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Your Guide To: Anthurium

Everything you need to know to care for this bold and blooming houseplant.

Recognizable to many by their exotic blooms, which can last for months and also give them the nickname flamingo flower, anthuriums bring bold color and energy into your space.

Once you get a sense for your anthurium's water and light needs, it's as enjoyable as an easy-going house guest, bringing plenty of personality without needing much care.


How to Keep an Anthurium Happy

Hailing from the tropics, your anthurium will be happiest in a similarly warm and humid space.

How Much Lighting Does an Anthurium Need?

Anthurium plants thrive in bright, indirect light. Low light will work too, though your plant will grow slower and produce fewer flowers.

Avoid direct light from sunny windows, which can burn and damage leaves.

If your anthurium doesn’t seem to be getting enough light, you can add a fluorescent lamp or even a grow light to its environment to help.

How Do I Know When To Water My Anthurium?

When the top 1 to 2 inches of soil in your anthurium is dry, give it a thorough watering. During spring and summer, this may mean watering every other week. Waterless often in the winter to give your plant a rest.

Don’t let your anthurium dry out completely. Stick your finger in the soil to test. If the top one to two inches of soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to water. If you’d rather take the guesswork (and your finger) out of it, use a plant moisture indicator from our shop.

To water, use a small container or watering can to pour water out slowly, directly onto the soil, moving in a clockwise motion to evenly water the plant’s roots. Anthurium plants do best in pots with trays or saucers so you can dump extra water and avoid root rot.

How Do I Use Plant Food for My Anthurium?

Plant food is an important part of fostering healthy growth and new leaves as your plant settles into its new digs. Be sure to follow the directions on the package based on the size of your plant and time of year. In fall and winter your plant will grow more slowly, so you don't need to feed it as often. Yes, even though your plant lives inside, it still experiences the seasons.

What Is an Anthurium's Ideal Environment?

Anthurium plants really like humidity, but they will do fine in most home environments. Misting your anthurium a few times a week is beneficial. Running a humidifier in the same room is another way to make this tropical plant happy.

For the best growth, keep it in a room that is warm all year, with a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees. Do keep it away from heating and cooling vents and far enough from windows that its leaves won’t touch cold glass.

How Do I Prune and Maintain My Anthurium?

Your Greendigs anthurium is fairly low-maintenance. You may want to trim the occasional yellow leaf or spent flower with a pair of pruning shears. Any healthy leaves you prune could be used for propagation.

While your anthurium will always provide you with stunning foliage, it needs the right conditions — a spot that is consistently 70-85 degrees with bright indirect sunlight and high humidity — in order to flower again.

Each time you water your anthurium, rotate the container a quarter turn. This way you'll make sure it gets the same amount of light on all sides. Our plant trivet set makes this easy and stylish, too.


How to Address Common Anthurium Issues

  • Brown leaves or tips may mean it's getting too much or not enough water. Touching the soil should tell you which.
  • Yellowish leaves may mean it's getting too much sun.


What to Do If You Still Have Questions?

If your anthurium doesn’t seem to feel at home in your space, we’re here to help. Chat live with a Greendigs representative on our website or shoot us an email at [email protected].