Anthurium 'Delta Force'

Selected at Ree Gardens in the 1990s

Steve and Marie Nock produced Anthurium ‘Delta Force’ at Ree Gardens in Miami from a cross between Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium pedatoradiatum, then retained one unusually triangular seedling. Both parents come from southern Mexico: A. clarinervium grows on limestone and in organic pockets in humid forest, while A. pedatoradiatum is terrestrial in tropical forest from low elevations to about 1,000 m.

Care for Anthurium ‘Delta Force’

• Light: Place in bright filtered light. Acclimated plants can take gentle morning or evening sun; hot midday light can mark the velvet surface.
• Watering: Water when the upper 1–2 cm of substrate begins to dry. Soak the root ball evenly, drain it fully and keep the moisture rhythm steady while a leaf is expanding.
• Humidity and airflow: Aim for 65–80% relative humidity with gentle air movement. Dry water from the leaf surface promptly.
• Temperature: Keep at 20–28 °C, with the root zone above 18 °C. Protect the plant from cold glass, draughts and sudden temperature drops.
• Substrate and repotting: Allow Anthurium ‘Delta Force’ to establish a clear watering pattern in the supplied root ball, with the well-aerated root zone and emerging foliage remaining firm and active; repot after the plant is stable and the next phase of root growth has begun. Later, use a pot only 2–3 cm wider and a fine, open mix of coco coir or peat, small bark and pumice or perlite.
• Feeding: Feed with a dilute complete fertiliser while the plant is producing leaves and roots. Continue at a lower rate whenever light and active growth slow, then return to the normal rate with fresh roots or a new leaf and flush the substrate with plain water every 4–6 weeks.
• Leaf shape and propagation: Allow the angular leaves room to open without rubbing their margins. Use a soft dry brush for dust and take propagation material only from a rooted offset or a stem section with a node.

Wilting, root stress and torn leaf edges

• Yellowing linked to moisture: A dry light container explains the wilt; soak the whole root ball and drain every excess drop. Wilting in wet mix suggests oxygen loss around the roots; delay watering and let the pot drain before checking roots. A solitary old leaf can yellow even when current growth is healthy.
• Firm roots versus hollow roots: Firm pale or tan roots still support the plant; root colour varies, so firmness is the useful test. Remove clearly hollow or slippery root sections with clean scissors; return the remaining roots to a snug pot with a fine airy mix. Before cutting Anthurium ‘Delta Force’, photograph the root system and confirm failure by texture; preserve every firm section, sterilise the tool between cuts and keep the crown stable while new roots develop.
• Brown margins after a dry cycle: Crisp tips after a light pot may record an uneven watering cycle. When moisture is adequate, edge damage often comes from salts, heated glass or weak roots; flush salts when watering is due, move the plant from hot glass and inspect roots if browning continues.
• A dark patch that changes size: Contact damage and mineral residue stay dry on the leaf surface; watch the outline before treating it. A soft expanding mark along the margin needs immediate attention; isolate the plant, keep foliage dry and photograph the outline each day.
• A smaller next leaf: A damaged root system may leave the centre motionless even after the original stress has passed; compare light, root temperature and root health before changing feed. Use bright filtered light and a stable 20–28 °C range; a fresh root or leaf shows that recovery has started; old damage stays visible.
• Pest marks on opening foliage: Thrips damage appears as silver feeding lines and dark waste spots; mites show as fine pale stippling across mature foliage. Search folded new leaves and dry sheaths and the full lower leaf surface; tiny pests and black specks are easiest to see there. Quarantine the plant and apply a houseplant product whose label names the pest; repeat only at the interval given on the label and scan the youngest leaf once a week for the next month.
• Snags and torn edges: The narrow angles and margins can catch on neighbouring plants while opening. Move obstructions before the leaf expands and leave a dry healed tear alone once its edge is stable.

If a pet chews Anthurium ‘Delta Force’

• Not pet-safe. This plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause immediate pain and irritation if chewed.

The name Anthurium ‘Delta Force’

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Litteratur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 828.

‘Delta Force’ reinforces the selection’s sharply triangular, delta-like leaf outline and strong pale venation. Steve Nock applied the name to the single Ree Gardens plant selected from his clarinervium × pedatoradiatum line.