What fertilizer do you use? This is one of our most frequently asked questions. When I started collecting, I struggled to find an anthurium-specific resource on fertilizer and nutrients. Overtime, I created a simple but effective combination of nutrients that keep my Anthuriums happy. Below are the nutrients I use and some helpful information to keep your Anthuriums happy too.
Ninety-five percent of our plants are grown in semi-hydro, so they sit in a reservoir of water. The plants are grown in a version of pon or treefern. (Future blog to come on substrates). We water with nutrients every time and we do not flush our plants. We do repot them on a fairly frequent basis. The same fertilizer mix is used for all our plants. We can eyeball the measurements now, but below is a general guideline:
We use a 3-gallon jug to mix the nutrients and we use about 1/2 to 3/4 strength of the recommended dose. Always err on the side of less fertilizer. If the concentration is too high, it can result in fertilizer burn that damages the plant.
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Alchemist Stout MSA Monosilicic Acid 8-10 ml per 3 gallons: Alchemist Stout MSA Monosilicic Acid
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Wait 20 minutes.
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Maxsea Grow 16-16-16 1 teaspoon/5 ml per 3 gallons: Maxsea Grow
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Humboldts Secret Calcium, Magnesium, and Iron 8-10 ml per 3 gallons: Humboldts Secret
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Botanicare Hydroguard Bacillus Root Inoculant 5-8 ml per 3 gallons: Botanicare Hydroguard
We don't pH balance the solution and we haven’t had any issues. You can pH balance the solution to a slightly acidic pH of around 6. You can do this using a pH kit like General Hydroponics HGC722080 Control Balanced Nutrient Solution, pH Kit . We use reverse osmosis (RO) water, however, normal tap water will be fine.
The basic overview of nutrients and their purpose are listed below:
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Nitrogen (N): Responsible for promoting healthy leaf growth and aiding in the production of proteins and enzymes.
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Phosphorus (P): Plays a crucial role in root development and flower formation.
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Potassium (K): Helps with overall plant health and disease resistance.
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Calcium (Ca): Essential for cell wall structure and stability.
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Magnesium (Mg): Involved in chlorophyll production.
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Sulfur (S): Helps with protein synthesis and enzyme activity.
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Iron (Fe): Essential for chlorophyll production and energy transfer within cells.
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Manganese (Mn): Involved in enzyme activation and helps plants withstand stress conditions.
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Zinc (Zn): Needed for the synthesis of growth hormones and promotes root development.
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Copper (Cu): Aids in the formation of lignin, which strengthens cell walls.
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Boron (B): Influences cell division and carbohydrate metabolism.
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Molybdenum (Mo): Necessary for nitrogen fixation and helps convert nitrate into ammonia.
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Chlorine (Cl): Involved in photosynthesis and osmotic regulation.
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Nickel (Ni): Important for nitrogen metabolism and a component of urease.
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Cobalt (Co): Essential for nitrogen fixation in legumes.
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Sodium (Na): Beneficial for certain plants in osmotic regulation and photosynthesis.
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Silica (Si): Supports plant growth by enhancing cell wall strength.
Disclaimer: These are the nutrients that work well in our conditions. Buz Plants is not responsible for any damage to your plants that may occur from using this combination of nutrients.
