Anthurium
Anthurium andraeanum · also called flamingo flower, laceleaf, tailflower
Anthurium is a tropical aroid with glossy, heart-shaped red blooms that can last for weeks. Give it bright indirect light and consistent moisture.
Anthurium andraeanum, the flamingo flower, is a tropical aroid from the rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador, famous for its waxy, heart-shaped spathes in red, pink, or white surrounding a slender flower spike called a spadix. What appears to be a flower is actually a modified leaf, and the true tiny flowers line the spadix. With the right care it can bloom almost continuously, with each colorful spathe lasting several weeks.
As an epiphyte and forest-floor dweller, it favors chunky, airy soil and steady warmth and humidity. Indoors it is grown as a compact flowering houseplant, valued for its glossy foliage and long-lasting blooms. Reliable flowering depends on bright indirect light, consistent moisture, and regular feeding; in too little light it produces leaves but few or no spathes.
How to care for Anthurium
Light
Bright indirect light is essential for steady blooming. Place it near an east window or a few feet from a south or west window. Low light yields foliage but few flowers, while direct sun scorches the leaves and spathes.
Watering
Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist, watering about weekly when the top inch dries. It dislikes both drought and soggy soil, so aim for consistent moisture with excellent drainage. Reduce watering somewhat in winter.
Humidity
Craves high humidity of 60 percent or more, reflecting its rainforest home. A humidifier or pebble tray greatly improves leaf and bloom quality. Dry air causes brown, crispy leaf edges.
Temperature
Keep it warm, between 70 and 85F, and never below 60F. It is cold-sensitive and suffers below 55F. Avoid cold drafts and AC vents.
Soil & potting mix
Use a chunky, well-draining aroid mix of orchid bark, perlite, and peat or coco coir. The mix should hold some moisture while letting air reach the roots. A pot with drainage holes is essential.
Feeding
Feed every 6 to 8 weeks during spring and summer with a phosphorus-rich bloom fertilizer at half strength to support flowering. Reduce feeding in fall and winter. Over-fertilizing can burn roots and brown leaf tips.
Pruning & grooming
Remove spent blooms and yellowed or damaged leaves at the base with clean shears to keep the plant tidy and encourage new growth. Wipe the glossy leaves to remove dust. Minimal pruning is otherwise needed.
Repotting
Repot every 2 to 3 years when roots fill the pot, sizing up modestly. Spring is the best time. Anthuriums bloom well when slightly snug, so avoid oversizing the pot.
Propagation
Propagate by division when repotting, separating offsets that have their own roots and leaves. Stem cuttings with aerial roots can also be potted up. Keep divisions warm and humid to establish.
Common Anthurium problems
- Not flowering. Lack of blooms usually means too little light or too little phosphorus. Move it to brighter indirect light and feed with a bloom-boosting fertilizer during the growing season.
- Brown leaf tips. Crispy tips point to low humidity, inconsistent watering, or fertilizer salt buildup. Raise humidity, keep moisture steady, and flush the soil periodically to remove salts.
- Yellowing leaves. Yellow leaves often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Let the top inch dry slightly between waterings and make sure the chunky mix drains freely.
Anthurium FAQ
Why won't my anthurium bloom?
The two most common reasons are not enough light and not enough phosphorus. Anthuriums need bright indirect light to flower, so a dim spot yields leaves but no spathes. Feeding with a phosphorus-rich bloom fertilizer during spring and summer, plus consistent warmth and humidity, encourages continuous flowering.
Are the red flowers actually flowers?
Not quite. The glossy red, heart-shaped part is a modified leaf called a spathe. The true flowers are the tiny structures along the upright spike, the spadix, in the center. The spathe's job is to attract pollinators, and it is what gives the plant its long-lasting decorative color.
Why are my anthurium leaf tips turning brown?
Brown crispy tips usually point to low humidity, which anthuriums dislike. They thrive at 60 percent humidity or higher, so dry indoor air causes the edges to crisp. Adding a humidifier or pebble tray, keeping watering consistent, and flushing out fertilizer salts will help keep the foliage clean.