For vibrant, heart-shaped blooms year-round, indoor anthurium care is simple! Provide bright, indirect light, consistently moist but not soggy soil, and regular feeding. These tropical beauties thrive with a touch of humidity and a well-draining pot. Follow this essential guide for a thriving anthurium in your home.
Dreaming of adding a splash of vibrant, glossy color to your indoor garden? Anthuriums, with their stunning, heart-shaped spathes and elegant spadix, are a fantastic choice! Often called “flamingo flowers” or “painted tongue,” these tropical gems can bring a touch of the exotic right into your living space. But if you’ve ever seen a wilting anthurium or one that refuses to bloom, you might feel a little frustrated. Don’t worry! Caring for them indoors isn’t as complicated as it might seem. With a few key tips, you can keep your anthurium happy, healthy, and bursting with those beautiful, long-lasting flowers. Ready to unlock the secrets to indoor anthurium success? Let’s dig in!
Why Anthuriums are Wonderful Houseplants
Anthuriums are truly special additions to any home. Their unique flower-like structures, known as spathes, come in an array of dazzling colors – from fiery reds and vibrant pinks to clean whites and even deep purples. What many people think of as the “flower” is actually a modified leaf, the spathe, designed to attract pollinators. The true flower is the spike-like structure emerging from it, called the spadix. These plants aren’t just pretty faces; they’re also excellent air purifiers, helping to remove toxins from your home. Their tropical origins mean they love warmth and humidity, making them perfect for cozy indoor environments. Plus, with the right care, they can bloom for months on end, offering continuous beauty and a delightful pop of color.
Understanding Your Anthurium’s Needs: The Basics
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s get a general feel for what an anthurium loves. Think of it like getting to know a new friend – understanding their preferences makes building a lasting relationship (and a beautiful plant!) so much easier.
Light: Bright, but not direct sun. Imagine dappled light under a jungle canopy.
Water: Consistently moist, but never waterlogged. Think of a damp sponge.
Soil: Well-draining and airy. They hate having soggy feet!
Temperature: Warm and cozy, just like their tropical homeland.
Humidity: They love moist air, so providing some extra humidity is a big plus.
Getting these basics right is the most important step to preventing common problems and ensuring your anthurium thrives.
Essential Anthurium Care Steps: A Beginner’s Guide
Now, let’s get down to the practical steps. Caring for your anthurium indoors is about creating an environment that mimics its natural habitat as much as possible.
1. Find the Perfect Lighting Conditions
Light is probably the most crucial factor for anthurium health and blooming. Too little light, and you won’t get flowers. Too much direct sun, and you’ll scorch those gorgeous leaves.
Ideal Placement: Place your anthurium near an east-facing window where it can receive gentle morning sun. A bright spot near a south or west window can also work, but be sure to filter the light with sheer curtains to prevent the sun’s rays from burning the leaves.
Signs of Wrong Lighting:
Too little light: Leaves will be dark green, and the plant may not produce flowers. Stems might become leggy.
Too much direct sun: Leaves will develop brown, crispy spots or edges.
For a deeper dive into how light affects houseplants, the Penn State Extension offers valuable insights into indoor plant care.
2. Master the Art of Watering
Watering can be tricky for many plant parents. For anthuriums, the key is consistency and avoiding extremes.
When to Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. A good way to check is by sticking your finger into the soil. If it’s dry about an inch down, it’s time to water.
How to Water: Water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot. This ensures that the entire root ball gets hydrated. Discard any excess water that collects in the saucer after about 30 minutes to prevent root rot.
Water Quality: If possible, use filtered water, rainwater, or let tap water sit out for 24 hours to allow chlorine to evaporate. Anthuriums can be sensitive to chemicals in fresh tap water.
Signs of Over/Underwatering:
Overwatering: Yellowing leaves, wilting (yes, even with too much water!), mushy stems, and a musty soil smell are signs of too much moisture, leading to root rot.
Underwatering: Drooping leaves, dry, brittle leaf edges, and slow growth indicate the plant is thirsty.
3. Choose the Right Potting Mix
Anthuriums hate sitting in soggy soil, which can quickly lead to root rot. They need a mix that drains well and allows their roots to breathe.
Recommended Mix: A good potting mix for anthuriums is a blend of:
Regular potting soil (about 50%)
Perlite or orchid bark (about 25%) for drainage and aeration
Peat moss or coco coir (about 25%) to retain some moisture
DIY Mix Idea: You can easily make your own by combining one part peat moss, one part perlite, and one part good quality potting soil.
