- origin
- use
- growth and size
- flowering and flowering time
- leaves
- fruit
- root
- Is Anthurium Poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- substrate
- Grow Anthurium
- Water anthurium
- Fertilize Anthurium properly
- repot
- Cut anthurium properly
- hibernate
- Diseases
- pests
- Anthurium does not bloom, what to do?
- sorts
Anthuriums, also known as anthuriums, flamingo flowers or candytufts, are wonderfully easy-care and grateful houseplants that will thank you for a little water and fertilizer with an almost year-round bloom. Especially during the dark winter months, the large red, white, pink or orange bracts - which are often mistaken for the actual flowers - provide a welcome pop of colour.
The flamingo flower includes several 100 species
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- use
- growth and size
- flowering and flowering time
- leaves
- fruit
- root
- Is Anthurium Poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- substrate
- Grow Anthurium
- Water anthurium
- Fertilize Anthurium properly
- repot
- Cut anthurium properly
- hibernate
- Diseases
- pests
- Anthurium does not bloom, what to do?
- sorts
- Lift the plant out of the pot.
- Carefully remove the attached soil.
- Now carefully pull or cut the root ball into at least two parts.
- Take a close look at the root ball beforehand.
- The best spots for a split are easy to spot.
- If possible, always use a sharp and clean knife for cutting!
- Then plant the individual parts with fresh substrate in individual pots.
- Water deeply and continue to care for as usual.
- 'Acropolis': creamy white flowers
- 'Baron': pink flowers
- 'Cheers': pink flowers
- 'Fantasia': cream colored flowers
- 'Midori': green flowers
- 'Otazu': red-brown flowers
- 'Pistace': light green flowers
- 'Rosee Choco': dark red flowers
origin
The genus of flamingo flowers (Anthurium) includes about 600 to 1000 different species that are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America and the Caribbean islands. Here the evergreen, perennial plants mostly grow epiphytically like orchids, i. H. as epiphytes on the huge jungle trees. Only a few species are rooted in the ground.
use
In Germany, primarily hybrids of the two species Greater Flamingo (Anthurium andreanum) and Lesser Flamingo (Anthurium scherzerianum) are cultivated as houseplants, occasionally one of the two species mentioned as well as Anthurium crystallinum. The latter is a rarely cultivated species with broad, heart-shaped leaves that are shiny metallic red.
growth and size
Anthuriums grow in clumps, forming long stalks with large leaves. On average, the plants are between 40 and 100 centimeters high and 30 to 60 centimeters wide, but can also become significantly larger and more extensive with age. Their size depends essentially on their location as well as the growth and maintenance conditions. The bushy houseplant is particularly popular because of its colorful foliage, which is usually bright red. However, there are also pink, orange and white variants.
flowering and flowering time
These colored bracts are often mistaken for the decoration of the flowers, although the actual flowers are quite unspectacular. Only the spadix in the middle of the magnificent bracts represents the flower. This can be straight or curved and colored red, orange or yellow. Anthurium hybrids basically flower all year round, average flowering times of up to 300 days a year are not uncommon with good care. Only the Lesser Flamingo Flower (Anthurium Scherzerianum) shows its often very lush colors only between May and June.
leaves
The leaves of the Anthurium hybrids can look very different, depending on which genetic material shows through. In most commercially available varieties, the dark green, glossy foliage is long-stalked and oblong-heart-shaped. In addition, elongated, lanceolate shapes are also possible. The colored bracts or bracts (the botanist speaks of "spatha") have an egg, heart-shaped or oval shape and are characterized by deep bulges in some cases.
fruit
Anthurium produces fruits extremely rarely in a room culture due to the usually absent pollination. This is especially true when it comes to a hybrid - and therefore sterile - variety. In their natural habitat, however, the plants develop inconspicuous berries from the flowers, which contain tiny seeds about the size of a grain of grain.
root
The fleshy, compact rootstock of the flamingo flower doesn't take up much space, so the planter only needs to be slightly larger than the root ball. The long leaf and flower stalks grow directly from the roots and do not branch among themselves or above ground.
Is Anthurium Poisonous?
As a member of the Araceae family, Anthurium is naturally toxic to humans and animals. The leaves in particular contain oxalic acid and insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mucous membranes and can lead to typical symptoms of poisoning such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. However, the signs of illness usually subside after a few hours, since the plants are only classified as slightly poisonous. However, the Bonn information center against poisoning still advises to see a doctor, since the poison content can vary greatly from plant to plant and a critical dose is not yet known. It is also advised to drink plenty of water to dilute the toxins and get them out of the digestive tract as quickly as possible.
Which location is suitable?
In their natural habitat, anthuriums grow in the shade of the large jungle trees. At home you should recreate these conditions as best as possible by keeping the plants out of direct sun - this will quickly lead to ugly leaf burns, especially on south-facing windows. However, the space needs to be light, so you should carefully consider the conditions in your home. If the window in question faces east or west, the anthurium can also stand on the window sill, provided that it can be protected from the midday sun that may burn in during the summer months. If, on the other hand, the window faces south, you should place the plant at least one meter away and definitely shade it during the midday hours. Larger, sun-loving plants on the window sill or trees standing outside are suitable for this.
