This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Since taking care of an Anthurium Superbum plant can seem daunting, I have listed everything you need to know in the Anthurium Superbum plant care guide . Some crucial things to remember are keeping the soil moist, using only well-draining soil, keeping your plant in bright indirect light, and keeping humidity high.
When a friend bought me my first Anthurium Superbum, and the nursery owner said it was easy to take care of, I would never have imagined that it would develop root rot in the first month.
Luckily, I found the information I needed, which also inspired me to help others.
Anthurium Superbum Soil Requirements
The so-called Bird’s Nest Anthurium or Anthurium Superbum naturally grows and comes from an area of South America known for Amazon jungles. Therefore, it is no surprise that Anthurium Superbum commonly grows on moss and tree branches.
Though Anthurium Superbum can grow in other places, as shown by many who keep it as a house plant, it requires soil like its natural habitat.
Using soil like that of an orchid and cactus mix combination with a lot of rich, moist, and organic matter is essential when caring for your plant.
Since this plant has some specific requirements for watering, I also recommend that you use well-draining soil.
You should not use any soil that is known to dry fast, and neither should you use wet soil, so using soil that retains a lot of water or sand is not a good idea.
Anthurium Superbum Watering Requirements
The Anthurium Superbum plant can be tricky to keep happy due to its watering schedule that changes based on light and season. The easiest way to see if the soil is too dry is to use a finger to feel the moisture level below the surface.
If the soil that your plant is rooted in feels wet, it is best to wait before adding more water.
The soil should be just moist enough not to be considered dry before watering again. You should also watch your plant and check the moisture levels at least once a week.
Between the months of March and September, also known as the growing season, it is essential to keep the water levels of your plant just right.
In winter (their dormant phase), Anthurium plants require less water, which means you should only water them once every few weeks.
As with other plants, the seasons play a big part in the watering needs of your Anthurium Superbum.
Summer requires more water, while winter requires less. Other factors can also affect the amount of water needed, such as the light and area in which your Anthurium Superbum is.
Because every house is different, the level of moisture in the air will play a big part in your plant’s watering needs.
Furthermore, an Anthurium plant placed in brighter indirect sunlight will require more water than a plant set in lower light. More light causes water to evaporate faster than lower light levels.
Your plant’s needs might also change if you move or change its position. It is of great importance to keep a close eye on your Anthurium plant and adjust the watering standards according to its needs.
Anthurium Superbum Light Requirement
Due to the natural habitat of Anthurium plants, most of them prefer indirect or filtered light rather than direct light.
The Anthurium Superbum is the same as most other Anthurium and prefers bright indirect light rather than direct sun.
If your Anthurium Superbum is mainly receiving direct sunlight, the chances are that the leaves will burn, which might cause more damage to your plant.
Therefore, it is better to keep your plant near an East-facing window where the morning sunlight is less damaging.
If you wish to move your Anthurium plant to a different spot, I recommend keeping it at least 6 feet away from a window that receives mid-day or hot sun.
Any light that is hotter than the usual morning sure can be harsh and damaging to your Superbum plant.
Temperature
Like other Anthurium species, the Superbum also has a preferred temperature that results in the plant being at its best health. Luckily most Anthuriums have similar temperature requirements of between 65 and 70 degrees.
It is important to note that your Anthurium Superbum might be permanently damaged or has the possibility of dying if it reaches temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you live in an area known for especially cold winters, keeping your Anthurium Superbum indoors is best to avoid the cold.
When caring for an Anthurium Superbum, especially in areas with more intense heat or cold, you should not use harsh means of temperature control.
Anthurium Superbum prefers more natural regulation means like an open window for air circulation.
Most temperate regulatory tools or appliances such as air conditioners or heaters can harm and damage your Anthurium plant if it is too close.
Rather than focusing your heating or cooling attempts on the plant itself, try to provide a warmer or colder ambient temperature.
Humidity
Anthurium plants usually need relatively high humidity to live happily at least above 40. The Anthurium Superbum plant is like other Anthurium species preferring an area with high humidity to mimic conditions in its natural habitat in Ecuadorian jungles.
If the humidity in the area where your plant stands is not high enough to keep it happy, the plant might start browning on its leaves.
For the best result, I recommend placing your plant in areas like a kitchen or bathroom, as these areas usually have higher humidity.
Alternatively, if you have the funds, you can purchase a humidifier purely to keep your plant happy.
If you do not want to buy a humidifier, you can also stand your plant’s pot on a tray with water on or close to other plants that require more water.
Anthurium Plant Fertilizer
Like other Anthurium plants, the Anthurium Superbum is sensitive to fertilizer. Though fertilizer can be very beneficial to your plant, you could also cause it harm in the process if using fertilizer at the wrong time, using too much, or too often.
