Anthurium, or flamingo flowers, is a gorgeous tropical plant that can be cultivated indoors. Anthurium plants are recognized for their stunning glimmering brilliant spathes and spadices. They are also known as the flamingo lily, painter’s palette, laceleaf, little boy plant, and tailflower. Anthuriums may bloom all year if they are treated properly, adding a touch of the tropics to your home. The glossy green heart-shaped leaves surround the brilliant red anthurium blossoms.
How to care for anthurium plants: Place your flamingo flower in bright, indirect sunlight and use an acidic, well-draining soilless potting mix to keep it healthy. When the top 1″ (2.5 cm) of soil is dry, water flamingo plants maintain humidity high and thrive between 60°F and 90°F (16°C – 32°C). From spring through the end of summer, feed the anthurium plant regularly.
The plant family Araceae contains anthurium plants, which are classed as aroids. They’re found in South and Central America’s rainforests. Their natural habitat is being replicated by the average household temperatures and humid conditions. The anthurium plant will reach a height of 12 to 28 inches (30 to 70 cm) if potted correctly. All you have to do is give this sluggish tropical houseplant the attention it requires to grow well indoors.
Anthurium Flower
Anthurium plants are often referred to as plants with red plastic-looking flowers, however the flamingo ‘flowers’ are really bracts. A modified leaf called a spathe or bract, the red heart-shaped flower is a modified leaf. The plant’s flower is not what most people think it is. The spathe’s base is adorned with a flame-shaped flower. A spadix is a tiny spike with a lot of little flowers that last for a long time.
Anthurium flowers are popular in cut flower arrangements because of their long-blooming period, which makes them one of the longest-lasting indoor cut flowers. Anthurium plants may bloom six times per year under ideal circumstances. The bloom should last for six to eight weeks, according to the flamingo flower. Mimicking your flamingo plant’s ideal growing conditions in the rain forest is the best way to encourage it to bloom.
Anthurium Species
Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum are the two most popular anthurium varieties grown as houseplants. The flowering spike (spadix) is straight, and the bract (modified leaf that appears like a flower) and foliage are heart-shaped. Red, pink, or orange bracts are available. Curled flower spike, ovoid red bract, and long leaves characterize the second kind.
The flowers of different anthurium species are variously shaped. Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum are the most common anthurium varieties, both having spiked-shaped flowers. Flowers on other types of anthurium resemble little globes or clubs.
Anthurium cultivars come in a variety of colors and shapes. The waxy red blossom with a yellow spadix is the most common. Purple, light pink, orange, white, and variegated flowers are among the other colors available. A black anthurium is one of the nicest-looking houseplants plants you can find.
The finest cultivation advice for growing anthurium plants indoors can be found in this article. You’ll discover how to grow the flamingo blossom quicker and deal with any issues that may arise.
How to Care for Anthurium (Flamingo Flower)
Tropical plants that flourish indoors are known as Anthurium plants. While they aren’t particularly picky about their circumstances, there are a few important principles that will ensure the plant thrives and blossoms often.
Light Requirements for Anthurium
Flamingo flower plants require moderate to bright light to thrive, as illustrated by Anthurium andraeanum with its straight flowering spike (spadix) and heart-shaped red bract and green leaves. To keep the plant’s glossy leaves protected from direct sunlight, the basic care requirement is to provide protection. Place your flamingo lily in a location that receives morning sunlight from an east-facing window. Don’t place it on a sunny windowsill facing south or west because it might be burnt.
Low-light plants such as Anthurium do not exist. They become leggy and straggly if the light isn’t sufficient. Anthurium growth slows down and fails to bloom throughout the year in low light as well. As a result, placing it in a bright location is the optimum method to speed up development and induce colorful flowers to bloom.
If you live in USDA zones 10 through 12, you may also grow anthurium flowers outdoors. They must be sown in an region of your yard that is partly shaded or has filtered indirect light, much as they would be indoors.
How to Water Anthurium (Flamingo Lily)
When growing flamingo plants indoors, proper watering is one of the most important care requirements. Only when the potting mix becomes mostly dry should you water anthuriums. Water the flamingo bloom more often in the summer than in the winter, generally. Root rot is caused by overwatering, which causes yellow leaves and a withered plant.
Give the potting compost a complete soaking when watering anthurium. Fill the pot with enough water to flow through the drainage holes. The roots are hydrated and nourished by being watered in this manner. Before returning the tropical flowering plant to a sunny spot, allow all of the water to drain.
How do you know when it’s time to water your lovely flamingo flower? To check for moisture, firmly press the potting medium. It’s time to hydrate your plant if the top 1″ to 2″ are completely dry. Wait a few days after the top part of the soil has dried out if there is still moisture in the soil.
