Cultivation of Anthurium in Polyhouse.

In: Protected Cultivation and Smart Agriculture edited by

Sagar Maitra, Dinkar J Gaikwad and Tanmoy Shankar © New Delhi Publishers, New Delhi: 2020, (pp.
232-238). ISBN: 978-81-948993-2-7, DOI: 10.30954/NDP-PCSA.2020.25

Chapter

25
Cultivation of Anthurium in Polyhouse
Sonia Panigrahi
Center for Smart Agriculture, Centurion University of technology and management, Paralakhemundi,
Odisha-761211
Corresponding author: sonia.panigrahi@cutm.ac.in

Abstract
Anthurium is a flowering plant species famous for its year round production of flower and
attractive heart shaped inflorescence. The leaves are modified to spathe with numerous
small flowers on a pencil like outgrowth (spadix) which increase its demand. The fast
production of this species can be obtained by different methods like cutflower, flowering
potted plants and landscape plants. The anthurium can be propagated by seeds but due
to low viability of seeds and poor germination rate it is preferred to grow in controlled
environment like in green houses and poly houses. In poly houses the management of
temperature, climate and other cultural operations are easy to carry out in comparison to
natural propagation. The frequent and prompt detection of pest and diseases can also be
done. The polyhouse plants take less time to established and have a good health which
improve their export and trade. Anthurium can be cultured both as a potted plant and as
a cut flower but the while trading is considered the cut flowers is highly preferred than
the potted plant.
Keywords: Anthurium, inflorescence, protected cultivation, crop management

1. Introduction
Protected cultivation is a technique of crop cultivation where the micro climate of
the plant surrounding is controlled partially or fully as per requirement of plant
growth. As the agricultural technologies are improving, the various new protected
cultivation practices have been emerged and progressive farmers are growing high
value flowers in polyhouses (Maitra et al. 2020). Anthurium is a perennial evergreen
herbaceous, epiphytic plant belongs to family Araceae. The anthurium plant can be
cultivated naturally by vegetative method, micro-propagation, and can be cultivated in
controlled condition. But in terms of commercialization of the flower it is preferable
Cultivation of Anthurium in Polyhouse 233

to grow in poly houses. The traditional method of cultivation is by vegetative method

through stem cutting and seed propagation, (Chesha et al. 2015) but it takes too
much time to establish and flowering. It can grow in any condition like under shade
to humid climate but mostly it is cultivated in western ghat and north eastern region
of India. There are a number of variety available but on the basis of popularity the
most beautiful and economic species are Anthurium scherzerianum and Anthurium
andreanum. This Anthurium scherzerianum is also called the flamingo flower plant
and available in bright pink as well as orange and purple. The Anthurium andreanum,
is also called as the painted Anthurium. This species has almost plastic-like painted
glossy spathe which enhances the demand of the flower among the florist (Fig. 1).

Spathe

Spadix

Fig. 1: Inflorsence of Anthurium flower

2. Climate
Anthodium is a subtropical plant and the temperature below 15°C and above 30°C
is avoided. For a good growth the ideal temperature is 19-22°C. Humidity is an
important aspect for the better growth of the plant. Low humidity affects the
photosynthesis while the high humidity may occur with fungi attack to the flower.
So in countries with high humidity, a higher day temperature and a higher light level
can be allowed. A relative humidity (RH) of between 60% and 80% is ideal for the
growth of plant in poly house. The Light level in the case of Anthurium andreanum
is considered 18,000-25,000 lux (155-215 W) to be good and well maintained. At
maximum values of 1,400 W/m2 on clear days, a screening percentage of 80% is
necessary (Anthurium cultivation guide, 2020).

3. Nursery bed preparation

3.1 Planting material
The planting material include the:
Tissue culture: Tissue culture plants are planted in plastic containers in the laboratory.
One container contains 30 or 40 plants.
234 Protected Cultivation and Smart Agriculture

Micro-cuttings: The tissue culture of Anthurium was first reported by Pierik et al.
(1974). The regeneration of Anthurium andraeanum variety is mainly done from
callus culture. Micro propagation begins with the selection of plant tissues that are
removed from an intact plant under a sterile condition and multiplied in the culture
medium.
Pot: The pots are of size 7-9 cm can be used when filled with coarse peat. The plants
are grown in three months until they reach a height of 10-15 cm. After the plant is
established these pots can be processed directly in the final pot to the main field (Yin-
Tung 1999).
Tray: In 7 cm tray filled with coarse soil is useful for cultivation. After a particular
height of 10 -15 cm the plant can be transferred to the final plot.

