The plant known as flamingo flower belongs to the group of the arum family. The special flower is the characteristic feature of this family. Anthuriums with red flowers are usually on the market all year round, but a large number of interesting varieties have emerged from breeding, all of which require the same care. Specimens with white bracts are popular for modern living. The great flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum) and the small flamingo flower (Anthurium scherzerianum) are best known as indoor plants. The beauty, which comes from the tropical rain forests, convinces above all with the lush green foliage and the colorfulbracts, which are incorrectly called a flower. With low demands on care, the Anthurium can be used decoratively and in a variety of ways for many weeks.

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Interesting facts about Anthurium

Botanical name: Anthurium andreanum, Anthurium scherzerianum, Anthurium hybrids, Anthurium-Scherzerianum hybrids, Anthurium-Andreanum hybrids
Other names: Anthurium, anthurium, candytuft
Use: houseplant, indoor greening, office plant, room climate plant, feel-good plant, trend plant, cut flower for bouquets and arrangements
Origin: Tropical rain forest Central and South America, Colombia
Flower color: The actual flower is the yellow spadix. This is usually surrounded by colorful bracts. Available in red, orange, pink, yellow, cream, white or dark red
Leaf colour: green, lanceolate, oval, ovate or heart-shaped
Special features:The potted plant impresses with its long flowering period, which is also suitable for people without a green thumb. Avoid direct sun. Decorative even without inflorescence. Filters pollutants from the air.

In which location does the anthurium feel most comfortable?

Anthurium prefers a light spot in the room. Temperatures of 20 to 24° C are ideal. The minimum temperature for the tropical creatures is 16 °C. The flowering houseplant does not tolerate blazing sun and cold drafts. Unlike many other plants, Anthurium tolerates a spot on a windowsill with a heater underneath. However, regular spraying with a spray bottle and lime-free water is helpful to increase the humidity. Anthuriums prefer high humidity, so a spot in the bathroom is ideal. If the tropical plant is too dark, it will produce fewer flowers.

Our gardening tip: If you have had an anthurium for a long time and would like to get it to flower again, we recommend placing the pot in a place with 16 to 18 degrees Celsius from November to February. In the case of the flamingo flowers, a cold stimulus is necessary to stimulate the formation of flowers.

How do I care for my flamingo flower?

Anthurium care is easy and requires little time and knowledge. Apart from need-based watering and regular fertilizing, there are hardly any maintenance measures. Small plants can be showered with lukewarm water once or twice a year. If the plants are too big and unwieldy for this, wiping the leathery leaves with a damp cloth will help. This will remove the dust and help it develop well. A pruning is not necessary, you can only cut off brown leaves and dry flower stalks with a sharp knife. Repotting every 2-3 years is recommended.

Our gardening tip: blazing sun, dry air and calcareous water should be avoided. With the right location and optimal humidity, the Anthurium is a splendor for a long time without any further demands.

What is the best way to water my Anthurium?

The substrate of the Anthurium can always be evenly moist, but never waterlogged. With a permeable substrate, you should remove the excess water from the planter or saucer 15 minutes after watering. How often you have to water depends largely on the room temperature, the amount of sunlight, the type of substrate and the size of the pot. Basically, Anthuriums are easy to care for and need moderate watering. Standing water damages the plant! It is important that you let the top layer of soil dry out a little before watering again. By spraying them with a plant sprayer, you can pamper the exotic beauties and they will feel transported back to their homeland for a short time.

Our gardening tip: Anthurium is sensitive to lime. Therefore, rainwater or lime-free water is ideal for watering and spraying. Even if you leave the tap water for some time, the limescale will settle and it will be suitable.

How do I fertilize my flamingo flower?

Anthurium needs regular fertilizer to grow and form new flowers. During the main growth period from April to August, you can supply the flowering plant with flowering plant fertilizer every week. In autumn and winter, a nutrient application every six to eight weeks is sufficient. Fertilizing with fertilizer sticks is easy to handle. With this convenient long-term fertilization, your houseplant is supplied with all the necessary nutrients, minerals and trace elements for 3 months.

