GreenlyHow to grow Anthurium
Anthurium andraeanum · Flamingo flower, Laceleaf, Tailflower
A compact tropical houseplant, usually about 30 cm tall, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and waxy red, pink or white spathes around an upright spike; the spathes appear through the year and last for weeks.
Quick facts
| Type | Houseplant |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Light | Partial shade |
| Frost | does not tolerate frost |
| Soil for sowing | from 18 °C |
| Where it grows | At home |
When to plant
Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.
Care
At home
| Stage | Watering | Temperature | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | every 6 days | 18…30 °C | balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 74 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 134 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 194 days into the stage |
| Winter rest | every 12 days | 18…30 °C | — |
Growing notes
Light
Bright, indirect light, such as an east- or west-facing window, or a south-facing one behind a net curtain. Direct summer sun scorches the leaves.
Soil
Open, free-draining acidic mix, such as two parts ericaceous compost, one part perlite and one part orchid bark. Move it on only one pot size at a time, as an oversized pot stays wet.
Care
Water with rainwater or filtered water at room temperature once the compost about 5 cm down is almost dry; compost kept too wet rots the roots. Keep it at 18–30 °C all year, away from cold draughts and radiators, and raise humidity by misting or a tray of moist gravel; dry air browns the leaf edges. Feed from April to October with an orchid-type fertiliser. Repot every two to three years. All parts are toxic to people and pets (calcium oxalate crystals), and the sap irritates skin.
Pests and diseases of Anthurium
Sources
Figures checked against these sources.