3.2 Growing media

The Anthurium plant needs a rich organic medium with good water retention capacity.
They need a proper drainage system when cultivated under controlled condition. The
growth medium can be prepared by using mixture of leaf mould and coco peat in a
ratio of 1:1 with a pH of 5.5 - 6.5. The old and chopped coconut husk with charcoal
and brick can also be used as growing media. The growing medium of coconut
husk and coco peat are refilled after every two to three years of interval. Properly
cleaned coconut husk is being used and treated with fungicides and pesticides like
chlorophyripous@1.5 ml/liter of water and carbandazim@1 gm/liter of water. Before
using in the bed preparation the coconut husk should be dipped in the fungicides and
insecticides for 1 minute to avoid any infections.

3.3 Bed preparation

The preferable length of the bed is up to 30 meter depending on the length of the
poly house. The width of the bed is maintained up to 1.20 meter with spacing of
30-45 cm gap in between the bed. The bed is covered with a plastic foil of 0.1 cm
thickness connected with a PVC drainage tube which has slight ‘V’ shape at the
lowest point for removing excess water (Seemanthini et al. 2018).

3.4 Planting density and after care

The beds should be irrigated two days before planting. While transplanting anthurium
plant a distance of 30 cm × 25 cm is maintained by making small holes of about 5-6
cm depth and width for each spot of planting. The plants are inserted in the holes
carefully so that the roots of a plant should not touch the ground then, a handful of
coir pith is put to avoid contact with the ground plastic cover. Dead, diseased and
infectious plants should not be used. Plants are sprinkled with water immediately
after planting and planting is mostly done during evening time. To avoid high light
intensity, the shade nets on the upper side spread completely. In the process of plant
establishment it needs high amount of light to a certain extent but the growing
medium should be sufficiently wet with proper moisture content.
Cultivation of Anthurium in Polyhouse 235

4. Irrigation
Mostly the irrigation practiced is sprinkler irrigation through which fertilizers is also
given and the water used for irrigation must be 0.5 electrical conductivity above
1 electrical conductivity is not suitable for irrigation purpose. Number of sprinkler
can be used in the polyhouse according to the requirement and depending on the
number of bed so that water reaches to each and every plant easily. The plants are
watered depending on the environmental condition such as rainy and summer season
(Reddy 2018).

4.1 Water quality requirement for anthurium

The water quality requirement is proposed on Anthurium cut flower production,
under Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse is given below in Table 1 (ICAR Research
Complex for Goa, 2013).
Table 1: Water requirement of Anthurium in polyhouse

EC (Electrical Calcium
Water Sodium Chloride Bicarbonate
conductivity) (m.moI/
Quality (m.moI/Liter) (m.moI/Liter) (m.moI/Liter)
(m.moI/Liter) Liter)
Good <0.5 <1.0 <1.0 <0.5 <1.0
Acceptable 0.5-1.0 1.0-3.0 1.0-3.0 0.5-1.0 1.0-2.0
Poor >1.0 >3.0 >3.0 >1.0 >2.0
In sprinkler irrigation the fertilizer is also given twice daily in the morning and in
noon (The great big green house, 2020). The quantity recommended for fertigation
water is 5 liter/msq area of bed. The pH and EC of fertigation solution should be
checked before watering. The water quality is mentioned in the table 1 and the ideal
pH and EC would be 5.7-6.2 and 1.2-1.3 respectively.

5. Fertigation
The major nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is supplied in the form
of complex fertilizer grade 19:19:19. Entire dosage (3:1:1) @ 2 g/lit, twice a week
during vegetative period and 1:2:2 NPK mixture @ 2-3 g /lit, twice a week are
applied during the flowering period. Calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate are
also supplied through fertigation (Reddy 2018). There are two tank (A and B) with
different fertilizer solutions of concentration 100 times in 50 lit of water. Another
tank “C” should have a total capacity of 2000 liters so as to get the dilution of 100
times from A and B stock solutions. The final solution must have the required pH of
5.75-5.80 and EC of 1.25 for fertigation purpose. The quantity required to make a
standard fertilizer solution is given below:
A-tank (Stock solution) Calcium nitrate (15.5:0:0:18.8 NPK) and 1.62 kg Ca,
Ammonium nitrate @400g, Potassium nitrate (13:0:45 NPK) @700g, Iron chelate
3% @140g per 50 lit of water. B-tank (Stock solution) Potassium nitrate (13:0:45
236 Protected Cultivation and Smart Agriculture

NPK)@ 550g, Mono potassium phosphate 10:52:34 NPK) @680 g, Potassium

sulphate (10:0:50 NPK) @360g, Magnesium sulphate 1.12 kg, Borax 10 g, Zinc
sulphate 4.3 g, Copper sulphate@ 0.56g. Sodium molybdate @ 0.56 g (Anthurium
cultivation guide 2020).