How do I repot my Anthurium?

New flamingo flowers do not have to be repotted first. After 1 to 2 years, it is advisable to transplant the anthurium into fresh substrate for good developmentbecomes. In addition to the larger volume of soil, it is important that fresh soil is available for the roots. Watering increases the pH value, which is not ideal for the anthurium. Anthurium prefers a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. This means that when repotting, it is best to use ericaceous soil or azalea soil. You can buy suitable potting soil from us. The new pot should be 3 to 4 cm larger than the old one. To avoid waterlogging, first put a thin drainage layer of expanded clay in the new pot. In this way you prevent harmful waterlogging and give your flamingo flower the best conditions. Only with good care will new flower stalks and young foliage form.

What different Anthurium species are there?

The genus includes more than 700 species, many of which are found as epiphytes on large trees in the jungle. Only a few of the anthuriums are rooted in the ground. Two species in particular have been in horticultural culture for a long time:

Great flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum)

• impressed by the size
• Flowers very magnificent, not as plentiful as in the case of the Lesser Flamingo Flower
• Leaves grow up to 40 cm long
• The bracts have a glossy sheen, are green, white, pink, salmon-colored, dark red
• Spaduncles are yellow or cream in color, relatively short
• more commonly available as a cut flower

Lesser Flamingo Flower (Anthurium scherzerianum)

• Most common species as a houseplant
• Leaves lanceolate, coriaceous
• Foliage grows up to 30 cm high
• Growth habit not as expansive as with the large flamingo flower
• The bracts are brightly colored and have a waxy shine
• Pistils spirally twisted, mostly orange-red

Furthermore, hybrids are offered, which are crosses between the two Anthurium species. They have characteristics of both parents and are ideal as a houseplant.

What pests and diseases can anthurium get?

Anthuriums are robust plants that are rarely attacked by diseases and pests in the optimal location. The following problems can occur with anthuriums:

root rot

It is usually a result of too much moisture or the wrong substrate. Improve the conditions and give the Anthurium an optimal ambient temperature. Repotting can help with problems and it is important that you carefully care for the plant for some time now.

Brown spots

Brown spots can appear on anthuriums as a result of too much or too little water. More rarely, they are the result of a fungal disease (leaf spot disease). Improve the conditions for the anthurium and remove the affected leaf if necessary. Young plants in particular suffer from direct sunlight.

Red Spider

The affected foliage is covered with a fine web. On closer inspection, small bright spots can be seen. When heavily infested with the red spider, the foliage color changes from green to yellow. In the case of initial infestation, rinsing with water and consistent spraying can help, because the pest is particularly common in dry heating air.

spider mites

The affected leaves have silvery dots on the upper side and webs are visible on the underside of the leaves. Spider mites appear on Anthurium especially in warm, dry weather. It is usually sufficient to rinse the flamingo flowers with water and treat them with plant strengtheners. These bio-active agents contain natural plant extracts that contribute to the revitalization of the anthurium

FAQ — Frequently asked questions about Anthurium

How can anthuriums be propagated?

The simplest method of propagation for Anthuriums is division. In spring, remove the plant from the pot and carefully pull it apart. It is important that there are sufficiently thick roots on each piece. Finally, pot the new plants in small pots with a suitable soil mix. Note that you only water sparingly the first time after propagation g. In order to achieve high humidity, a nursery or a cover over the vessel is suitable.

Are anthuriums poisonous?

The flamingo flower is considered mildly poisonous. The calcium oxalates contained in all parts of the plant have a toxic effect. However, since the leaves are very tough, consumption is difficult. Gastrointestinal problems can occur.

What happens if the red bracts are not cut off?

Anthuriums bloom for months. The colorful bracts are decorative for a long time. After flowering, you should cut off the dried stems, this is the only way for the flamingo flowers to continue to grow well.

How does the flamingo flower affect the indoor climate?

Anthuriums are among the plants that are able to filter pollutants from the air. Therefore, they are popular indoor plants, ideal for offices, bathrooms, kitchens and much more. Since the plants also consume oxygen at night, they should not be placed in bedrooms.