Anthurium (an-THUR-ee-um) is a perennial tropical evergreen shrub that is also known by the common names:
- Flamingo Flower
- Flamingo Lily
- Tailflower
This member of the Araceae family of plants is native to Tropical America and Mexico.
Anthuriums became one of the most popular indoor plants for indoor gardeners thanks to their beautiful flowers.
In this article, we will delve into everything you need to know about properly caring for your anthuriums.
Anthurium Plant Care Tips
Anthuriums Care
Size and Growth
Flamingo Lily has an erect growth habit. The plant may grow about 2′ or 3′ feet high with a spread of 1′ or 2′ feet.
Some types may climb with adventitious aerial roots.
Flowering and Fragrance
Flamingo lilies are attractive tropical plants that produce bright and dramatic flower spathes in shades of green, white, yellow, golden, lavender, purple, burgundy, pink, and red.
The heart-shaped spathe presents an upright (sometimes corkscrew-shaped) spadix.
If allowed to go to seed, very toxic little berries develop all along the spadix in a rather corn-on-the-cob fashion.
Moreover, anthurium blooms will often last for 6 to 8 weeks, with a rest period in between of about 3 months.
Foliage
The plants sport glossy, leathery, and deep green leaves. Some varieties of Flamingo Lilies present heart-shaped leaves with veins in contrasting shades of yellow, pale green, or darker green.
Light and Temperature
Anthuriums thrive best in consistent warmth and ample bright, indirect light for six or more hours daily.
Alternatively, you can keep Anthurium in partial shade with direct sunlight for only 2 to 6 hours daily.
Larger varieties may even require a shady spot in a sunroom or greenhouse to thrive.
Too much direct light will leave your plant leaves with brown patches and bleached centers. However, low light conditions may cause anthuriums to cease producing blooms.
Flamingo flower plants are winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 11 and 12. They prefer warm temperatures or 65° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to maintain indoor temperatures for the best results.
In winter, Anthuriums also like temperatures no lower than 60° degrees Fahrenheit as they are sensitive to cold temperatures.
Investing in supplemental lighting or heating can also keep your anthurium plant happy.
Watering and Feeding
Use a soak-and-dry watering technique, watering deeply only when the soil surface is nearly dry to the touch. Don’t allow all of the soil to dry out completely. Keep the soil moist but never allow the plant to stand in water.
In the summer, it’s important to water your anthuriums frequently. However, reduce the water in the winter months,
Moreover, these plants do well with fairly low to moderate humid conditions for proper growth. So it’s best to mimic their natural environment by misting or using a humidifier during winter, especially when the air is dry.
You can also introduce a humidity tray or pebble tray to maintain a stable moist environment and ensure optimal healthy growth for your plant.
Feeding your anthurium plants regularly will also help rapid growth. You can also use a diluted liquid fertilizer with a high phosphorus content to increase and improve blooming. An NPK ratio of 11-35-15 is ideal.
Soil and Transplanting
These jungle plants do well in very loose, loamy, silty soil with excellent drainage. In the wild, they grow as epiphytes (like orchids), so a soilless or even an orchid mix with a bit of coarse sand or peat moss-based potting soil would be a good choice.
You can also combine equal parts of orchid bark, peat moss, and perlite for a more complex soil mix.
Repot when the plant’s roots have filled the pot or when aerial roots start growing out of the soil. Typically, this will be once every three or four years.
Remember to use a close-fitting pot when planting. This will prevent the soil’s sogginess, which can cause root decay.
Springtime is the best time to repot because your plant will be in an active growth phase.
Choose a pot that is a couple of inches larger in diameter than your plants’ current pot. Make certain it has ample drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. An orchid pot will do very well.
Terracotta pots will also do well because it’s made of porous material that will help excess water to evaporate.
When repotting your Anthurium, handle the roots gently. You may wish to allow your plant to soak in lukewarm water for a while to allow the roots to relax.
Prune away any dead or damaged roots using a very sharp, sterilized cutting implement.
Repot into a fresh, slightly moist potting medium. Be sure to get good soil-to-root contact, but don’t compress the soil excessively.
Give the plant a good watering, and place it in a sheltered, warm area with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
Grooming and Maintenance
Deadhead spent blooms and remove dead leaves to encourage more blooms.
Dust the leaves gently with a soft, damp cloth occasionally.
How To Propagate Anthuriums
When you repot your Flamingo Lily, you can divide the root ball from the mother plant into several sections to produce more plants. Just pot each section up separately.
It is also possible to propagate these plants from stem cuttings. To do this, you would prune a healthy 4″ stem section with a minimum of two sets of leaves.
If you can find a stem that has also started to grow an aerial root, your success is virtually assured.
Cuttings can be rooted in water or a fresh, damp orchid mix.
Anthuriums Main Pest Or Diseases
When well-cared-for, Flamingo lily is fairly pest and disease free. However, fungal diseases may develop if overwatered or kept in a setting that is too humid or provides too little light and air circulation.
One common disease that anthuriums may encounter is root rot, which may be indicated by yellowing foliage, brown spots on leaves, and soft stem. The reason why root rot occurs is due to poorly draining or soggy soil.
Weakened plants are also susceptible to common houseplant pests, such as scale, spider mites, white flies, and mealy bugs.
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
All parts of the Anthurium plant are highly toxic if ingested in large quantities. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause contact dermatitis, damage to eyes and mucous membranes, and gastric distress.
Keep Flamingo Lily plants out of the reach of kids, pets, and livestock. Wear gloves and eye protection, and wash up promptly and thoroughly after handling this plant.
Is the plant considered invasive?
Flamingo Lilies are slow-growing plants that are not listed as invasive in any setting.
Suggested Anthuriums Uses
Flamingo Lily is typically kept as a houseplant. It can make a nice outdoor patio or porch plant in a tropical setting or during the warmest months of the year in a cooler setting.
In USDA hardiness zones 11-12, Anthuriums are a nice addition to a shady landscape.