Anthurium fell over - what to do?

[Tracy S]

I have a very large and very old Anthurium. Yesterday, the anthurium fell over. I'm looking for advice on righting the plant. I assume that I will have to created some kind of structure to mount the plant to so it stays stable. Any thoughts or suggestions? 

Also, the plant will be very heavy to try to lift. Does anyone have suggestions on how to lift it up without damaging the plant? (The plant is now in the walkway so I can't just leave it in place.)

Has this happened to any of you guys?

 

[GDLWyverex]

1 hour ago, Tracy S said:

I have a very large and very old Anthurium. Yesterday, the anthurium fell over. I'm looking for advice on righting the plant. I assume that I will have to created some kind of structure to mount the plant to so it stays stable. Any thoughts or suggestions? 

Also, the plant will be very heavy to try to lift. Does anyone have suggestions on how to lift it up without damaging the plant? (The plant is now in the walkway so I can't just leave it in place.)

Has this happened to any of you guys?

 

First I would suggest inspecting the trunk and roots for rot which is the most likely reason for it having fallen over.

If you find rot, you can safely amputate the rot and allow the cut trunk to callus( 7 - 10 days). Using a rooting hormone powder with a fungicide would be a good idea. Luckily Anthuriums are semi epiphytic and can easily recover from such drastic sounding surgery. After the trunk is well callused you can replant ir in a very porous soil that will retain moisture for a very limited time, until it can grow new roots.

Whether or not rot is found, you must re-anchor the plant using anchoring poles driven into the ground with rope attached to hold the plant securely in place while it grows roots to anchor itself anew. Make certain that the rope you use is sufficiently thick not to cut into the trunk, or pad the area where the rope touches the trunk with a non moisture retaining material

A portion of the existing trunk can be buried in VERY porous soil that will not retain moisture for extended periods of time. Allow the soil to dry between waterings to prevent rot from setting in until the plant can grow new roots and acclimate to the new conditions, 6 months minimum.

 

Richard

 

Edited October 4, 2018 by GDLWyverex

[Tracy S]

Richard,

Thats great news. I appreciate the information. I will give it a try. It sounds like you have been through tha his before?

Tracy

[metalfan]

Anthurium schlechtendalii. Just beautiful Tracy! I have 2, one getting to be the size of yours so I may be dealing with this soon too.

[Tracy S]

Gina,

Thanks for IDing this for me. I assumed it was A. Plowani. Now i see that it's not. Cool. Good luck with yours,..  may they never fall over!

 

[GDLWyverex]

10 hours ago, Tracy S said:

Richard,

Thats great news. I appreciate the information. I will give it a try. It sounds like you have been through tha his before?

Tracy

I've been around the block a time or two with mine which has finally stabilized and maintains itself without support. It's important to remember that the trunk sports arial roots that should not be buried and  should not be confused with terrestrial roots.

Half of the trunk on mine lies upon the ground while the other half angles upward to stand erect. The half that sits upon the ground is not covered with dirt and was allowed to inter itself as it pleased.

I've had this one for about 10 years. It was originally sold to me as a basket fern and all of it's trunk had been buried which would have resulted in a rotten plant had I or someone else not salvaged it and removed all of the dirt from it's upper trunk.

It's a whole lot bigger now than when I got it in a 3 gallon bag.

Richard

 

[Tracy S]

Cool. It looks good. I love the way the trunk on your plant is meandering around. 

 

[PalmatierMeg]

I'm wondering if there is a way to attach the stem to some kind of plant totem. You may have to make one to support a plant that large but there ought to be plans on the internet.

[metalfan]

I just had a lot of woodwork repair done on my house and had to have a support post on my porch replaced. it was rotten on the bottom but is solid as a rock otherwise. I am going to wrap it in cocofiber and use it as a totem for something....My 2 big Schlechtendalii have trunks, but the largest one has been almost totally surrounded by vining aroids so you can't see it. The other is not as defined yet. I think that a support would be a great idea. 

[GDLWyverex]

On 10/4/2018, 11:58:46, Tracy S said:

Cool. It looks good. I love the way the trunk on your plant is meandering around. 

 

It's meandering because the last time I transplanted it to a new tub, I decided to lay it down before it fell down as it's trunk was neally a metre in length. It looked weird for the first few months afterwards until it reoriented itself, grew new roots from the part of the trunk laying upon the ground and shifted its growing end 90 degrees to stand upright again. It is now pretty secure even against trong winds

 

Richard

 

[aussiearoids]

The Pachynerium section [ birds nest ] Anthuriums can be very vigorous growers .

I have had to chop one of mine back several times . Old trunk will sprout new shoots and top will root back into most medias.

Just remove half of the leaves