It is vital to the continued health of your Anthurium Superbum that you only give it fertilizer during its growing season between March and September.
It is also essential to note that how often you fertilize your plant’s soil will depend on the type of fertilizer you use.
Since Anthurium plants prefer being in soil similar to the soil an orchid needs, they also seem to like the use of orchid fertilizer applied every three to six weeks during the growing season.
If you wish to use other fertilizers, you should only allow one dose every six to eight weeks.
If you want to keep your Anthurium Superbum happy and healthy, also consider buying fertilizers that are high in phosphorus. Phosphorus is a mineral that Anthurium plants enjoy, and it allows them to be happy and healthy.
Anthurium Superbum Repotting
Anthurium Superbum does not grow very fast but will still need to be put in a bigger pot if the pot is becoming too small or the plant becomes rootbound.
If your Anthurium plant is severely rootbound, it might be best to repot it soon to keep it healthy.
The best time to repot Anthurium Superbum is during the later spring or early summertime.
I would recommend you ensure that the pot you are repotting to has at least one drainage hole and is also no more than two inches bigger than the current pot.
If you repot your Anthurium plant into a much bigger pot, you could cause it shock, damage the plant, or result in a less happy plant.
Ensure that you do not fertilize the plant for at least six months after the repotting process to allow it time to adjust to the change.
How To Repot Anthurium Superbum Plant
- Tilt the current pot to the side to allow the plant to lift easily out of the pot.
- Use your hand to gently grip the Anthurium Superbum at the base of the visible plant.
- Lift the plant from the pot and gently use your fingers to loosen any knotted roots.
- Slightly and gently shake the plant to shake off any loose soil.
- Place the plant in a new pot filled one-third with a similar soil mix.
- Cover the roots with fresh soil mix and fill the pot until a little below the pot’s rim.
Be sure to wear gloves when repotting your plant to avoid skin irritation.
Anthurium Superbum Pruning
Pruning your Anthurium Superbum isn’t something that needs to be done too often due to its slower-growing rate.
However, if leaves have started wilting, it is always best to cut them off. The best way to trim leaves off is to cut them at the base of the stem.
Trimming off any dead leaves of your Anthurium plant is essential to keep it healthy, happy, and looking nice. If leaves have started wilting, I also suggest getting rid of them to avoid your plant spending unnecessary energy trying to heal those leaves.
Cutting off dead or wilting leaves can also help keep your plant healthy by getting rid of any possible infections in that part of the plant.
If you are looking to neaten your Anthurium plant and trim it, it is also better to take off older leaves rather than newer ones.
When trimming your Anthurium Superbum it is essential to wear gloves as some Anthurium plants may cause skin irritation.
It is also best to use sterile tools to avoid infection when cutting off dead or wilting leaves.
How To Propagate Anthurium Superbum
As with many other plants, there are a few ways to grow a new Anthurium Superbum.
Anthurium Superbum is a bit different from other Anthurium species, meaning that instead of using cuttings, it might be easier to split your plant or use seeds.
The propagation method of splitting Anthurium Superbum plants is more popular than growing from seeds as seeds can be hard to come by.
When starting this process, it is also essential to ensure that any tools you use are sterile, and you need to use gloves to avoid skin irritation.
I also recommend that you start the propagation process during repotting to avoid unnecessary shock.
It is also best to split your plants between late spring and early summer to ensure your plant can settle before winter.
Anthurium Superbum Propagation Using Splitting Technique:
- Tilt the pot your Anthurium Superbum is into the side to allow the root to slide out easily.
- Gently shake off any loose soil and inspect the root ball to find the main stems.
- Preferably choose and remove a stem section that is already growing. More significant sections increase the chance of survival.
- Place the separated sections in pots and fill as you would when repotting.
- Do not fertilize for at least a couple of months to allow the plant time to get used to its new area.
Common Problems with Anthurium Superbum
As with other plants, problems will often arise with your Anthurium Superbum. Knowing why these problems are happening and how to treat them is essential to keeping a happy and healthy plant.
· Yellow or Brown Leaves
If your indoor Anthurium Superbum plant is developing yellowing or brown leaves, the most probable cause for this is too much sunlight. It is important to remember that, as with most other Anthurium plants, Anthurium Superbum prefers indirect light.
If you leave your Anthurium Superbum plant in an area receiving regular direct sunlight, the leaves are almost guaranteed to start browning and dying.
The best place to keep your Anthurium Superbum is in an area where there is primarily or only bright indirect light. Areas that receive morning sun are ideal and serve as the best location for this plant as morning sunlight is usually less harsh.
· Too Little Sunlight
If your Anthurium is developing yellow or drooping leaves, one of the possible causes is lack of sunlight. Anthurium Superbum should be kept in bright and indirect light to grow and stay healthy. Bright and indirect light simulates the natural habitat of this plant, where trees block out most of the harmful light of the sun.
