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Anthurium care
Anthurium andraeanum · Araceae
Also called Flamingo flower, Painter's palette, Tail flower.
An epiphytic aroid from the wet forests of Colombia and Ecuador, grown for its glossy heart-shaped leaves and waxy red, pink or white spathes. Each spathe lasts for weeks, and with enough light and warmth the plant flowers on and off all year.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
MediumPets
Not confirmedHeight indoors
30-50 cm
Growth
Slow
Temperature
20-29 °C
Not below 13 °C
Humidity
50% - 70%
Likes humid air
Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Colombia
- Ecuador
Through the year
Water thoroughly when the top 2 to 3 cm of the mix feel dry and empty the saucer; the roots rot if they stay soggy.
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Spring
WeeklyRepot if needed and start monthly feeding.
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Summer
WeeklyKeep the mix evenly moist and the air humid.
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Autumn
WeeklyReduce feeding and keep it away from cold windows at night.
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Winter
WeeklyWater less, keep it above 16 °C and away from radiators.
Feeding
Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer at quarter to half strength. Too much leaves salt burn on the leaf edges.
Care tips
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Use a chunky mix
Bark, peat-free compost and perlite in equal parts keep air around the roots.
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Cut spent spathes
Remove faded flowers at the base of the stem to keep the plant tidy.
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Raise the humidity
Stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles or group it with other plants.
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Repot every 2 years
Move it to fresh mix in spring, as old mix holds salts that burn the leaves.
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Wear gloves when pruning
The sap can irritate skin.
Common problems
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No new flowers
What you seeThe plant grows leaves but no new spathes appear.
What to doMove it closer to a bright window without direct sun; too much shade is the usual cause.
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Brown leaf edges
What you seeLeaf tips and margins turn brown and crisp.
What to doRaise humidity, keep the plant away from drafts and heaters, and flush the pot with plain water to remove fertilizer salts.
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Spider mites
What you seePale speckles and fine webbing under the leaves.
What to doShower the plant, wipe both sides of the leaves and treat with insecticidal soap until the mites are gone.
Pets
Is anthurium safe for cats and dogs?
Not confirmed. Not on the ASPCA lists. ASPCA lists the related flamingo flower, Anthurium scherzeranum, as toxic to cats and dogs because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.
Good to know
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The coloured 'flower' is a modified leaf called a spathe; the true flowers are the tiny bumps on the central spike.
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The genus name comes from the Greek for 'tail flower', after the spike.