Pot Choice: Always use pots with drainage holes! Terra cotta pots are great because they allow the soil to dry out faster, which can be beneficial. Plastic pots retain more moisture, so be extra careful with watering if you use them.
4. Get the Temperature and Humidity Just Right
As tropical plants, anthuriums thrive in warmer conditions with higher humidity.
Temperature: They prefer temperatures between 65°F and 80°F (18°C – 27°C). Avoid placing them near drafty windows or doors, heating vents, or air conditioning units that cause drastic temperature fluctuations. Temperatures below 55°F (13°C) can damage the plant.
Humidity: This is key for lush, healthy foliage and good blooms. Aim for humidity levels between 40% and 60%.
Misting: Lightly misting the leaves occasionally can help, but be careful not to overdo it, as it can sometimes encourage fungal issues if air circulation is poor.
Pebble Tray: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. As the water evaporates, it increases humidity around the plant. Ensure the bottom of the pot doesn’t sit directly in the water.
Grouping Plants: Grouping plants together can create a more humid microclimate.
Humidifier: For very dry homes, a small room humidifier is an excellent investment for your tropical plants.
5. Feeding Your Anthurium for Blooms
To encourage those beautiful, vibrant blooms, regular feeding during the growing season is important.
When to Feed: Feed your anthurium during its active growing period, which is typically spring and summer. You can reduce or stop feeding in fall and winter when growth naturally slows down.
What to Use: Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (like a 20-20-20 or one specifically formulated for flowering plants). You can also use a fertilizer lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus to encourage blooming. Look for fertilizers that also contain micronutrients.
How to Feed: Dilute the fertilizer to half or quarter strength recommended on the package. Anthuriums are sensitive to over-fertilization, which can burn their roots. Feed them every 2-4 weeks.
Fertilizer Application: It’s best to fertilize after watering the plant when the soil is already moist. Fertilizing dry soil can damage the roots.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has excellent general advice on plant feeding, which is applicable to understanding the needs of flowering houseplants like anthuriums.
6. Pruning for Health and Aesthetics
Pruning your anthurium is more about maintenance and encouraging new growth than shaping.
What to Prune:
Dead or Yellowing Leaves: These sap energy from the plant and can make it look untidy. Trim them off at the base of the plant using clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears.
Spent Flowers: While anthurium spathes last a long time, they will eventually fade. Cut the flower stalk as close to the base as possible. This not only keeps the plant looking neat but also redirects energy into producing new blooms and foliage.
How to Prune: Make clean cuts at the base of the leaf or flower stalk. Avoid tearing or leaving stubs.
7. Repotting Your Anthurium
Anthuriums don’t mind being a little snug in their pots, but eventually, they will need repotting.
When to Repot: You’ll know it’s time when:
The plant has outgrown its current pot.
Roots are growing out of the drainage holes.
The plant isn’t drying out as quickly as it used to, or conversely, dries out too fast.
It’s been 2-3 years since the last repotting.
Best Time: The best time to repot is in spring, at the beginning of the growing season.
How to Repot:
1. Gently remove the anthurium from its current pot. If it’s stuck, you can tap the sides of the pot or run a knife around the inside edge.
2. Inspect the roots. Trim away any dead, mushy, or damaged roots.
3. Choose a new pot that is only about 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current one. Anthuriums prefer to be slightly root-bound.
4. Add a layer of fresh, well-draining potting mix to the bottom of the new pot.
5. Place the anthurium in the new pot, ensuring the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim.
6. Fill in around the sides with your anthurium potting mix, gently firming it to remove air pockets.
7. Water thoroughly.
Common Anthurium Problems and Solutions
Even with the best intentions, sometimes our plants face challenges. Here are a few common issues and how to tackle them:
| Problem | Symptoms | Cause | Solution |
| :—————— | :——————————————————————————————————– | :———————————————————————– | :—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Yellowing Leaves | Leaves turn yellow, sometimes starting from the tips or edges. | Overwatering, underwatering, poor drainage, nutrient deficiency, age. | Check soil moisture. Adjust watering schedule. Ensure drainage is adequate. Fertilize during the growing season if deficient. Remove older, naturally yellowing leaves. |
| Brown Leaf Tips | Leaf edges or tips turn brown and crispy. | Low humidity, inconsistent watering, fertilizer burn, salts buildup. | Increase humidity. Water consistently. Flush pot with plain water to remove salt buildup. Fertilize correctly. |
| Wilting | Leaves droop and appear limp. | Underwatering, overwatering (root rot), extreme temperatures, transplant shock. | Check soil moisture – if dry, water thoroughly. If soil is soggy, allow to dry out and check for root rot. Ensure appropriate temperature. For transplant shock, keep soil consistently moist, not wet. |
| No Blooms | Plant is healthy and has plenty of leaves but no flowers. | Insufficient light, lack of fertilizer, or incorrect fertilizer type. | Move to a brighter (but not direct sun) location. Fertilize regularly during the growing season with a bloom-boosting fertilizer. |
| Pests | Small insects on leaves or stems (e.g., mealybugs, spider mites, aphids). Sticky residue or webbing. | Infestation from other plants, poor air circulation, stress. | Isolate affected plant. Wipe pests off with a damp cloth or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil, following product instructions carefully. |
| Root Rot | Mushy roots, wilting even with moist soil, foul odor from soil, yellowing leaves. | Overwatering, poor drainage, soil that stays too wet. | Remove plant from pot, trim away all affected roots, repot in fresh, well-draining soil and appropriate pot. Water sparingly until plant recovers. |
For more detailed information on pest management for houseplants, the University of California Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program provides excellent, scientifically sound guidance.
