From: <exotics at hawaii.rr.com> on 2009.05.14 at 17:56:07(19322)
Hi Ed,
I grow this one and find it to be an easy one to grow(for me).
I use a potting mix with a lot of #3 and #4 sponge rock(perlite), that's the largest I can find and mix that about 50/50 with a good peat based potting mix. I use Pro-mix, but I'm sure any type of peat based potting mix would work equally well.
I try not to overwater this one, being a Mexico species they do go through some dry spells, so if you tend to water a lot use a smaller pot or an unglazed clay pot so you will get some air exchange at the roots. Also try not to pack the soil when you pot. Keep the soil as light and airy as possible. It will naturally pack down when you water it for the first time.
I would suggest with an plant that is going down hill to un-pot it and check out it's roots. My guess is the roots have rotted away, so check out the base of the stem that is under the soil line. If the stem is soft or rotten you should cut and scrape away any soft tissue until you reach firmness and white-ish 'meat'. I would then treat that with some root-tone, or even cinnamon to prevent the rot from returning. If it is rootless I would suggest potting it in a mix that is 75% large perlite/25% peat mix and placing a plastic bag as a tent over the top to increase the humidity without keeping the soil too wet.
On several occassions I have received cut back stumps of this species from Mexico and have had excellent success getting them to root out with this perlite based mixture. I suggested the tent in case you live in a drier climate than me(Oahu).
Another thing I do with Anthuriums with no roots is to pot them in New Zealand sphagnum moss. I loosly wrap this moisten(wrung out well) moss around the roots area and pot the plant in an unglazed clay pot, remembering 'not' to tightly pack it. Then sleeve the clay pot with another slightly larger empty plastic pot. This will keep the clay pot from drying out too quickly and still allows for good air exchange and humidity.
I hope these suggestions work out for you. It's a beautiful species.
Good Luck!
Windy
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