long legged anthurium [Main Causes And How To Fix] –ISBUZZLE

If you have a long-legged anthurium, it means that the stem of the plant is starting to get longer than it should be and is stretching.

This usually means your anthurium isn’t getting enough light and wants to stretch out to find the closest light source it can find.

That being said, you can get leggy Anthurium from other causes unrelated to low light, so keep that in mind.

So if you’re in a bind with a long-legged anthurium and want to fix it, then you’ve come to the right place.

Here are the main causes and what you can do to correct this unsightly appearance today or as soon as possible.

Contents

little light

Low light is the first thing you should consider when dealing with a leggy Anthurium, as the plant will naturally stretch in search of the closest light it can find.

This can lead to weak, sparse growth and cause your Anthurium to look quite unhealthy and lose the aesthetic appeal it is known for.

Anthurium plants need lots of indirect light every day (6-10 hours). This is ideal and usually the more the better.

That said, make sure that most of the light is received in bright, indirect light and not much in direct sunlight, as this can cause leaf scorch and brown, crispy leaves.

If you’re unsure if low light is currently a problem for your Anthurium, here are some other signs to look out for that may be the result of low light.

  • Your Anthurium leaves hang down (bend, droop, etc.)
  • yellowing of leaves
  • Your Anthurium turns white (fading, loss of color)
  • slow or retarded growth
  • Fewer flowers or they become smaller than normal

As you can see, growing anthuriums in low light conditions can not only result in a leggy anthurium, but also cause other problems.

In general, you can expect less efficient growth as your Anthurium gets less light or blooms less, as the right amount of light is needed to get the best results.

You just must be tired of giving too much of the wrong kind of light at once.

Solution

If you think low light is causing your Anthurium to grow long or stretchy, you need to get back on track by providing plenty of bright, indirect light.

If you are growing outdoors, you should look for a location that will not only receive enough light, but also shade to protect your Anthurium from the bright midday sun.

After all, they are tropical plants, so you need to mimic their natural growing environment for the best, most natural results.

If you are growing outdoors, you can achieve this by growing under balconies, under trees if they provide plenty of shade, or really anywhere you have shade during the day.

You can definitely be creative.

If you are growing indoors, it is best to try growing near a north or east facing window as this will provide lots of indirect light rather than full sun.

If for some reason you don’t have this option, you will need to add an indoor grow light to give your anthurium the light it deserves.

too much fertilizer

Too much fertilizer can also lead to a leggy anthurium, especially if you give it too much nitrogen, as this can cause rapid growth.

But not the kind of rapid growth you want.

If too much nitrogen is present, it will speed up the growth of your anthuriums, but it will become unhealthy or lanky growth, as the plant will struggle to stay in a compact shape.

Think of it as a growth spurt or when a person grows too fast and starts having problems due to rapid growth.

This is what over-fertilization can do to plants.

And if you fertilize too often, your roots can become damaged after a while and suffer from what is called fertilizer burn, which can lead to yellow leaves or brown leaf tips and generally less effective. .

If you think you’ve given too much fertilizer, here are some signs to watch out for.

  • yellowing of leaves
  • brown leaf tips
  • Leaves that look burnt or crusty
  • The roots have blackened or are collapsing.
  • Stunted or lost growth
  • Parasites or insects appear

Solution

With all of the above, Anthuriums like to be fertilized and can grow very well with the boost they can provide.

They just don’t need it often.

If you think you’ve overfertilized, wait a moment.

Anthurium plants do well with monthly fertilization in spring and summer, so you don’t really need to go any further.

Using a well-balanced fertilizer diluted 1/4 to 1/2 is ideal because you don’t have to worry about providing too much nitrogen or other nutrients.

The reason for dilution is that most fertilizers are very harsh on plants, so you can get away with a lot less.

Other than that, just follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific fertilizer you want to use.

If your long-legged anthurium is also showing signs of fertilizer burn, wash the soil to remove excess salt that results from using too much fertilizer.

root limit

If you have grown your anthurium in a container, over time the plant may outgrow the container and the roots may start to take up too much space.

Once the roots get too long and tangled and have no room to breathe, you can expect your anthurium to not grow as well and become skinny.

This is especially noticeable if you are using a container with drainage holes, as the roots will branch out in an effort to breathe and stay comfortable.

If you think your long legged anthurium is due to root binding, here are some other signs that it may be.

  • The leaves turn yellow or brown near the base.
  • Underdeveloped or slow growth
  • wilted leaves
  • The soil drains faster than normal.
  • Your anthurium looks dry or unhealthy
  • Roots visible through drainage holes or above ground

Solution

If you think your anthurium is root bound, repotting the plant can definitely help.

To do this, you must first select a new container that is larger in pot size than you currently have.

Next, you need to water your Anthurium so it’s easier to remove without disturbing the roots too much, as they’re less likely to break that way.

Now carefully remove your Anthurium and take the time to prune out any unhealthy roots that may have formed that are dark or mushy.

Go on from here and add some well-drained soil to the new container, then plant your Anthurium in it and fill it around.

Be careful not to compact the soil too much to allow the roots to breathe well.

You can water your plant and put it back in bright indirect light and you’re good to go.

When transplanting, be aware that there is a risk that you will experience transplant shock which can cause various problems.

If you want to know more about this, you can read my article on Anthurium transplant shock.

How to fix

Once you have determined the cause of your leggy anthurium and corrected the problem, the best way to fix your leggy anthurium is to prune the long, weak growth.

You can do this by first having pruning shears ready, then pruning the leggy shoot just above the node where the foot originates.

By the way, the node is a visible point where the leaves begin to grow from the stem.

This will not only eliminate stretched growth, but it will allow your Anthurium to use more energy for fresh new growth instead of wasting it on unhealthy, irreversible growth.

This is also a good time to prune any other unhealthy growth, such as yellow or brown leaves, which your anthurium also wastes energy on, if you have any.

General pruning is the way to go when dealing with a long-legged Anthurium and should be done regularly to keep your plant looking and growing properly.

Prevention

To prevent this from happening again in the future, here is a summary and some things you can implement.

provide more light

Make sure your Anthurium receives at least 6 hours of bright indirect light per day, but more is better.

rotate your plant

To prevent your anthurium from stretching especially on one side, you can turn the container from time to time so that the light penetrates evenly and one side of the plant is not overlooked.

Watch out for fertilizer

Less is generally better when it comes to fertilizing, as it reduces the chances of fertilizer burn and other over-fertilization issues.

In addition, anthuriums do not need it to grow well and look good.

Transplant if necessary

Finally, you may need to repot when the time comes to prevent your anthurium from becoming tangled and producing limp or leggy growth, among other things.

Just be sure to only measure one pot size to minimize drainage issues down the road.

final thoughts

Now you understand very well why you have a long-legged anthurium, what is needed to eliminate the main causes and what you can do about it.

All in all, I hope I’ve helped you learn something new today so you can get back to growing a happy and healthy Anthurium for as long as possible!

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