Encouraging Your Anthurium to Bloom
Seeing those gorgeous spathes emerge is the ultimate reward of anthurium care! If your plant is healthy but not blooming, consider these factors:
Sufficient Light: This is number one! Anthuriums need bright, indirect light to produce flowers. If it’s too shady, the plant will focus on foliage growth instead of blooms.
Fertilizer Balance: A fertilizer slightly higher in phosphorus can encourage flowering. However, ensure your plant is not over-fertilized, as this can cause root burn and hinder blooming. Follow the dilution instructions carefully, and remember to fertilize only during the growing season.
Maturity: Very young plants might need time to establish themselves before they start flowering. Be patient!
Pruning Spent Blooms: Removing old flowers signals to the plant that its reproductive efforts are complete for that bloom, encouraging it to produce new ones.
Adequate Water and Humidity: A stressed plant, whether from drought or soggy roots, will divert its energy away from flowering. Consistent care is vital.
Varieties of Anthurium to Consider
While the care remains largely the same, different anthurium varieties offer unique color and form. Some popular types include:
Anthurium andraeanum: This is the most common species found in cultivation, known for its large, flat, glossy spathes in shades of red, pink, white, and green.
Anthurium scherzerianum: Often called the “flamingo flower,” this variety has smaller flowers with a more pronounced, curly spadix. Colors are typically red or orange.
‘Champion’ Series: Known for their exceptionally large, vibrant spathes in deep reds and pinks.
‘Midori’ or ‘Fantasy’ Series: Often feature unique greenish or bicolor spathes, offering a softer aesthetic.
When purchasing a new anthurium, choose one with healthy, green foliage and no signs of pests or disease.
Eco-Friendly Anthurium Care Practices
As part of the EcoPatchy community, we always look for ways to be a little kinder to our planet. Caring for your anthurium can be wonderfully sustainable:
Composting: Use your kitchen scraps to create compost, which can then be added to your anthurium’s potting mix to enrich the soil naturally.
Water Conservation: Collect rainwater for watering your plants. If using tap water, let it sit out to reduce chlorine, which is better for the plant and the environment.
Natural Pest Control: Opt for natural pest solutions like neem oil or insecticidal soap before resorting to harsh chemicals. Often, wiping pests off with a damp cloth is enough for minor infestations.
Repurposing Pots: Glass jars, old ceramic bowls, or even sturdy plastic containers can be repurposed as planters. Just ensure you drill drainage holes!
Sustainable Potting Mix: Look for peat-free potting mixes or use alternatives like coco coir, which is a by-product of the coconut industry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthurium Care
Q1: How often should I water my anthurium?
A1: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. This typically means watering once every 1-2 weeks, but it depends on your home’s humidity, light, and temperature. Always check the soil before watering.
Q2: Why are my anthurium leaves turning yellow?
A2: Yellowing leaves are often a sign of overwatering or underwatering. Also, check for poor drainage, nutrient deficiencies, or simply older leaves naturally dying off. Adjust your watering routine and make sure the pot has good drainage.
Q3: Can I put my anthurium in direct sunlight?
A3: Never! Direct sunlight will scorch and burn the leaves, causing brown spots. Anthuriums need bright, indirect light. An east-facing window or a spot filtered by sheer curtains is ideal.
Q4: My anthurium has no flowers. What can I do?
A4: The most common reason is insufficient light. Move your plant to a brighter location. Also, ensure you’re fertilizing regularly with a balanced or bloom-boosting fertilizer during its active growing season (spring/summer).
Q5: How do I increase humidity for my anthurium?
A5: You can mist
