By: Heather Rhoades
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The anthurium plant is grown as a houseplant in cooler areas and as a landscaping plants in USDA zones 10 or higher. Proper care for anthurium is easy to do as long as you provide a few key elements for the plant. Keep reading to learn more about care of anthurium plants.
Basic Anthurium Care
Anthurium plants can tolerate all levels of indirect light, but anthuriums growing in low light will have fewer flowers and will grow slower. These plants cannot tolerate direct light, however, as this can burn the leaves. They grow best in bright, indirect light.
Anthurium care also requires that the soil be free draining but hold some water. If you are growing this plant as a houseplant, a half and half mix of potting soil and orchid soil or perlite will provide the kind of soil anthuriums prefer. Outdoors, plant in a well-drained location. Anthurium plants don’t like continually moist soil.
Make sure to water your anthurium plant regularly, but don’t overwater. Only water your anthurium when the soil is dry to the touch. The plant is susceptible to root rot, so too much water can cause the roots to die. If you allow the plant to become too dry in a pot, it will slow down its growth and the rootball will be difficult to re-wet. If the rootball becomes too dry in the pot, soak the pot the anthurium plant is in for an hour to rehydrate it.
Care of anthurium plants does not require too much fertilizer. The plant only needs to be fertilized with a one-quarter strength fertilizer once every three to four months. To get the best blooms, use a fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus number (the middle number).
Proper care for anthuriums is not hard. Once you have the plant in the right soil and the right location, watering is simple. An anthurium growing in your garden or home will reward you with wonderful, long lasting flowers.
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FAQs
How do you care for an indoor anthurium? ›
Grow your anthurium in a spot that gets plenty of bright, indirect light but no direct sunshine. Anthuriums do best in a warm room that's around 15-20°C, away from draughts and radiators. High humidity is best, so a bathroom or conservatory is ideal for them. Grouping plants together can help to raise humidity.
How do you keep anthuriums happy? ›The best spot for a happy plant
The minimum temperature for both the pot plant and cut flower is 16°C. Keep them away from draughts and don't place them close to a hot radiator. Anthuriums really prefer high humidity, so for example in the bathroom is where they feel most at home.
Your Anthurium loves a humid environment. Mist frequently or use a pebble tray or humidifier during the winter months when the air is dry. Your Anthurium prefers average to warm temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid temperatures below 60°F and avoid placing your plant near heating and air conditioning vents or fans.
How often do you water an anthurium? ›Let the soil dry out in between watering. If you live in a hot area, water about once every 2 to 3 days; if you live in a rainy area, then water as necessary. Most importantly, the anthurium requires proper drainage. Anthurium roots should be moist but not soggy.
Where is the best place to put an anthurium? ›The anthurium loves to be placed in a light spot, but not in direct sunlight. Because when the plant is positioned in direct sunlight, its leaves can get burned. The anthurium is a warmth-lover, so be careful not to place it in a dark place because in there it will give fewer flowers.
Should I Bottom water my anthurium? ›The watering method we prefer is bottom watering - it's more homogeneous, less prone to overwatering, and won't drain nutrients out. Place the plant in a drip tray about 2cm (3⁄4in) deep, and fill the tray up. Leave the plant there for 20 minutes – eventually, the water will be drawn up into the dry root ball.
Do you water anthurium with ice cubes? ›Your anthurium will do best when the soil has a chance to dry out in between waterings. Too much or too frequent watering can lead to root rot, which could severely affect the long-term health of your plant. For best results, water your anthurium with just six ice cubes or a half cup of water once a week.
Do anthuriums like to be misted? ›Humidity: Anthuriums need higher levels, you can lightly mist it's leaves daily but avoid water drops on the flowers. You can mist also aerial roots when they are there. An tray with stones and water "pebble stone tray" is also very good source for humidity, even better than misting.
Do anthuriums like to be in the bathroom? ›> Anthuriums love warm, humid air, making them ideal bathroom plants. They offer rich green foliage and colorful heart-shaped flowers throughout the year. One fun fact about most blooming anthurium varieties is that the flowers last longer -- more than a month -- when there's abundant moisture in the air.
Should I cut off Brown anthurium leaves? ›Anthurium pruning
Start by removing any discolored or dead leaves. Then remove wilted flowers, by snipping off their stem at the base of the plant. This way the plant won't invest its energy in the wilted flowers any longer, and will be able grow new beautiful flowers instead.
Why do the tips of anthurium leaves turn brown? ›
Nutrient deficiency
Anthuriums need nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to thrive, and brown leaves may signal your plant isn't getting enough of the nutrients it needs.
