevation. We feel relaxed, comfortable, and natural when the plants are around. This is an excellent reason to introduce plants into the interior designs of houses and offices.
Many studies have been done on the evaluation of the physiological and psychological effects of indoor plants on humans. According to the findings, plants actively contribute to reducing the release of the stress hormone (cortisol) and lowering blood pressure.
Rather than artificial plants or flowers, having natural plants will do a significant role in stress release. Just keep an anthurium plant in your vicinity and feel the difference.
08. Boost Productivity
Everyone loves to work in a space where it feels calm and inspired. In fact, the working environment of employees has a great correlation with productivity.
Boosting productivity is another advantage associated with indoor plants. Therefore, the creation of greener spaces within office premises would be a simple but effective approach in order to increase productivity.
Studies reveal that having plants in the working environment promotes the emotional and cognitive state of workers. So, they commit well to their work.
People will actively take part and complete quality work in such a stimulating environment. In addition, the concentration and memory power of people are enhanced when the ambient workspace closes up with nature.
09. Filter Odors
You know that anthuriums favor air purification by absorbing nasty chemicals. Similarly, anthuriums are capable of removing airborne materials with irritating odors in your home. If you are searching for a safer and more eco-friendly air freshener, anthuriums will be a good option for you.
Having an anthurium plant in your home will be better than using chemical air fresheners. Perhaps, some indoor plants may be sensitive to chemical constituents present in synthetic air fresheners. Therefore, their use might harm your indoor plants.
Simply, you can get rid of unpleasant odors derived from smoke, paint, adhesives, and so on in your indoor air with a humble anthurium plant.
10. Folk Medicine
Anthuriums aren’t just for show. They do, in fact, come with a package of therapeutic benefits. They carry certain biochemical compounds with some medicinal values.
Anthurium steam is useful to ease arthritis and rheumatism. If you are suffering from such joint pain, you can try anthurium steam. Cut leaves of anthuriums and add them into a pot of water. Boil the pot until it gives steam. Sit over the pot in a chair.
The body should be exposed to the steam until sweating. Steam opens the pores and allows medicinal compounds to enter the body to heal the pain. It is important to cover your body with a blanket when try the anthurium steam.
Moreover, anthuriums are beneficial as a plaster for muscle aches and cramps. Take the anthurium leaf, wrap it around the neck or back and remove it at the end of the day.
Anthuriums are gifted with antioxidants and phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory potential. According to scientific experiments, these compounds show anti-cancer effects too.
Keep in mind that the anthurium sap is poisonous as it contains calcium oxalates. It can cause irritations to your skin. Therefore, you should handle the plant with care.
Final thoughts
Now you know major anthurium plant benefits. In this article I try to introduce major benefits of anthurium plants. There are much more priceless benefits from anthurium. I am sure these benefits make anthurium an important plant in your garden.
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