How to Grow Anthurium in Water [Fast and Easy Guide]

Can anthurium be put in water? How to Grow Anthurium in Water? How long can it stay there? What needs to be done to be able to grow it in hydroponics without the roots rotting in the blink of an eye?

In this article we answer all these questions (and many others) to learn what hydroculture is, when it can be beneficial and how to put it into practice in the right way.

At the end of the reading you will have acquired all the theoretical notions necessary to grow Anthurium in water and you will just have to put them into practice.

Can Anthurium be grown in water?

Although Anthurium Andraeanum is an epiphytic plant, with the right care it can adapt very well to water cultivation, thrive and give life to exceptional blooms .

Particular attention must be given to the roots and to the oxygenation of the water, to prevent the environment from becoming anaerobic and to encourage the proliferation of fungi and bacteria that are harmful to the plant.

To realize the results that can be had with hydroculture, it is enough to know that most of the cut flower Anthuriums are grown in hydroponics within large tables full of inert substrate that is used exclusively for anchoring the plant.

And with exceptional results in terms of flowering.

Do you know why Broccoli leaves turn purple? It has to do also with the lack of water among other reasons!

How to Grow Anthurium in Water

The only thing you need to have is a wide glass container that barks the right shape and size.

The mouth must be wide , in order to let the air circulate around the stem of the Anthurium and to avoid air stagnation and mold. The ideal shape of the vase is a U or V, while those that tighten at the height of the hole should be avoided.

The size must be large enough to contain the roots and part of the stem in order to also give support to the plant and prevent it from bending or falling.

If you want you can add pebbles or other inert material to the bottom of the vase, to embellish it and give it more stability. Boil them for 10 minutes in water to sterilize them.

Before growing Anthurium in water you need to make sure that the plant is in excellent health and that the roots are healthy. The chances of it adapting quickly to water are much greater if the Anthurium plant is vigorous and responsive to its surroundings.

As with a traditional repotting , the best time to do this is in spring or summer.

The steps to grow Anthurium in water are:

1. Water the Anthurium : about 15-30 minutes before starting the transfer to soften the roots and prevent them from breaking.
2. Extract the Anthurium plant from the pot : gently press the edges of the pot so that the stick of earth loosens and there is no need to pull the Anthurium.
3. Remove all the soil from the roots : patiently remove all the substrate, including the rod of coir which is often found near the collar. Try to be as gentle as possible to avoid damaging the Anthurium roots.
4. Remove rotten roots and dry parts : if there are any dry or soft roots, cut them using bleach-sterilized scissors or by blanching them for a few seconds with a flame.
5. Rinse the root system under the tap : using warm water, clean the roots well. At the end of the operation not even a bit of land must remain.
6. Let the roots dry for 12-24 hours : in case you have cut some roots or they have broken, this period of time will be enough to make the cuts heal. Don’t neglect this step unless the roots are perfect.
7. Pot the Anthurium plant : Gently insert the roots into the pot while keeping the collar at the rim. If it is too deep, it will not remain ventilated enough and will eventually rot.
8. Add water at room temperature : the water must immerse the roots and the collar of the Anthurium, while the stem and leaves must remain free.

How long does Anthurium last put in water?

Under the right environmental and cultural conditions, Anthurium can live in water for its entire life. Hydrponics is not a technique for rooting dying plants, but a real method for maintaining plants in the long term.

To do this, it is necessary to offer the Anthurium all the cares of a traditional cultivation in pot, such as:

Obviously in the hydrocolute there are other things that you need to pay attention to (we will see them in detail soon). But what we need to understand is that without these assumptions the Anthurium will struggle to grow, both in soil and in water.

If you want to clean a garden pond you need to follow this effective steps!

How do you care for Anthurium in water?

Care for Anthurium plant with the following simple steps:

1. Provide a spacious bucket.
2. Take the Anthurium from the pot and carefully rinse all the soil between the roots under a warm tap (cold water can shock the roots too much and with warm water your hands will not turn into clouds of ice).
3. Fill the glass jar with water (at room temperature) so that the Anthurium roots are just under water.
4. Put the plant in the pot in a nice place in the house. 

What water should I use for Anthurium in hydroponics?

To grow Anthurium in hydroponics, rain or demineralized water should be used, or bottled mineral water should be used.

If you want to use tap water, let it settle for 24 hours (to disperse the chlorine) and make sure it is not hard and contains too much limescale. This would cause problems in the long run. 

In this case you can mix municipal water with demineralized water (from the dehumidifier, air conditioner or dryer) in equal doses 1:1.

In order for the Anthurium to absorb all the macro and micronutrients contained in the water, the pH of the water must be between 5.4 and 6.2.

You can measure it with a pH meter and correct it using the pH.

Does your Anthurium leaves turn yellow? In this article in show you 10 reasons why anthurium get yellow leaves and ways how to prevent and protect this plant!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing Anthurium in water?

Growing an Anthurium in hydroponics involves a series of small complexities more than the soil, especially in the long term or if you do not have a certain “sensitivity” towards plants.

That said, growing an Anthurium in water still has some advantages, such as:

The disadvantages of growing Anthurium in water are:

Overall the pros and cons are equal. From my point of view, the decision to grow Anthurium in a pot with water (therefore without a proper hydroponic system) should not have the purpose of improving the growing conditions of the plant, but it is more a method of putting to test, experiment and improve our understanding of the plant.

Or simply make the plant even more decorative, using a medium that is neither better nor worse than a normal soil.

Can Anthurium cuttings be placed in water?

Water can be an excellent medium for rooting Anthurium cuttings or young seedlings just divided from the mother plant. Once rooted, the young seedlings can be kept in water or adapted to the soil.

In this case, however, it is necessary to proceed step by step, to avoid stressing the root system.

If the Anthurium cuttings rooted in water, they adapted to this medium right away. Transferring them directly to the soil (with a different pH and humidity level) could cause them to die, negating the rooting process.

To adapt a cutting or a young seedling grown in water to the soil you must:

1. Place the cutting in the pot you want to plant it in and fill it up to the collar with water : Keep the pot in a container to retain water and prevent it from flowing out of the drainage holes.
2. Add a little soil every 2 days : On the first day, a watery slurry will form, which will gradually thicken as you add more soil.
3. Once the pot is full of soil the operation is complete : keep the substrate always moist for the first week, then let it gradually dry up until it reaches the normal frequency of watering .

If you want to protect Monstera leaves from turning yellow, you need to see this article I wrote!

Final Thoughts on How to Grow Anthurium in Water

Growing anthuriums in water is quite an easy and rewarding hobby, this way you can enjoy their colorful bracts without worrying about soil needs.

In the case of growing Anthurium in water, the system is reduced to a minimum, by simply immersing the roots of the plant in a thin layer of water.

An Anthurium in water is a new, surprising and original idea! By rinsing the Anthurium roots and placing the houseplant in a glass vase like a bouquet, you can create an instant hit in your home.

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