UK compost
What compost for strap-leaf anthurium in the UK?
Anthurium wendlingeri
More about strap-leaf anthurium in the UK
Which compost strap-leaf anthurium needs
For strap-leaf anthurium the mix to buy is peat-free multipurpose compost. As an epiphyte it needs an open, airy medium rather than dense potting soil. A blend of orchid bark, perlite or pumice, horticultural charcoal, and some sphagnum moss or coco coir holds moisture while letting roots breathe. A roughly 40 percent bark, 30 percent perlite, 20 percent coir, 10 percent charcoal mix works well.In British garden centres the bagged growing medium is sold simply as “compost” (multipurpose, ericaceous, or loam-based John Innes), which is a different thing from the rotted garden “compost” you make in a heap — for a pot you want the bagged kind.
Peat-free compost
Buy peat-free. The sale of peat compost to home gardeners is being phased out across the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free on environmental grounds. A good peat-free multipurpose grows strap-leaf anthurium perfectly well; the one habit to change is watering — peat-free dries faster at the surface while still moist below, so check by feel a knuckle deep rather than trusting the look of the top.
Ericaceous or multipurpose?
Strap-Leaf Anthurium is straightforward: an ordinary peat-free multipurpose compost is right. For a big specimen or a pot it will live in for years, mixing in some loam-based John Innes No.2 or No.3 adds weight and holds nutrients longer. Ericaceous compost is not needed unless a plant is specifically a lime-hater.
For the full recipe, pH and drainage detail (US wording), see the strap-leaf anthurium soil & potting-mix guide.
Compost for Strap-Leaf Anthurium in the UK — frequently asked questions
What compost should I use for strap-leaf anthurium in the UK?
Use peat-free multipurpose compost. As an epiphyte it needs an open, airy medium rather than dense potting soil. A blend of orchid bark, perlite or pumice, horticultural charcoal, and some sphagnum moss or coco coir holds moisture while letting roots breathe. A roughly 40 percent bark, 30 percent perlite, 20 percent coir, 10 percent charcoal mix works well. In UK garden centres this is sold simply as "compost" — the bagged growing medium, not garden-made leaf-mould — so match the description above rather than a brand.
Can I use ordinary multipurpose compost for strap-leaf anthurium?
Yes. A good peat-free multipurpose compost is exactly right for strap-leaf anthurium. For a large or long-term pot you can mix in some John Innes No.2 or No.3 (loam-based) for extra weight and staying power.
Should the compost be peat-free?
Yes. Sales of peat compost to home gardeners are being phased out in the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free for environmental reasons. Modern peat-free multipurpose composts grow strap-leaf anthurium perfectly well — they dry a little faster at the surface, so check moisture by feel rather than by the look of the top.
Does strap-leaf anthurium need grit or perlite added?
Not essential, but a couple of handfuls of perlite in the mix improves aeration and guards against overwatering — useful on a cool, damp British windowsill where compost stays wet longer.
What pot and drainage does strap-leaf anthurium need?
Always a pot with drainage holes. Chunky, fast-draining epiphytic aroid mix. Stand it on a saucer, empty any water that collects after watering, and never leave the pot sitting in a full outer cover — waterlogged compost in a cool UK room is the commonest cause of root rot.
More strap-leaf anthurium care
See the full strap-leaf anthurium care guide, its UK watering and UK hardiness.