Anthurium

How to care for Anthurium

Light

Anthurium andraeanum thrives in bright, indirect light, such as that found a metre or so back from an east- or west-facing window. Direct summer sun will scorch the leaves and bleach the spathes, while deep shade suppresses flowering and causes the plant to produce only foliage. A north-facing windowsill is generally too dim unless supplemented with a grow light during winter months.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top 2-3 cm of compost has dried out, then allow excess to drain freely. Anthuriums are susceptible to root rot if left sitting in waterlogged compost, so always empty saucers after 30 minutes. Reduce watering frequency in autumn and winter, when growth slows, but never allow the root ball to dry out completely.

Soil and potting

A loose, well-aerated mix is essential. A blend of two parts perlite or orchid bark to one part peat-free compost works well, as it replicates the plant's epiphytic origins in the wild. Standard houseplant compost used alone is typically too dense and retentive for long-term health.

Feeding

Feed every four to six weeks from spring to early autumn using a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength, or use a fertiliser with a slightly higher phosphorus content to encourage flowering. Avoid feeding in winter when the plant is resting. Over-fertilising, particularly with excess nitrogen, promotes lush foliage at the expense of blooms and can cause salt build-up that damages roots.

Humidity and temperature

As a tropical species, Anthurium andraeanum prefers temperatures between 18 and 28°C and humidity levels of 60-80%. It will tolerate the drier air of a typical UK home, but growth and flowering are markedly improved when humidity is raised by using a pebble tray filled with water, grouping plants together, or running a room humidifier. Temperatures below 15°C cause chilling stress, while cold draughts and proximity to radiators should both be avoided.

Repotting

Repot every two to three years, or when roots visibly circle the base of the pot or emerge from drainage holes. Choose a pot only one size larger, as too large a container encourages waterlogging. Spring is the best time to repot. Anthurium roots are fleshy and relatively fragile, so handle them gently and use fresh aroid compost to restore drainage and nutrient levels.

Pruning

Pruning requirements are minimal. Remove spent spathes and yellowing leaves at the base using clean, sharp scissors or secateurs. Cutting away old blooms once the spadix has finished producing flowers keeps the plant looking tidy and may encourage new flower development. Always wear gloves when handling the plant, as the sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that irritate skin.

Is Anthurium toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Division

When repotting a mature plant, carefully separate offsets or side shoots that have developed their own roots from the parent plant. Pot each division individually into fresh aroid compost and keep warm and humid until established.

Stem cuttings

Take a cutting with at least two nodes and one aerial root, allow the cut end to callous for an hour, then pot into moist perlite or sphagnum moss. Maintain high humidity and temperatures around 22-25°C until roots develop, typically within four to eight weeks.

Seed

Seeds must be sown fresh, as viability declines rapidly. Press seeds onto the surface of moist sphagnum moss or a fine seed compost, maintain temperatures above 22°C, and keep consistently moist under cover. Germination is slow and seedlings take several years to reach flowering size, making this method impractical for most home growers.

Where Anthurium comes from

Native to Colombia, Ecuador. Now naturalised or cultivated in 3 other regions worldwide.

Story and origins

The genus name Anthurium derives from the Greek words 'anthos', meaning flower, and 'oura', meaning tail, referring to the characteristic tail-like spadix that protrudes from the spathe. The species epithet 'andraeanum' honours Edouard Andre, a French botanist and landscape architect who collected specimens in Colombia during the 1870s and is credited with introducing the species to European horticulture.

Anthurium andraeanum was formally described by the Belgian botanist Jean Jules Linden in 1876, based on material collected in Colombia. Edouard Andre collected living specimens during his South American expeditions and brought them to Europe, where the plant rapidly attracted the attention of horticulturists for its unusual and showy spathes. By the late nineteenth century it was being cultivated in glasshouses across Europe, and formal commercial breeding programmes developed particularly in the Netherlands and Hawaii during the twentieth century, producing the wide range of cultivated colours available today. In its native Colombia, the anthurium has cultural significance and is associated with hospitality and warmth. It remains one of the world's most commercially important cut-flower crops, with the Netherlands, Hawaii, and Costa Rica among the principal producers.

Varieties to know

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama'

Produces large, deep red spathes and is among the most commonly available cultivars in the UK.

Anthurium andraeanum 'White Champion'

Bears pure white spathes with a contrasting cream to yellow spadix, valued for its clean, minimal appearance.

Anthurium andraeanum 'Pink Champion'

Produces soft pink spathes and is a popular choice for interior decoration.

Anthurium andraeanum 'Purple Plum'

Offers deep burgundy to purple-toned spathes, less common than red forms but widely admired.

Anthurium andraeanum 'Midori'

Unusual cultivar producing green spathes, making it distinctive among anthurium selections.

Fun facts

• A single Anthurium andraeanum bloom (strictly a spathe and spadix unit) can last for up to eight weeks before fading, making it one of the longest-lasting 'flowers' of any common houseplant.
• The waxy surface of the spathe is a structural colouration feature; the vivid red or pink pigment is produced by anthocyanin pigments within the modified leaf tissue.
• In the wild, Anthurium andraeanum grows as an epiphyte or terrestrial plant in humid cloud forest understoreys in Colombia and Ecuador, often at altitudes above 1,000 metres.
• The genus Anthurium is one of the largest in the family Araceae, comprising over 1,000 described species, with Anthurium andraeanum being one of the most economically important for the cut-flower trade.
• The tiny true flowers are borne on the spadix in a specific sequence, with female flowers becoming receptive before male flowers on the same spadix, a mechanism that encourages cross-pollination.

Anthurium FAQ