Question
Good morning, just wondering if the egg method is used for Anthuriums ? I know this method is very popular with other plants. Thank you.

Answer
Dear Alan, This is really two questions: the first is how to propagate anthuriums, and the second is concerning the egg method.  First, to propagate anthuriums, take the plant out of the soil.  It should look pretty messy and overgrown when you do this.  As the plant grows the stem length increases and more leaves grow in clumps along the length.  You need to cut the stem at intervals that each contain one of these clumps of leaves or plantlets.  Make a clean cut and then wait for an hour or so to help the cut ends seal off.  Then you plant each piece separately.  I don't think you can take cuttings from the leaves, you have to have a small clump with roots starting to form or already there, stem, and leaves.  Now the egg method as I have read is mainly used for plumerias where you take bare stem cuttings and root them.  Personally I prefer to use rooting hormone because it is more successful or at least easier and less messy.  Plus, and I may have this wrong, but some of the egg method information says to put a raw egg (meaning I suppose that you break it) in the soil, and other information I think is saying to put the whole egg in the soil and certain gasses given off will help the roots grow.  I guess I am just strongly opinionated, but I would definitely urge you DON'T DO THIS!!!!  I can just imagine two scenarios. The first involves an old egg submerged in soil that begins to rot and oops! the egg breaks and the stink that you would have, and the second is if you have a raw egg in the soil the multitude of ants that would be attracted to your plant.  Either one would be a deal breaker for me and I would toss the plant.  It sounds like a fad to me, and I simply wouldn't risk it.  You can get much better results just dusting the cut ends of the plant with rootone.  I hope this information helps.  Let me know if you have more questions or more information about the egg method.  This is a new one for me.  Melissa