Question
Hi Kathy,

I have two Anthurium plants, one that I bought in April, which has grown a lot.  I repotted it into an 8" "Plant Spa" (the kind of pot that you don't water from the top, it has a spout that you just put the water in, and it sucks the water upwards into the soil) pot because when I bought it it was in a 4", and the roots weren't coming out of the top,, but all out of the bottom.  (I actually didn't know that they were supposed to have aerial roots until I bought the other one). But now it isn't producing any blooms. Actually, I put that one outside, and apparently it was getting too much light, and all of the leaves turned brown from too much direct sun, all within the last two days! (Sorry)  

I know that they have to be cut off, and I'm going to get rid of all of the dead foliage.  It is however still producing shoots of leaves that are coming up high and shiny so I know it's okay, and the root structure is in great shape.

The second plant I bought about a month ago, and I left it in the 6" pot that I bought it in.  However, it's just now producing two new blooms, and it's taken them two weeks to reach the top.  This has a lot of aerial roots, and also has a good root structure.

So this is what I want to do.  I don't have a lot of space for them indoors, and I don't want to put them outdoors anymore.  Since I already have the older one in an 8" pot, I want to combine the two plants, since I have to cut off so many dead leaves anyway.  I know from all of the reading and research I've done, (mainly on this site), that they love to be severely rootbound, and that the aerial roots should be kept that way.  When I repotted the older one, I buried the roots, because at the time I didn't know again about the aerial roots. :(

So my questions are as follows:

1) If I combine the two plants into the 8" pot, will they be okay?

2) They're both in regular soil right now, and based on the research I've done on this site, it's seems to be the going Census that Orchid mix is the best route to go.  (I have a bag here, and can use it right away).

3) I have them both in a South facing window now, where they both get adequate, indirect light all day long, so why is the production of both so slow?

4) Will it shock the plants if I combine them into one pot, or damage the roots in any way?

5) Since they're aerial roots, what's the best way to insure that the roots won't be damaged, and how do I place them during transfer?

I have a "Soil Master" that measures moisture, light, and PH levels, because I'm very leary about under or over watering any of my plants.  Where I have the plants, by mid morning, the meter picks up medium levels of light, which of course change to a higher level during the day.

I don't know what zone I'm considered to be in, but I live in Pittsburgh PA.  My thinking is if I combine the two in the 8" pots, it will help for them to be rootbound, because the roots on both are large,and it won't put too much stress on the plants to grow well by having to make up for the extra space in the pot.  (Plus the fact that I'm limited for space in the house as well).  

These reasons are why I need your help!  This is the first time I'm dealing with this species of plant, I've only recently developed my "Green Thumb" I guess you could say, because I have a lot of other plants that are thriving in every way possible, except for these.

I've given the older one 7 drops of Schultz liquid plant food every time I water according to package directions.  I have however, only done this this once with the newer plant due to the fact that I didn't know how much food it received before I bought it.

The older one is 13 1/2" high, 14" in diameter.  These are the measurements currently, as I haven't cut off the dead leaves yet.

The new one, in the last month, has spread nicely by foliage only, and has kept the blooms that were on it when I bought it, and are still in nice shape.  There's currently five blooms, with the two new ones that are coming up slowly but surely.  The measurements of this one are 9 3/4" high, 11" in diameter.

I apologize for the mini novel that I've presented you with, but I really do need some advice from an expert like yourself, because I don't want to make the situation any worse for the older one, or create a situation that may damage the plants.  Anything that you suggest I'm up for, I go with the flow. :)  Also, the roots are strong on both plants, and at present they're isn't any root rot present.  

Thank you in advance for taking the time to reply to this, and I'm anxious to read your reply.  Have a great day!

Carrie :)  

Answer
Hi Carrie...You don't say which kind you have which makes it very difficult to help you, but will do my best.  I water mine everyday as they love water, but not to sit in it, these are the flowering kind.  I have separated mine to one in larger pots and they just fill the pot.  So in that case I do not see they have to be root bound.  They are blooming and very happy and make more in the same pot.  If it is the other kind that gets a spathe type bloom, they get very large.  I have some in 27" pots.  I splash them with water during the week and usually give them a good drink once a week, again, I live in Florida and the water just gets sucked out of the pots, so it may be slower where you live.  The flowering kind I can see put together, but the other types would not look good together as they are usually one in a pot.