As an Anthurium, my nutritional requirements are quite specific. I am not a heavy feeder like some flowering plants, but I am sensitive and can be easily harmed by over-fertilization. My roots are thick and fleshy, designed for absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air and a chunky potting mix, not for withstanding a constant barrage of mineral salts. My primary need is for a balanced diet that supports both my glossy, deep green leaves and my long-lasting, colorful spathes (which are often mistaken for flowers). A fertilizer with an equal ratio, such as a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 blend, is ideal as it provides equal parts Nitrogen (for leaf growth), Phosphorus (for root health and flower production), and Potassium (for overall plant functions).
My growth cycle dictates when I am hungriest. During my active growing season, which is typically from spring through early fall, I am putting energy into producing new leaves and, hopefully, many flower spikes. This is when I need the most support. A gentle, liquid fertilizer applied at half the recommended strength every 4-6 weeks is perfect. It gives me a steady supply of nutrients without overwhelming my roots. Please, do not fertilize me in the winter. I am likely resting, and my growth has slowed significantly. Any fertilizer applied during this dormant period will simply sit in the potting mix, building up as toxic salts that will burn my delicate root system.
How you feed me is just as important as what you feed me. The "less is more" philosophy is key to my health. Always ensure my potting mix is slightly moist before you apply any fertilizer. Applying fertilizer to dry soil can lead to immediate root shock and damage. Dilute the fertilizer to half-strength and pour it slowly onto the soil, avoiding my stems and leaves entirely. If any solution splashes onto my foliage, gently wipe it off with a damp cloth to prevent leaf burn. After fertilizing, you may even want to water me lightly with plain water to help distribute the nutrients evenly and prevent salt buildup in one area.
I will communicate clearly if my nutritional needs are not being met. If I am under-fertilized, my growth will be stunted, my new leaves may be smaller, and I will produce few to no flowers. The green of my leaves may also appear pale or washed out. The more common and dangerous problem, however, is over-fertilization. If you see the tips and edges of my leaves turning brown and crispy, or if a white, crusty layer has formed on the surface of the soil or the pot, these are signs of salt burn. If this happens, you must flush my pot thoroughly with a large volume of pure, lukewarm water to leach out the excess salts, allowing the water to drain freely from the bottom.
