The Anthurium
AKA Laceleaf Anthurium
AKA Flamingo Flower
With bright, long-lasting “flowers” that bloom from large, heart-shaped foliage, it’s no wonder that the Anthurium is a popular houseplant to bring a splash of color and vibrancy to any surface it adorns. Read on for simple tips on how to care for this gorgeous flowering plant, a plant with many names and varieties and also commonly known as flamingo flower, laceleaf, queen of spades, and king of hearts anthurium.
How much light do Anthuriums need?
Anthuriums prefer bright indirect light, but they can also tolerate medium levels of light. Brighter light will produce more and larger flowers. Avoid harsh direct sunlight.
How to water your Anthurium
Water your plant about once a week when the top inch of soil feels dry. This plant can be resistant to the occasional drought.
How fast do Anthuriums grow?
This plant is a slow to moderate grower; more light will promote faster growth. Anthuriums do not need a lot of fertilizer. Fertilize your plant once a month in the spring and summer, using 1/2 the recommended dose.
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Common problems with the Anthurium
No or very few new flowers
First of all, did you know the “flowers” on the Anthurium are not actually flowers? In fact, they are “spathes”, which is a type of modified leaf that surrounds a spike of miniature flowers. So your plant does have flowers, but what appears to be a big petal is actually a leaf! When plants with spathes show little “flowering”, it is usually attributed to the plant not getting enough light. Try placing your plant in a brighter area and it should produce more flowers. If you’ve found your plant showing no flowers for months, read below for an easy trick to promote a new cycle of flowers for your plant.
Small or misshapen flowers
While Anthuriums will slow flower growth in low light, small flowers can ironically be caused by too much light. This plant will sometimes also show small or deformed flowers when they are consistently not getting enough water. Be sure to follow a regular watering routine, and give your plant a drink when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Yellow or brown leaves
The most common cause of yellow or brown leaves on Anthuriums is improper watering, and specifically, overwatering. Excessive light may also cause your plant to develop yellow leaves. Simply remove the yellow stems with sharp, clean scissors, and adjust either light levels or watering routine.
How to maintain a beautiful and healthy Anthurium
Take care of your Anthurium and it will take care of you! Below are simple tips to continue caring for and growing your plant over time.
Pruning - remove old, unattractive or damaged leaves from the base of the plant; if they don’t come out easily with a tug, cut them off with a clean blade. Regularly remove spent flowers as well, so that the plant can focus its energy on producing new ones.
Trimming - if there is just a small portion of a leaf that was damaged such as the edges or tips, trim off any discoloration or blemishes by following the natural lines and shape of the leaf.
Cleaning - regularly mist your Anthurium to keep it clean. If a lot of dust has accumulated on its large leaves, use a damp cloth to wipe each one clean.
How to grow and repot the Anthurium
Growing - Anthuriums are slow to moderate growers that do not need a lot of fertilizer to thrive. During spring and summer, fertilize once a month, using about half the recommended dose.
Repotting - Léon & George Anthuriums come in 4” or 6” grow pots and only need to be repotted every few years and only if the plant is unhappy (i.e. has been overwatered) or to refresh the soil and give it new nutrients. If you’d like your plant to grow larger, find a new grow pot that is 2” larger than its current pot. If you’re happy with the current size, you can reuse the same pot and simply change the soil.
Getting your hands dirty with or without a yard - spread out newspaper on the floor, remove the plant from the pot and shake off as much of the old soil as possible so that you have clean roots. At the bottom of the grow pot, and a layer of soil, then place the plant in the center of the pot and cover with new soil. Pat down firmly and water thoroughly. Place the plant in an area with bright indirect light. Your plant will take 2-4 weeks to settle from the shock and adjust to its new home.
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How to promote flowering on your Anthurium
With the right light, water, and love, Anthuriums will produce flowers all year round. However, generally there are cycles of flowering, where the plant will produce flowers for a few months, and then take a rest for another few months. Because the flowers last so long, it’s possible you will “have” flowers at all times.
However, if you notice your plant is not producing new flowers, here are simple steps to encourage that it does:
Make sure your plant is in a bright area with plenty of indirect light and receiving adequate water.
In the late winter or early spring, slow your watering routine and water sparingly or less than you normally would for 6-8 weeks.
After this period, return to your regular watering routine and begin fertilizing. You should see new growth over the following weeks and months, followed by flowers!
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How to propagate the Anthurium
There are a few different ways to propagate an Anthurium. You can either divide your Anthurium, or, more easily and without getting your hands too dirty, take cuttings and propagate in water:
Select a stem to propagate - Find a stem with at least two nodes (the part of a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge). Using a clean blade, cut the stem at the base.
Place in water - Find a clear glass and fill with water. Make sure only the stem is submerged, and no leaves or flowers are sitting in the water.
Place in a bright area and wait! - Avoid any direct sun. It usually takes just a week or so for roots to start growing.
Transfer to soil - After 3-4 weeks, transfer to indoor potting soil. A small pot is best — no larger than 4-6” in diameter.
Keep hydrated - During the first few weeks, or until your plant feels firmly rooted in its soil, regularly water and drain your new Anthurium. The soil should be just barely moist to the touch at all times until the plant is thoroughly rooted in the soil, at which point you can water every time the top inch of soil feels dry, generally about once a week.
Queen of Spades Anthurium
A beautiful, long-lasting alternative to the traditional bouquet, with spade-like foliage and plentiful white blooms year round.