6. Pest and diseases

Thrips and aphids are the main pests in anthurium. The insects can be controlled by
spraying with crop protection agents or by using biological control agents (David et
al. 2018). The pest and diseases are tabulated below in table 2.
Table 2: Important pest and diseases of Anthurium plant

Sl.
Pest Scientific Name Symptoms of damage Management
No.
1 Aphid Myzus ¾¾ Yellowing of leaves with Dicofol @ 2 ml/lit,
Circumflexus poor growth. Melathion @ 2ml/lit,
¾¾ Nymphs and adult suck Phosphomidon @ 2
the plant sap. ml/lit.
2 Thrips Chaetanaphothrips ¾¾ Brown strips on flower Vertimac @ 0.4 ml/lit,
orchid and leaves. Dimethoate
¾¾ Mottled effect on foliage 30EC@1ml/lit
and flower.
3 White Fly Bemisia tabaci ¾¾ Nymphs and adult suck Methomyl @ 1.8/lit
the sap from leaves.
4 Red spider Mite Tetranychus ¾¾ Attacks on lower leaves. Spray Kelthane @ 1
cinnabarinus ¾¾ Bronzing of upper and ml/lit or Vertimac @
lower leaves. 0.4 ml/lit.

7. Harvesting and yield

The flowers are harvested when the spathe and spadix is fully developed. At the time
of maturity of the flower the changes in colour is observed (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: Anthurium cultivation in greenhouse

Cultivation of Anthurium in Polyhouse 237

Harvesting done in duration of 3-6 month of planting with an average yield of

5-7 flowers per plant in the initial year and the yield increases upto 10-12 flower
as the year of planting increases. A sharp knife must be used for cutting from the
mother plant to prevent the basal rot. 3 cm stem should be left from the lower part
of the mother plant during harvesting. After harvest the flower should put in water
immediately. For trading and commercialization purpose the grading is done as extra-
large, large, medium, small and mini sizes.

8. Post-Harvest
The basal portion of the stalk of the flower should kept in water to prevent drying
out after harvest. Flowers must be cleaned with clean water to remove the adhering
particles of dust, pesticides or fungicides for shining effect. For long distance
transport, a piece of cotton soaked with water is placed at the cut end. The cut end
should be tied with a rubber band and the open end of the bag is stapled to prevent
the desiccation.

9. Conclusion
The evergreen plant is a native to Columbia, Peru, South and North America, Brazil
and Vanezualla. Anthurium as a cut flower has a high demand in floriculture. The
flamingo flower and pig tail plant add luxury to the house. The flowering and foliage
anthurium include different bright colors heart-shaped or arrowhead-shaped leaves
which enhance the attractive appearance. In controlled environment the growth of the
plant is well maintained and produces long lasting flower in year round.

References
[1] Anthurium cultivation guide. 2020. https://agricultureguruji.com/anthurium-cultivation/.
Accessed on 10/10/2020.
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[3] Anthurium Varieties Performance and Economic under Greenhouse. 2011. Research
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238 Protected Cultivation and Smart Agriculture

[7] Pierik, R.M.L. 1974. Anthurium andraeanum Plantlets Produced from Callus Tissues
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[8] Reddy, J. 2018. Anthurium cultivation in green house: project report. https://www.
agrifarming.in/anthurium-cultivation-in-greenhouse-project-report. Accesesd on
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[9] Seemanthini, N.S., Chandrashekar, S.Y., Naik, B.H., Shivaprasad, M. and Ganapathi, M.
2018. Enhancement of Suckering Behaviour of Anthurium andreanum L. var. Tropical
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[10] The great big green house. 2020. https://greatbiggreenhouse.com/expert-advice/
gardening-tips-and-information/indoor-plant-info/anthurium/. Accesed on 09/10/2020.
[11] Yin-Tung, W. 1999. Greenhouse Performance of Six Potted Anthurium Cultivars in a
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