Your pink anthurium will grow best with lots of bright, indirect light. Make sure it doesn't receive direct sun, which can burn the leaves. Ideal temperatures for this plant are between 65 and 85 degrees. Choose a spot for your pink anthurium that's away from cold drafts and heat or air conditioning vents.
What does an overwatered anthurium look like? ›The symptoms look a lot like the early signs of overwatering: sluggish growth, wilting, and yellowing or browning leaves. The easiest way to tell the two issues apart is by checking the pot.
Can I spray water on a anthurium plant? ›Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
Anthurium do best in a humid environment. Therefore, you need to water evenly and spray with luke warm water. This will vary depending on your specific conditions. In an area that has a hot dry climate, you may need to mist your anthurium every day and water every couple of days.
Potting. Pot size depends on the growing time, irrigation system and cultivar. In general, anthurium roots better in a low, plastic pot that drains well. The most-used pot sizes are 5, 7 and 8 inches.
Is it OK to touch anthurium? ›They can also cause swelling of the airway, making it hard to breathe. Keep Anthuriums away from pets and small children and avoid any of its sap to touch skin!
What time of year does anthurium bloom? ›The Anthurium can flower throughout the year, but generally flowers for about three months. After three months, its cycle starts again. In the winter the plant generally has fewer flowers, but once the sun shines more, the Anthurium wakens from its hibernation and it will flower more.
How long can anthuriums go without water? ›With Anthuriums you don't have to worry about that. They rather have too little then too much water, so they'll easily survive one week without water.
How long do anthurium plants live? ›What is the lifespan of an Anthurium plant? With proper care, an Anthurium can live for at least five years or more. However, you can keep an Anthurium around indefinitely by dividing mature plants or propagating new plants from stem cuttings every few years.
When should I repot my anthurium? ›Anthuriums should be repotted every two to three years, or once they've outgrown their current pot. When your anthurium has grown to 20 inches tall in a pot with a five-inch diameter, it's time to graduate it to a new pot.
Do anthurium plants like to be misted? ›
Humidity: Anthuriums need higher levels, you can lightly mist it's leaves daily but avoid water drops on the flowers. You can mist also aerial roots when they are there.
Should you mist anthurium? ›You can mimic a tropical, rainforest environment by misting your anthurium plant every few days. Spray evenly and keep it moist, but not soggy. Just remember that misting does not replace watering your plant.
Is anthurium good inside the house? ›Anthurium is an undemanding houseplant that prefers bright, indirect light. Anthurium is an undemanding houseplant that prefers bright, indirect light. Caring for anthurium is easy — this is an undemanding houseplant that thrives in indoor conditions.
What causes brown tips on anthurium? ›Anthuriums grow best when subjected to indirect sunlight. Too much exposure can cause sunburn on the leaves. You'll know if this is a problem if all of the leaves turn yellow and brown at once. Solution: Move your plant to a less sunny spot of your home or block out some of the light with a translucent curtain.
What does an Underwatered anthurium look like? ›Droopy leaves with browning leaf tips and shrivelling aerial roots are signs of an underwatered plant. Anthurium loves a humid environment, so you can mist every day.
How do I know if my anthurium needs water? ›The best way to tell if your Anthurium needs a drink is to keep a close eye on the vessel you're serving it from: the soil. About once a week, poke your finger a short depth into your Anthurium's potting mix. If it feels dry and crumbly, it's time to water. If it feels damp, give it another day or two and check again.
How long can Anthuriums go without water? ›With Anthuriums you don't have to worry about that. They rather have too little then too much water, so they'll easily survive one week without water.
How do I make my anthurium grow more leaves? ›If your Anthurium hasn't produced any new flowers for a while, there are a few steps you can take to remedy this. Give you plant a location where it receives more light, water it no more than once a week, and try giving it a little Anthurium fertiliser.
How do I know if my anthurium is dying? ›Both too frequent and too infrequent watering can cause anthuriums to lose their flowers. Watering too frequently can cause root rot and kill your plant altogether. If your plant's leaves are turning brown or wilting along with losing flowers, you need to make some quick course corrections in your plant care routine.
Do anthuriums need deep pots? ›Potting. Pot size depends on the growing time, irrigation system and cultivar. In general, anthurium roots better in a low, plastic pot that drains well. The most-used pot sizes are 5, 7 and 8 inches.
Do anthuriums like bathrooms? ›
> Anthuriums love warm, humid air, making them ideal bathroom plants. They offer rich green foliage and colorful heart-shaped flowers throughout the year. One fun fact about most blooming anthurium varieties is that the flowers last longer -- more than a month -- when there's abundant moisture in the air.