Anthurium Care: How to Keep the Flamingo Flower Blooming

The anthurium, known as the flamingo flower, is one of the most striking and long-lasting flowering houseplants. Those glossy red, pink or white "flowers" are actually spathes, and with the right care they can put on a show for most of the year.

The flower that isn't really a flower

What we call the flower is the spathe, a waxy modified leaf. The true flower is the spadix, that tail-like spike in the center. It belongs to the arum family (Araceae), just like the peace lily and the monstera.

Light

• Ideal: bright, indirect light. This is the key to flowering.
• Low light: the plant survives but stops producing spathes.
• Avoid: direct sun, which scorches and bleaches the leaves.

If your anthurium has healthy leaves but won't bloom, it almost always needs more light.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil is dry. It likes steady moisture but hates being waterlogged.

• In spring and summer, roughly every 5-7 days.
• In winter, space waterings out.
• Use room-temperature water, ideally low in lime.

Always empty the saucer: roots left sitting in water rot easily.

Humidity and temperature

It's a tropical plant, and high humidity is essential. Below 50% you'll see brown tips. To raise it:

• Group plants together or use a humidifier.
• Set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water (with the base above the water line).

Keep it between 65 and 82 °F and away from cold drafts, which it dislikes.

Soil and repotting

The anthurium is semi-epiphytic: its roots need air. Use a very airy mix — an orchid-style blend with bark, perlite and coco coir. Repot every 2 years into a slightly larger pot with good drainage.

The secret to nonstop blooming

1. Bright, indirect light all year round.
2. A phosphorus-rich fertilizer, diluted, every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer.
3. Remove spent spathes by cutting the stem at the base.
4. Keep humidity high and watering regular.

Common problems

• Won't bloom: not enough light or not enough feeding.
• Brown tips: dry air or hard, calcium-rich water.
• Yellow leaves: usually overwatering.
• Greenish spathes: too little light, or they're simply aging.

Looking sad or refusing to bloom? Try yours in the AI diagnosis tool to pin down the problem.

If you like this family, take a look at peace lily care — its white-flowered cousin.

Is it toxic?

Yes. Like all aroids, it contains calcium oxalates that irritate the mouth and digestive tract of pets and children if chewed. Keep it out of reach.

With bright light, high humidity and careful watering, the anthurium will reward you with those glossy spathes for months on end.