Many plant enthusiasts love to have Anthurium as an addition to their collection of houseplants. While it’s a commonly beloved pot plant, it’s also susceptible to several problems.
These problems include a range of bacterial and fungal diseases and pests that affect your Anthurium’s overall condition.
If you own an anthurium, you probably have questions about what common anthurium plant problems you’ll encounter.
Read on as we tackle the common diseases, issues, and pests that can harm your beautiful anthurium.
Common Anthurium Plant Diseases
Anthurium owners often worry about diseases that could affect their plant’s growth. That said, it’s essential to know what conditions to look out for so you’ll know what to expect.
Here are some common Anthurium diseases you should note:
1 – Bacterial Blight
Look out for yellowing and water-soaked lesions along the periphery of your Anthurium’s leaves that spread rapidly. These are tell-tale signs of bacterial blight.
Bacterial blight starts as small discoloration spots that eventually increase in size. A yellow ring surrounds the irregular areas, and the center turns brown.
The lesions are either found on the leaf margin or between the veins of the leaves. As the spots spread, they result in the death of the leaf, which will eventually fall off.
Causes
The culprit for bacterial blight in Anthuriums is Xanthomonas. It’s a severe disease that can affect the overall health of your plant and can impede its commercial production.
So how does it make its way to your Anthurium?
The bacteria enter through the pores in the leaf margins. When there are cuts in the leaf tissues due to pruning, harvesting of flowers, or from insects, the bacterial invasion will be easier.
Bacterial blight’s effects aren’t only observable in the leaves. They also affect the flowers, and eventually, the Anthurium wilts and dies as the bacteria invade the plant.
2 – Bacterial Wilt
Take time to go over your Anthurium’s leaves and observe for any leaf yellowing. It’s the primary symptom of bacterial wilt.
The disease proliferates through the plant’s vascular system or the network of tissues that transport water, minerals, and nutrients.
As the bacteria spread, they change the color of the stems and leaf veins to brown. Not only that, as you cut the stems of a severely infected Anthurium, a brown goo comes out.
The plant will also show signs of wilting despite providing the right amount of soil moisture.
It’s tough to spot bacterial wilt early in colder weather because the symptoms can easily hide. For that reason, bacteria can thrive and increase more. However, on hot days, the symptoms can quickly emerge.
Causes
The bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum causes bacterial wilt. These pathogens clog the plant’s vascular system and prevent it from taking in water.
As a result, the Anthurium wilts despite adequately watering it.
If you’re wondering how these bacteria invade the plant, the answer is through soil, water, and tool contamination.
Ralstonia rapidly spreads through infected cuttings of the plant. They also do well in the soil and can survive long in it, even without a plant host.
You’d have to get rid of the infected plant, the soil, and even the plant pot to prevent the bacteria from spreading further.
3 – Root Rot
One of the plant infections you should protect your Anthurium from is the fungal disease called root rot. As the name implies, the condition characterizes the browning and rotting of roots.
Additionally, the stems and leaves of the infected plant turn yellow or brown. Take note that root rot doesn’t restrict the infection only to the roots.
The fungi can also make the young stems drenched and too weak to carry the weight of the plant.
Causes
Root rot is due to the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which thrives in the soil for years, even without a host plant. This fungus targets the roots and the lower stems but can also spread to the leaves in wet conditions.
The fungus can quickly attack if your Anthurium’s soil is always wet in its pot. You might want to check your watering methods since improper watering can provide the fungus with a conducive environment.
There’s a difference between damp soil and wet soil. Make sure your Anthurium plant’s soil is not constantly wet.
4 – Water Molds
Water mold can make your Anthurium’s leaves turn yellow, wilt, and eventually cause your plant to die.
Symptoms of this plant disease include wilting despite adequate soil moisture, root shedding, and black or brown leaf ulcers in severe conditions.
Causes
Two fungal species can cause water molds in your Anthurium: Phytophthora and Pythium. They are also called oomycetes and mainly attack the plant’s roots.
To prevent these fungal species from infecting your Anthurium, ensure that your plant’s soil isn’t water soaked.
5 – Black Nose Disease
The blackening of the Anthurium’s fleshy spike protrusion, called a spadix, is a giveaway sign of Black Nose Disease. The first sight of symptoms occurs on the spadix or nose of the plant, hence the name.
Observable brown specks on the spadix rapidly grow and turn watery before changing to black. These marks can cover the floral spadix quickly until it eventually falls off.
Aside from that, visible black, spore-containing structures can grow on the plant’s dead stems and leaves.
The disease is at its peak during humid and warm conditions.
Causes
The fungus responsible for black nose disease is Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes. It works through the plant’s vulnerable tissues harmed by bacterial blight infection, pesticide, or fertilizer damage.
Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes mainly target the floral spadix or the nose of the Anthurium.
Anthurium Plant Pests
Aside from Anthurium diseases, this plant is also vulnerable to pests, making it a typical host.
One of the top concerns of Anthurium enthusiasts is how this plant enables its hosts to increase. Pests such as aphids and scale insects damage the leaves and weaken the plant.
It’s a pestering problem for tropical plants when you’re growing them outdoors. It’s advisable that once pest attack symptoms manifest, you should separate the affected plant from the others.
Here are examples of Anthurium pests you should quickly eliminate before it destroys your houseplant.
1 – Aphids
Anthuriums mainly attract sucking insects such as aphids. These soft-bodied insects suck the Anthurium’s plant sap and damage the leaves.
