Anthurium Anthurium andraeanum

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

The flamingo flower — a glossy tropical prized for its lacquered, heart-shaped spathes in red, pink, or white, each punctuated by a tail-like spadix. Given bright indirect light and steady warmth, a healthy Anthurium can bloom almost year-round indoors.

Light

Anthurium blooms best in bright, indirect light — a spot near an east window, or set back from a brighter south or west window behind a sheer curtain. Plenty of gentle light is what fuels those colorful spathes; in dim corners the plant survives but stops flowering and pushes out only leaves. Direct midday sun through glass scorches the broad foliage, leaving bleached or crispy patches, so filter anything harsh. If your Anthurium has gone months without a bloom, more bright indirect light is usually the first fix.

Watering

Water when the top inch or so of mix has dried, then soak thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes and tip out the saucer. In a warm home that's often every 5–7 days in spring and summer and every 10–14 in winter, but read the mix rather than the calendar. Anthurium roots are fleshy and resent staying wet — soggy soil is the quickest route to root rot. Yet it also dislikes drying out completely, which browns the leaf edges. Aim for evenly, lightly moist and never waterlogged.

Soil & potting

Anthurium is a semi-epiphyte, so it craves an open, chunky aroid mix that drains fast and keeps air around the roots. Combine standard potting mix with generous orchid bark and perlite, plus a little coco coir to hold gentle moisture. A pure potting soil packs down and suffocates the roots. Always use a pot with drainage holes. Repot every 2–3 years in spring, moving up just one size, and bury the crown no deeper than it sat before — set too low, the base rots.

Humidity & temperature

Humidity is where most indoor Anthuriums struggle. Coming from steamy rainforests, they want 60% or higher; below about 50% leaf edges brown and blooms come less freely. Group plants, use a pebble tray, or — most reliably — run a small humidifier, especially in dry winter rooms. Keep temperatures between 65–80°F and steady; growth stalls below 60°F and cold damage appears under about 50°F. Shield it from cold drafts, air conditioning blasts, and hot heating vents.

Fertilizing

Anthurium is a light feeder that responds well to phosphorus for blooming. Use a balanced or bloom-leaning liquid fertilizer diluted to a quarter or half strength every 4–6 weeks through spring and summer. Skip feeding in fall and winter while growth slows. Over-fertilizing shows as brown, burnt leaf tips and a crusty white crust on the mix — if you see it, flush the pot thoroughly with plain water and ease off the feeding.

Pruning & maintenance

Pruning is minimal. Snip spent blooms and yellowed or damaged leaves at the base with clean, sharp snips to keep the plant tidy and redirect energy into fresh growth. Wipe the glossy leaves occasionally with a damp cloth so they can breathe and photosynthesize. Wear gloves or wash your hands afterward — the sap carries calcium oxalate crystals that irritate skin. Remove any faded spathes promptly so the plant invests in new flowers rather than seed.

Propagation

Easiest by division at repotting time. Slide the plant from its pot and gently tease apart a clump that has its own roots and a few leaves, then pot each division into fresh airy mix. You can also remove rooted offsets that appear at the base. Stem cuttings with an aerial root work too — root them in moist sphagnum. Keep new divisions warm, humid, and lightly moist while they establish over the following weeks.

Common problems

Brown leaf tips and edgesAlmost always low humidity, dry soil, or fertilizer build-up.→No flowers (won't bloom)Usually too little light, or a feeding and humidity gap.→

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Through the year

Spring

Growth and blooming resume — restart regular watering and light feeding, and divide or repot now if the plant is crowded.

Summer

Peak season. Keep the mix lightly moist, feed every few weeks, hold humidity high, and enjoy the strongest flush of spathes.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch the time between waterings and stop fertilizing as light levels drop.

Winter

Near-dormant. Water sparingly, skip fertilizer, keep humidity up against dry heat, and keep it away from cold glass and vents.

Recommended supplies for Anthurium

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