You will probably water your anthurium every day or twice a week throughout the growing season, which runs from early spring until early fall. You’ll need to water the plant less often during the winter. Nevertheless, always allow the environment to dictate when to water your flamingo plant. When watering anthuriums or any other indoor plant, avoid making a common mistake and provide them with water on a regular basis.
Your anthurium plant may display symptoms of underwatering if you water it in this manner. Moisture doesn’t penetrate to the roots, therefore it isn’t absorbed. Water thoroughly and deeply before you water your tropical plant.
Watered issues and mold causing anthuriums to grow are commonly the source of other problems. When the soil has partially dried out, only water the flamingo plant as frequently as it needs it.
The Best Soil to Grow Flamingo Flowers
The bract, which looks like a crimson waxy plastic bloom, gives the oilcloth plant (Anthurium andraeanum) its name. Orchids (like orchids) favor rich, acidic soil with a large number of openings. You may make your own potting medium by combining peat moss, cactus blend, and coco coir.
Anthuriums are a kind of epiphytic plant with aerial roots. As a result, they can absorb nutrients and moisture through their roots without having to root in the soil. Anthuriums perform better in organically rich, coarse potting soil in milder climates. Heavy potting soil, which retains too much moisture and causes root rot and plant death, must be avoided.
Water should drain quickly through the potting mix to determine if the soil is at the right consistency. You should improve the growing medium if water is pooling on the soil surface.
To create potting soil suitable for laceleaf plants, ingredients to add include:
- Crushed charcoal
- Bark chipping
- Coarse sand
- Sphagnum moss
- Orchid bark
- Coco coir
Temperature Requirements to Grow Flamingo Flowers
painter’s palette plants, such as Anthurium scherzerianum (flamingo plant), can be pink, red, or orange in color. In warmer temperature, Anthuriums develop faster. The optimum temperature range is 70°F to 86°F (21°C to 32°C), even though these tropical plants thrive in temperatures above 60°F (15°C). Keep away from cold drafts or heated radiators since flamingo flowers prefer a consistent temperature.
If the weather is warm, you can bring potted flamingo plants outside during the summer. Place the plant in a location that stays above 60°F (15°C) but is partially shaded. Bring the plant back inside when nighttime temperatures fall below 50°F (10°C). Lower temperatures may impede development as well as kill the plant.
Make certain that the anthurium plants are in warm temperatures, bright indirect light, and have enough humidity if you want to encourage regular blooming. Beautiful red blooms will reward your care for these gorgeous plants.
Humidity Requirements for Anthuriums
High humidity levels of at least 80% are required for proper anthurium care. Flamingo flowers need at least 80% humidity to thrive. Daily misting of the leaves, using a humidifier, or placing the plant pot on a pebble tray, can all help to increase humidity. Plants thrive in humid conditions because they can absorb moisture.
Anthuriums may be difficult to grow indoors due to the generally dry household air. Heating systems, for example, tend to remove moisture from the air. A lack of air circulation may also have an impact on tropical houseplant growth. To meet the flamingo’s plants’ humidity requirements, here are a few simple solutions:
- Mist the leaves daily—Distilled or filtered water should be put in a spray bottle. Leave it alone until it reaches room temperature. Sprinkling a fine mist over the leaves of the plant
- Humidify with a pebble tray—In a deep tray, lay a layer of little pebbles or stones. Fill the tray halfway up with water until it reaches halfway up the stones. On the pebbles, place the flamingo plant pot.
- Use a room humidifier—A humidifier may help you create the perfect tropical indoor environment if you have a lot of tropical houseplants.
In a well-lit bathroom, you may also grow your flamingo lily. The anthurium is protected from the sun’s direct rays by frosted glass in bathrooms with windows. In addition, your flamingo plant thrives in a humid environment created by the steam from the shower.
How to Propagate Anthurium Plants
In the image, Anthurium scherzerianum is shown with a curled spike (spadix) and crimson bracts. You may help manage the size of an anthurium plant by propagating it, and you may also gift this gorgeous tropical plant. It’s a popular gift because of the red, heart-like waxy leaves, which signify love, romance, and dedication.
To propagate a flamingo plant by root division: Remove the plant from its pot and remove any excess soil with a gentle shake. Make sure that each of the root masses is divided into two or three portions, with at least two leaves on each. In new pots, replant.
Cut off one healthy stem with two or three leaves and plant it in a pot of fresh soil for propagation of flamingo plants by stem cuttings. Fill an appropriate potting mix into a three-quarters-full terracotta pot. Make a 3″ (7.5 cm) deep hole in the middle and plant the stem cutting. Make sure to thoroughly water the plant and place it in a high-humidity environment. The plant should be rooted after around four to six weeks.