· Pests – Spider Mites And Mealybugs
Like other plants, the Anthurium Superbum is susceptible to pests like Spider mites or mealybugs.
However, for the most part, biting or chewing bug infestations are less common due to the thick leaves of the Anthurium.
If Spider Mites or Mealybugshave infected your plant, the leaves on your plant might be turning yellow. If you have tried watering your plant to see if this helps, and the problem persists you
The simplest way to rid your plant of spider mites and mealybugs is to use insecticidal soap.
To make insecticidal soap, mix one tablespoon of pure soap with two tablespoons of olive oil and one quart of water in a bottle with a spray nozzle.
After making the mix, you should spray your entire plant with the mixture, including spraying under the leaves where some of these pests occur most commonly.
You should be able to get rid of the infestation in about three weeks if you spray the plant once a week for three weeks.
Tips for Growing Anthurium Superbum
Though the information provided above is sure to help you keep your Anthurium Superbum happy and healthy, there are also other tips that you should follow.
- Regularly check on your plant – Keeping an eye on your Anthurium Superbum is essential to ensure it stays happy and pest-free. If you notice that your plant isn’t behaving the way it should, you might consider looking for possible infestation.
Apart from the possibility of infestation, there are also other things you need to keep in mind like changing seasons and your plant’s specific needs. It is easy enough to see if your plant lacks water or gets damaged by the sun, so be sure to keep a close eye on it. - Do not give your plant too much water – Giving your Anthurium Superbum too much water can damage the plant. If water does not drain properly or you give the plant too much water, it might cause root rot.
If you see that your plant has leaves that are turning brown and think it might be due to root rot, giving it less water might help. Although, there are cases of severe root rot where Anthurium needs to be treated with fungicide or can die. - Keep away from pets – If your Anthurium Superbum is on ground level, it is best to ensure that you do not have any pets or children around. Not only can people, children, and animals harm the plant, but the plant can also be toxic to humans and animals.
Though one bite of an Anthurium Superbum is not enough to kill you or an animal, it may still cause illness. Most Anthurium Superbum species have insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the skin and cause trouble with breathing.
Where can I buy an Anthurium Superbum?
Anthurium Superbum, though not the most common of plants, can still be bought from various places in America. Searching online will allow you to find shops like Amazon.com that sell and will even ship Anthurium Superbum plants to you.
During my research on finding the best ways to take care of Anthurium Superbum plants, I also found that Walmart sells these plants.
Along with allowing you to purchase this plant, Walmart also includes some basic guidelines for the care of this plant.
There are also many privately owned nurseries where you can buy an Anthurium Superbum plant, and if your closest nursery doesn’t have one, they are almost guaranteed to point you in the right direction.
Frequently asked questions about Anthurium Superbum
If you have any questions that are still unanswered, I have made a list of some frequently asked questions, as well as possible answers.
Be sure to look at these as some of this information can be quite hard to find.
1. Is Anthurium Superbum Rare?
Anthurium Superbum is a hybrid plant, meaning that it originated from the cross-pollination of different plants in the same family.
Due to it being a hybrid, Anthurium Superbum is not the most commonly found Anthurium species making it rare.
This specific species of Anthurium is considered rare, but the natural habitat of these plants has also been declining. Luckily, since Anthurium Superbum is relatively easy to grow, people have produced more, and there are many places to buy one online.
2. Does Anthurium Superbum Flower?
The Anthurium Superbum does flower and produces a spadix of which the color varies. Some people have said that the Anthurium Superbum flowers all year round, and there are cases where the flower is white and turns purple and cases of green flowers turning pink.
3. How Big Does Anthurium Superbum Get?
After doing some research on the size of this plant, it seems that an Anthurium Superbum plant can extend up to five feet in width and can grow to be three feet tall.
This size is an average maximum size as there are also reports of this plant growing even bigger.
4. How Much Does Anthurium Superbum Cost?
The price of an Anthurium Superbum plant can vary greatly depending on where you stay, who you’re buying from and how you’re buying the plant.
When buying this plant online, prices can range between 25 USD to 100 USD, excluding shipping.
Naturally, shipping prices also vary depending on the shipping method and can also vary depending on the distance that the plant must be shipped.
If you are willing to go to a nursery or a bigger shop with a plant section, you could pay between 20 USD to 100 USD depending on the size and perceived quality of the plant. At local nurseries, the price might vary based on season and stock.
5. What Is The Anthurium Superbum’s Growth Rate?
The Anthurium Superbum plant has a medium growth rate. This plant’s medium growth rate means following the repotting guidelines above of using a pot no more than two inches bigger, and you should have to repot your plant every year or two.