Anthurium Care
The “flowers” of the Anthurium are some of the longest-lasting on earth, which means that dazzling color will last in your home for months. The Anthurium symbolizes hospitality with its open heart-shaped flower and inspires happiness and abundance.
How to care for your Anthurium
- LIGHT
Your Anthurium prefers bright indirect light, but can adapt to low light. The more light the plant receives, the more it will grow. It cannot tolerate extended periods of direct sunlight.
- WATER
Water your Anthurium when 50% of the soil volume is dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer. Overwatering causes yellow leaf tips and underwatering causes brown leaf tips.
- HUMIDITY
Your Anthurium loves a humid environment. Mist frequently or use a pebble tray or humidifier during the winter months when the air is dry.
- TEMPERATURE
Your Anthurium prefers average to warm temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid temperatures below 60°F. Keep your plant away from drafty areas and open vents.
- FOOD
Feed every month in the spring and summer with a fertilizer high in nitrogen or one formulated for Anthurium plants. Dilute the fertilizer to half the recommended strength, and be sure to only apply fertilizer to damp soil.
- TOXICITY
This plant is considered toxic to pets and humans if ingested.
- ADDITIONAL CARE
Prune spent flowers as they appear. If you notice your Anthurium hasn’t bloomed during the growing season, it may need more light. Give your Anthurium a six-week rest during the winter. Lower temperatures, less light, and drier soil during this time will help your plant produce more flowers in the spring and summer.
Common Issues for your Anthurium
Natural Aging
Had your plant for a while? The leaves could just be experiencing natural aging! Old growth, particularly near the bottom of the plant, will naturally fade and drop to provide energy to newer growth. When leaves or flowers are wilting or turning yellow or brown, cut them off with sharp shears to ensure the plant devotes more energy to retaining its healthy growth.
Too Much Light
The more light the plant receives, the more flowers your plant will produce – but direct sunlight will cause your leaves to burn. The good news is that the damage is pretty cosmetic and should not harm the plant in the long run. Keep the plant away from direct light and instead in a spot with bright indirect light.
Nutrient Deficiency
It might be that your anthurium is not getting enough nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium after it has been depleted from the potting soil. If your plant is actively growing or it is spring or summer, we suggest using a controlled-release fertilizer, at only half the recommended amount on the label.
Watering Too Frequently
Tropical plants like anthurium are highly susceptible to root rot if consistently watered too frequently. Water your Anthurium well and then allow 25-50% of the soil volume to dry out before watering again.
If your plant’s health is deteriorating rapidly, you’ll want to pull your plant out of the pot to check for root rot. If the roots are black or slimy, the only way to help your plant recover is to trim back the rot and repot your anthurium in fresh soil. You should be using a well-draining fresh potting soil.
Here are some steps to repot your plant:
- Gently lift your anthurium out of its pot and discard as much old soil from the root ball as possible.
- Take sharp shears and cut off any dead or mushy-looking roots, sterilizing the shears with rubbing alcohol between each snip.
- Rinse the pot out with hot soapy water then fill the pot one-third of the way with new potting mix.
- Place your anthurium in the new pot, fill the pot with the remaining potting mix, and tamp it down.
- Water the plant thoroughly till the water drains out the bottom, then let it rest.
Natural Life Cycle
The good news is, it’s likely that this plant is just losing its blooms as a part of its natural life cycle! A well-tended anthurium blooms all year round in approximately 3-month intervals, so your plant could be in-between blooms. However, this tropical plant can also be temperamental if not tended properly, and if your plant’s flowers and leaves are fading or wilting you may need to make some changes.
To encourage healthy growth, cut them off any wilting or browning flowers with sharp shears to ensure the plant devotes more energy to retaining its healthy flowers. If your plant’s health continues deteriorating, here are some of the common reasons why your anthurium is losing flowers, and how to help it recover.
Overwatering or Underwatering
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.
Water your Anthurium well and then allow 50-75% of the soil volume to dry out before watering again. Always water thoroughly until you see water drip through the drainage hole and into the saucer, then discard that excess water after a few minutes.
Cold Damage
Anthurium plants are tropical flower plants and require warm temperatures to thrive. While indoor plants are usually kept warm enough, cold damage can occur due to overzealous AC units or during winter. Your Anthurium prefers temperatures between 65-80°F during the day and no cooler than 60°F at night. Air circulation can help your plant, but avoid placing it near heating and air conditioning vents and fans.
Improper Light Conditions
The more light the plant receives, the more flowers your plant will produce – but too much sunlight will cause the flowers to die off. Keep the plant away from direct light and instead in a spot with bright indirect light.
Improper Humidity
Your Anthurium loves a humid environment, so misting daily can help your plant recover. Use a pebble tray or a humidifier during the winter months when the air tends to be much drier.