When to Repot Flamingo Plants (Anthurium)
Repot anthurium plants every two to three years in the spring to prevent them from becoming rootbound. Your flamingo plant’s roots may spread more in a bigger pot than in a smaller one. You’ll have to repot flamingo plants if roots emerge from the bottom and water drains slower. You might also replenish the potting soil at the same time. Remove the anthurium plant from its present container and repot it. After you’ve removed the excess soil, carefully untangle the roots.
Make sure the roots are healthy by checking them for brown, mushy sections. Make sure the plant is growing at the same height in a new, slightly bigger pot. Firm the soil around the stems by pressing on it. Make sure to thoroughly water the plant. Always choose the next size up container as a rule of thumb.
To avoid the soil becoming waterlogged, the pot should include drainage holes. Repotting in a pot that is too big is a bad idea. You’ll have issues with rotting roots and fungal problems if you leave the extra soil to dry out.
How to Prune Flamingo Plants
To encourage faster development, anthurium plants need no additional trimming. When given the ideal circumstances, the plant grows slowly to medium. Prune flamingo blooms only when dead foliage needs to be eliminated and spent blooms need to be trimmed.
To avoid transferring any illness, always use sterilized pruning shears. By wiping the glossy, glimmering anthurium leaves down every now and then, you can also care for them. The waxy leaves will stay shiny longer and your plant will look better if you remove the dust.
Anthurium Fertilizer
To encourage faster growth rate and blooming, fertilize your anthurium plant every six to eight weeks with Anthuriums with red and white bracts. Fertilization should take place every six to eight weeks for flamango lilies. Flamingo plants benefit from high-phosphorus fertilizer the most. Throughout the growing season, this mineral helps promote consistent blooming. When watering the Anthurium plant, dilute the fertilizer to half strength and apply every other month.
From spring through the end of summer, feed the flamingo flower plant every couple of days. You may harm your plant if you fertilize it during the winter, since you may cause mineral build-up. Flush the soil twice or three times throughout the growing season to help prevent mineral buildup. For a few minutes, slowly pour water through the potting soil. When the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil has dried out, allow it to drain and then resume watering.
Pest and Diseases Affecting Anthurium
Mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids are the most common pests that affect flamingo flowers. These plant pests may suck the life out of your plant, killing it. Some kinds of insects and diseases may be avoided with the proper care. It’s crucial to react swiftly if you notice indications of houseplant pests.
Antherium plants, for example, may be infected with fungus and bacterial root diseases if they are overwatered. Mealybugs also prefer moist conditions. As a result, you may avoid certain pest and illness issues by watering just as often as required. In damp situations, fungus gnats and white mold are also prevalent.
Spider mites may be affected by underwatering as well. These are little bugs that build webs beneath plant leaves and on stems. Spider mites may be avoided by watering whenever the top layer of the soil is dry, yet the deeper layer is wet. Regular misting will also help prevent your plant from being killed by these pests.
Is Anthurium Poisonous?
Anthurium plants include insoluble calcium oxalates that are harmful to dogs and humans, so they’re almost black in color. Flamingo flowers are poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Drooling, vomiting, and oral cavity swelling are all indications of poisoning.
FAQ on Caring for Anthurium Plants
Do Anthuriums flower every year?
Persistent evergreen plants that bloom all year, flamingo plants are perennial. The plant thrives in ideal circumstances and blooms for six to seven weeks. You may have flowers that last from the winter through the middle of summer, if you get the growing conditions right indoors. When the flowers start to fade, gently trim the flower stalks.
How to get an Anthurium plant to bloom?
You’ll need to ensure that the conditions are right for the flamingo plant to bloom. These tropical plants won’t flower in low-light or chilly conditions, despite their ability to flourish under such circumstances.
You should water your anthurium plants properly, put them in the brightest location possible, maintain humidity at a high level, and administer a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to ensure that they keep producing flowers on a regular basis.You’ll be sure to get a variety of red waxy flowers throughout the year by doing this.
How big do Anthuriums grow?
Flamingo blossoms may grow to be 12” to 30” (30–76 cm) tall as an ornamental houseplant. Your indoor plant may grow to be 3 feet (90 cm) tall and bushy under ideal circumstances, with glossy green leaves.
How long do Anthurium plants live?
Flamingo plants will bloom year after year if you treat them well.
Why do anthurium plant leaves turn yellow?
Overwatering is the most prevalent reason for flamingo green waxy leaves to turn yellow. Check the soil for dampness if a few leaves have started to turn yellow. Don’t water the plant until at least 2″ (5 cm) of soil is dry if the top of the soil is excessively wet.