Anthurium Michelle® (DocBlock)

A documented DocBlock breeding line

Jeff Block developed Anthurium Michelle® from a breeding line based on an unusual Anthurium magnificum accession obtained by Tim Anderson of Daisy Farms in the mid-to-late 1980s. Michelle® represents selected later-generation seedlings rather than a wild collection. Its species ancestry leads back to humid Colombian foothill and intermediate-elevation forest, while the named line itself was created in cultivation.

Care for velvet Anthurium foliage and roots

• Substrate and repotting: Allow the plant to settle in its nursery root ball and wait for fresh roots before repotting, unless the existing substrate drains poorly.
• 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 layer of the 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 high humidity with gentle air movement. Dry water from the leaf surface promptly.
• Leaf care and propagation: Protect each dark emerging leaf from contact until the surface has hardened. Remove dust with a soft dry brush and propagate from rooted offsets or node-bearing stem pieces.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Anthurium Michelle® (DocBlock)

• A limp leaf or yellowing growth: Limp leaves with a light dry pot show that the roots need water; rehydrate the mix evenly and keep drainage open. Soft yellow leaves while the pot remains damp point to poor root aeration; wait for the container to lighten and examine the roots before watering again. Gradual yellowing limited to the oldest blade is generally natural.
• Checking the newest leaf for pests: Silver scars, black specks and distorted new leaves point to thrips; mites produce much finer pale speckling over the leaf surface. Check carefully the undersides and the papery sheath around the newest leaf; these sheltered sites can escape the first treatment. Move the plant away from the collection and treat both leaf surfaces with a product labelled for the pest. Keep to the product label for repeat timing and check the whole plant after treatment.
• Fresh brown edging: Crisp tips after a light pot can follow an uneven watering cycle. If edges brown while the mix is still moist, check salts, hot glass and root condition; flush salts when watering is due, move the plant from hot glass and inspect roots if browning continues.
• Failed roots at the centre of the pot: Keep roots that feel firm and look cream or tan; firm new root tips are a useful recovery sign. Cut away roots that are brown, slippery or hollow with a disinfected tool; rebuild the root zone with a fine, airy mix and a pot matched to the remaining roots.

Anthurium Michelle® (DocBlock) contains substances toxic to people and pets

• This plant is toxic to humans, cats and dogs if ingested.
• Leaves and stems contain needle-like, insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing can cause immediate burning mouth pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian after pet exposure or a medical professional after human exposure, especially if swelling or breathing trouble occurs.

Anthurium: name and meaning

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Anthurium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 828.