Question
I have an anthurium growing on a piece of lava rock that seems to be wilting.  The leaves are feeling softer and are turning brown.  It's kept in my office and gets lots of indirect light.  My biggest concern has been not to over water, but the roots appear very dry and are beginning to peel off the rock.  I wet the rock and the roots every day and give it a misting.  Is this too much water, or not enough?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Reid, you say you have it growing on a piece of lava rock, hmm, I did some research on the potting medium for this species, and it alludes to a unique mixture of 3 parts orchid peat, 2 parts sphagnum moss, with a scattering of course sand, crushed charcoal and broken brick, the plant needs to be misted often, it needs a humid environment and no direct sun; the growing medium needs to be kept moist in the summer , but in the winter allowed to dry out between waterings. I am inclined to think that, even though the natural growth pattern is high exposed roots, it needs more then the lava rock it is presently provided with; did you plant it? or did it come like that. Nick