Anthurium Care Indoors

Anthurium care indoors begins with a little understanding of this lovely plant’s background, including its likes and dislikes.

Anthurium is a genus of around thousand flowering plant species and part of the arum family Araceae.

This genus is also known as flamingo flower, tailflower or laceleaf.

Even though it’s native to the Americas, it’s distributed worldwide.

Same as other aroids like the Peace Lily, a lot of anthuriums make great houseplants or outdoor plants in areas with milder climates and more shade than direct sun exposure.

It’s a wonderful indoor plant characterized by bright spathes and ornamental leaves with attractive colors. The stem may grow up to 15-20 inches, depending on the spathes’ size- the bigger they are, the longer the stem is.

Caring for an anthurium indoors isn’t difficult. You just need the proper soil, a suitable area, and balanced watering.

This plant is a good choice for cooler areas. They’re known to tolerate indirect light well and grow faster and more abundantly.

Therefore, if you have a bright area in your home or office which isn’t directly exposed to sunlight, it can be the ideal place for this decorative plant.

Your anthurium will thrive in warmth and in a place with a temperature between 68 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing it in areas with temperatures lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Like phalaenopsis or moth orchids, this plant enjoys higher levels of humidity, which make them a great option for bathrooms. Being low maintenance and blooming for months, it’s great for newbie plant owners.

Interesting fact: Because of their heart-like shape spathes, they’re a well-known hostess or hospitality gift.

How to Care for Anthurium Indoors

Light

For optimal growth of your anthurium, make sure you set it in a warm and light area.

The lighter the area it’s placed in, the higher the number of spathes will be. But, never expose it to direct sunlight because it can burn the leaves.

In the wintertime, the plant can handle the less light well. This is because it’s dormant during this period.

If the plant doesn’t get the needed light, the number of growing flowers will drop. In this case, led grow lights may be a worthwhile investment.

Temperature

If you decide to place an anthurium in your home or office, it requires a balanced temperature-not too cold and not too hot.

Choose an area with a temperature range between 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s good to know that it will thrive best when the indoor temperature during the night is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Perfection!

In the spring and summer period, if you place it outdoors to give it a break from the high temperatures, don’t forget to bring it back inside if the temperatures at night go much lower than 60 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Water & Humidity

With anthuriums, it’s important to allow the top inch of the soil to dry before you water it. You can check the dryness with your finger-stick it into the potting mix around an inch to check how it feels.

You also need a proper drainage system. Make sure you pour in water until it starts to run from the holes.

In the growing period from March to September, water it per week or so. In the winter, when the growth period ceases, you can water it around every two weeks.

Avoid pouring too much water or leave it in standing water. This can cause the root to rot and kill the plant.

Since they’re native to warm and humid tropical Ecuador and Colombia, it’s natural that they need a humid surrounding indoors.

The preferred level of humidity is around 80 percent. To increase humidity, mist your plant with room temperature water every several days.

You can also use a humidifier or a humidity tray. Don’t place your anthurium near a heating system or a vent producing dry and hot air.

Anthurium Soil

The soil for anthurium should be coarse, properly-drained, and fertile, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

You can make your own soil easily-mix equal amounts of pine bark, peat, and perlite. Or, purchase a commercial mix. An orchid mix also works well.

Avoid using potting soil as it is quite heavy and will keep too much moisture.

Feeding

Anthuriums don’t need excessive amounts of fertilizer. Fertilize them with a one-quarter strength fertilizer once every 3 to 4 months.

Choose a fertilizer with a high level of phosphorus to ensure beautiful blooms.

Anthurium Repotting 

An anthurium requires repotting around every two to three years when it outgrows its current pot.

You can notice it’s time for repotting when the roots become visible at the bottom drain holes or they’re wrapping in a circular direction.

To repot it, you need a slightly bigger pot than the current one.

Avoid using overly big ones because this will retain water and increase the chances of root rotting.

Fill a quarter of the new container with soil and then gently remove the anthurium from the pot. Cut any roots that are visible out of the holes if it’s necessary.

You need to be able to pull out the plant without having to use too much force.

Put it into the new pot and add more soil.

Firm it up around the base and water it.

How to Propagate Anthurium

Propagating your anthurium is easy-you just need to take a cutting from it. Cut with pruning shears. Cut a stem that’s at least 6-inches long and with 2 to 3 sets of leaves.

Then, make a hole in the center of well-drained soil in a proper pot with drainage system. Stick the cut end of the cutting all the way down and fill up the hole with soil.

Water it and place it in a suitable area. Best done in spring if possible.

Best Anthurium Species

Anthurium magnificum & crystallinum

This hybrid of two great species features beautiful and wide heart-shaped velvety leaves and bright white venation.

New leaves often appear in a bright red color. 

The ace of spades anthurium

This species has amazing dark purple-green leaves that may be nearly black and lighter green veins. It’s definitely mysterious and lovely in the same time.

Anthurium superbum

This type of anthurium grows in a dense rosette and its leaves are amazingly rounded and upright.

Other Tips

To help increase the plant’s energy for new growth, always remove dying or fading flowers.

Make sure you give your anthurium a 6-week rest in the winter. A lower temperature, a lower light, and a drier soil help them produce more flowers in spring and summer.

Ingestion of this plant is toxic both to humans and animals! The symptoms are skin and mouth irritation, stomach ache, and vomiting.

Trouble Shooting- Common Issues

Problem: Brown or yellow leaves

Cause: Sunburn (direct exposure to sunlight)

Solution: Change the location of the anthurium-put it in a light area, but one that’s not directly exposed to sun rays.

Or, block out some of the light coming in with a translucent curtain.

Problem: Mushy & blackened roots/root rot & fungal issues

Cause: Inadequate watering

Solution: Repotting your anthurium is the most viable solution. Make sure you also thoroughly eliminate the ill parts of the plant.

After the repotting, water it properly.

Problem: Pests

Cause: Warmer weather & poor plant condition

Solution: Regularly spray the plant using a mister with short and sharp water blasts.

This will dislodge the pests and drown them. The more stubborn ones may require horticultural soap or oil sprays-they’re natural and won’t harm your anthurium.

I hope you have found this article on anthurium care indoors helpful

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