Anthurium plants have long been considered to be some of the best houseplants. They’re great for beginners because they’re hardy, and they’re also fairly simple to care for.
If you want to keep these plants in your home there’s a good chance that you’re looking to put them in pots. When planting anthuriums, it’s important to get things right when choosing a pot.
Certain types of pots are going to work better than others. If you want the plant to thrive in your home, it’s best to put some effort in and choose the right pot.
Below, you’ll learn everything you need to know about planting anthuriums in pots. This will ensure that you’ll have a great experience and that everything will go well with your plants.
They Best Type of Pot for Anthuriums
Choosing a pot for an anthurium plant won’t be too tough. When you want the plant to do well, it’s best to go with a low plastic pot.
You want to pick a low plastic pot that has very good drainage. So the pot should have multiple drain holes.
Of course, other pots can work out just fine for these plants as well. Some people like to pot anthuriums using terracotta pots.
You can buy moisture-wicking terracotta pots that will be useful for preventing issues with watering the plant too much. Most types of pots or containers will work fine for anthuriums so long as they have good drainage holes.
The most important aspect of choosing a pot for an anthurium plant is ensuring that it has a large enough hole for drainage. You never want water buildup issues to become a big problem when caring for anthuriums.
What Size Pot Should You Use for an Anthurium?
The pot size that you should use for an anthurium plant will depend on the size of the plant. As you might expect, some plants will be bigger than others.
Also, the plant is going to outgrow its current pot as time goes on. The plant will continue to grow and it’ll eventually need a larger pot.
It’s common for these plants to start in five-inch pots. You’ll find that seven-inch and eight-inch pots are also very common.
You go up in pot size when the plant outgrows its current pot. Generally, you’re meant to find a pot that is 20% bigger than the older one when repotting these plants.
Can Anthuriums Grow in Small Pots?
As mentioned above, it’s most common for anthurium plants to be kept in five-inch pots when they’re small. The plant will outgrow the pot after some time has passed.
You never want to put anthurium plants in pots that are too big, though. Pots that are too large have problems due to retaining too much water.
This is rather dangerous for the plant and can lead to issues such as root rot. You want to avoid such problems, and this is why you need to repot the plant carefully.
It’s important to pick a pot that is only 20% larger than the current pot when you’re repotting the anthurium. Going with a pot that’s too large will only lead to complications.
So anthuriums need to grow in pots that are the right size. An anthurium might start out in a pot that is considered to be somewhat small, but it’ll grow and be placed in slightly larger pots.
Do You Have to Repot Anthuriums?
Yes, anthuriums need to be repotted when they’ve outgrown their current pots. An anthurium plant is going to outgrow its pot every so often.
This doesn’t happen all the time, though. You’ll likely only have to repot the anthurium once every two or three years.
Sometimes anthuriums might grow a bit faster than average. So you can always check to see if the anthurium is outgrowing its pot faster than usual.
It’s not wise to allow the anthurium to stay in a pot that’s too small. This will stunt the growth of the plant and can potentially make the plant unhealthy.
When to Repot Them
Knowing when to repot anthuriums is pretty easy. As a general rule, you want to check the anthurium every two or three years to see if it needs to be repotted.
Also, you can check the plant to see if it has outgrown its current pot. There are many ways that you can tell an anthurium plant needs to be repotted.
When the plant needs a bigger pot, you might notice that the current pot has become cracked or bent. You might see the roots at the soil’s surface as well.
Sometimes the roots will start poking out of the bottom of the container through the drainage holes. You might see that the plant is suffering, too, and you’ll notice that the foliage is wilting.
When you see any of these signs it’s important to repot the plant. Don’t wait too long since this can cause the plant many problems.
Get a new pot that is 20% larger than the old pot. Repot the plant and make sure that you monitor the plant moving forward to see when it needs to be repotted again.
Do Anthuriums Like to Be Pot Bound?
No, anthuriums don’t like to be pot bound. Being rootbound is something that can harm the plant over time.
An anthurium is hardy enough that it won’t die if it’s a little bit pot bound. So you do have time to buy a new pot and repot the plant.
Even so, it’s best to repot the plant expediently because being pot bound isn’t good for it. If you ignore the issue, the plant will have issues blooming and it might not look healthy.
So look for the signs that the plant needs to be repotted. When you notice the telltale signs, be sure to have a new pot ready to go.
How to Repot an Anthurium Plant
Repotting an anthurium isn’t a difficult process. You still want to approach things the right way to be safe.
To start, you want to carefully take the plant out of its current pot. This can be done by tilting the pot and gently sliding the plant out.
You can take the time to prune away dead or dying flowers and leaves. Next, get a pot that is an inch or two larger in diameter than the current pot.
Generally, you want to use a pot that is 20% bigger than the current pot. So look at the current pot size and then get a pot that will be big enough for the plant without being too big.
Fill this new pot with a good soil mixture that is aerated and well-draining. A good soil mixture for anthuriums will always be focused on providing adequate drainage.
It’s common for people to use soil mixtures that contain peat moss and coconut fiber. Just make sure to use a coarse potting mix that’s well-draining and you’ll be good to go.
Place the plant in the pot with the soil and then pat it down loosely around the plant. Water the plant and then keep an eye on it to make sure that it’s doing okay.
Everything should be fine, but be sure to allow the plant to dry out well before watering it again. You never want to water anthurium plants too much.
Final Thoughts
Repotting anthuriums is important because you don’t want to let the plant stay in a pot that’s too small. Planting these plants in pots won’t be hard at all.
You just need to find coarse soil that’s well-draining. Put the plant in an appropriately-sized pot and then water it.
The plant should do just fine and you won’t need to repot it again for quite some time. These plants only need to be repotted once every two to three years on average.
You can look out for signs that the plant needs to be repotted. The roots might poke through the drainage holes or you might notice that the pot will become cracked or bent.
Pay attention to the signs and repot the plant when it’s necessary to do so. Your anthurium should thrive under your care if you keep this in mind.
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.