You’ll most likely find aphids on the underside of the leaves. If you suspect aphids to be causing the yellowing and wilting, try to inspect the leaves thoroughly.
The ideal way to stop aphid infestation is to detect its presence early. You can get organically rid of this pest by spraying your Anthurium leaves with neem oil or other essential oils.
2 – Mealybugs
Aside from aphids, Anthuriums also become hosts to tiny mealybugs.
Mealybugs thrive in warm weather and love to grow on indoor plants. As they suck the sap, they produce a sticky substance that affects the plant.
Additionally, a black sooty mold grows on the leaves of Anthurium infested with mealybugs. The plant will look unhealthy.
You can stop these pesky mealybugs through spot treatments with isopropyl alcohol, neem oil, and horticultural oil. Doing so can terminate the growth and spread of these sucking insects.
3 – Spider Mites
Let’s not forget that spider mites enjoy Anthurium as their host, just as aphids and mealybugs do.
If you think that your Anthurium may be suffering from spider mites infestation, check the underside of the leaves and look for webbing.
Considering the minute size of spider mites, they may be tough to spot with bare eyes. You should do a close inspection with the help of a magnifying glass to find them on the leaves.
The yellowing, dulling, and dropping of leaves are symptoms of spider mites taking over your Anthurium. Take note also that your plant becomes highly susceptible to spider mites when unhealthy.
Spider mites love dusty and dry conditions. You can hinder their growth by doing the following:
- Ensure that your plant receives adequate water.
- Wipe the leaves of your Anthurium regularly to eliminate dust.
- Spray your houseplant’s leaves with neem oil, a natural pesticide.
- If spider mite webbing is evident, use water with a bit of dish soap to spray on the stems and leaves.
- Wipe the liquid sprayed on the leaves to remove the web and the spider mites.
4 – Scale Insects
These insects are tiny pests that primarily affect houseplants, including Anthurium. They’re so small during their early life stages that it’s difficult to notice them.
Scale insects latch on the leaves of their host and puncture the plant’s tissues with their sucking mouthparts. They also cover themselves with a waxy substance for protection.
It’s pretty challenging to diagnose whether scales attack the Anthurium. If you look at the tiny bumps forming on the leaves, you’ll think some bacteria have infected the plant instead of scales.
The problem with these insects is that you’ll never notice they’ve invaded unless the plant becomes heavily infested.
An evident sign of scale insect infestation is the damage to the plant’s leaves. You’ll see it as the black sooty substance on the surface of the leaves.
You can keep these pests at bay by spraying a horticulture oil on the plant’s entire surface.
Anthurium Problems
The great thing about Anthurium, aside from being a beautiful addition to your ornamental plants, is that it’s suitable for beginners.
As easy as it may sound, Anthurium still requires careful attention as there are still situations that this plant can’t withstand.
Identifying the symptoms of common Anthurium problems will help you raise a healthy and thriving plant.
1 – Poor Watering Methods
Watering your plants may sound simple, but there are factors you have to consider when doing it. These include the kind of soil in your plant’s pot, weather conditions, and plant age.
When watering your Anthurium, it’s essential not to overwater or underwater it. You should find the proper moisture balance for your plant, as it can lead to issues.
Here are some symptoms that result from poor watering methods.
| Symptoms | Watering Method |
| Consistently wet soil | Overwatering |
| Consistently dry soil | Underwatering |
| Browning of leaf tips | Overwatering |
| Withered and dead leaf tips | Underwatering |
2 – Soil Medium
It’s essential for your Anthurium to receive adequate nutrients from its soil. If you observe that your Anthurium exhibits poor soil medium symptoms, you should re-pot it.
Symptoms of deficiencies in soil medium include:
- Discoloration of leaves
- Withering of leaves
- Absence of flowers
- Stunted growth
- Consistently dry or wet soil
3 – Too Much or Too Little Light
Aside from water and soil concerns, you should also provide your Anthurium with the proper light exposure. Too little light can cause problems just as too much light does.
Let’s look at the different symptoms that emerge if your Anthurium doesn’t get the correct dosage of sunlight.
| Symptoms | Light exposure |
| Discoloration or sunburnt leaves | Too much light |
| Wet soil | Insufficient light |
| Dry soil | Too much light |
| Unable to bloom | Insufficient light |
4 – Temperature and Humidity
When caring for your Anthurium, you shouldn’t neglect the importance of temperature and humidity. These two factors are crucial in your plant’s growth and development.
Ideally, Anthuriums prefer an environment with high humidity due to its tropical nature. It’d be helpful for its growth if it receives the right balance of temperature and humidity.
Look for these symptoms in your Anthurium. It could tell you it’s experiencing either temperature or humidity issues.
| Symptoms | Temperature or Humidity Issue |
| Wilting of the flowers | Temperature issue |
| Discoloration or sunburnt leaves | Temperature issue |
| Leaves turning pale | Humidity issue |
| Dry soil | Temperature issue |
| Slow blooming process | Humidity issue |
Final Thoughts
It’s normal for beginners to worry about encountering Anthurium plant problems. Many of these are common, and you can easily manage them, especially if you can detect the root cause early.
Remember that bacterial and fungal diseases in Anthurium are preventable, just as you can suppress pest infestation.
Your Anthurium will grow healthy and free from diseases, pests, and problems with proper environmental conditions.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.