Caution is advised in winter if the anthurium is on a window sill: In many apartments there are radiators underneath, the warm and dry air of which the flamingo flower cannot tolerate. Instead, as a typical rainforest plant, it needs high humidity, which is why it is often best kept in the bathroom. In addition, they do not like drafts (e.g. next to frequently opened windows) and feel most comfortable with temperatures between 20 and 25 °C that remain the same all year round.
substrate
Place the flamingo flower in a loose, well-drained and humus-rich substrate. A high-quality, commercially available potting soil is completely sufficient. In addition, the plants can be kept excellently in hydroponics, in which they often feel much more comfortable.
Grow Anthurium
The easiest way to propagate anthuriums is to divide them, which is carried out in spring if possible. To do this, proceed as follows:
Larger plants also often form children, which simply have to be carefully separated and planted separately. Furthermore, propagation is also possible via cuttings and sowing, but both are not without pitfalls and take quite a lot of time.
cuttings
For the propagation of cuttings, use young leaves with existing roots, which you can recognize by the small knots on the base of the stem. Carefully separate these leaves from the mother plant without damaging the knots and place them in a jar of fresh, warm water. Place the jar in a bright (but not direct sun!) and warm location. Change the water daily and don't forget to clean the glass of any deposits. The young anthuriums are only potted when they have formed sufficient roots.
sowing
If you discover small white berries on the pistil of your anthurium, you have to act quickly. The seeds in it - if they are capable of germinating at all - have to be planted quickly, as they only remain capable of reproduction for a short time. Open the berries and carefully wash off the gooey pulp. This contains germ-inhibiting substances and must therefore be removed. Then place the few seeds in a seed tray filled with sand, whereby the grains must not be covered under any circumstances as they germinate in the light. Spray the substrate with the seeds and keep them evenly moist for the coming weeks. Make sure the air is tense by placing the seed trays in a greenhouse or covering them with translucent film. Put the bowl in a warm and bright place, ensure adequate humidity, and ventilate the cover regularly. Germination should take place after two weeks at the latest, although the failure rate is very high.
Water anthurium
Anthuriums depend on an even water supply and should not dry out. If the plant is kept too dry, only a few flowers will develop or the existing ones will be dropped. Make sure that the substrate is always slightly damp, but never permanently wet. The plant also does not tolerate waterlogging and then develops root rot after a short time, which usually ends fatally. A good pot drainage is therefore essential, excess irrigation water should be able to drain away unhindered. Remove this from pots and saucers after just a few minutes to spare the plant "wet feet".
Use water that is as soft as possible for watering, as anthuriums are quite sensitive to lime. If there is no rainwater, stagnant tap water is also very suitable. However, this should not be cold, but room temperature - or do you like to take a cold shower? Furthermore, the plant should be sprayed with room-warm water or showered from time to time. This not only removes the layer of dust on the leaves - which in turn hinders photosynthesis - but also ensures higher humidity.
Fertilize Anthurium properly
As a flowering plant, anthuriums need a lot of nutrients, but they are very sensitive to salts. For this reason, you should fertilize frequently, but only in small doses. If possible, use a liquid complete fertilizer for houseplants or flowering plants, which you add to the watering water in half the recommended concentration and apply weekly during the summer months. In winter, however, one fertilization per month is sufficient.
repot
Plant young anthuriums in a larger pot with fresh substrate every spring. Older, fully grown specimens, on the other hand, no longer need to be repotted, but you can rejuvenate them by dividing them. If this is not desired, simply replace the substrate in spring.
Cut anthurium properly
In principle, cutting measures are not necessary. You should only remove discolored or dried-up leaves and faded flowering shoots directly at the base with sharp and clean scissors or a small knife.
hibernate
During the winter months, anthuriums should be in a bright place with slightly cooler temperatures between 16 and 20 °C, and watering and fertilizing is now less frequent. In this way, the formation of flowers can also be promoted in specimens that do not bloom.
Diseases
The glossy leaves of the flamingo flower are coated with a layer of wax that keeps many pests and pathogens at bay in the first place. In fact, many symptoms are less due to fungi or viruses and more to caregiving errors. Waterlogging or a permanently too moist substrate not only causes the soil to go moldy, but also the roots to rot. The only way to save yourself in this situation is to quickly repot into fresh, dry substrate, combined with vigorous pruning of the roots and above-ground parts of the plant.
As long as your anthurium has shiny, dark green leaves without any discoloration and keeps producing new flowers, it feels good. In this case, leave them where they are and continue to care for them as before.
Yellow leaves
If the leaves turn yellow, the anthurium is often too bright. This is especially the case when the plant is right next to a window. Place it a little further away so that it gets out of the direct sun but is still bright. Remove the discolored leaves with scissors or a knife, they will not turn green again.
Brown leaves / brown leaf spots
If the edges of the leaves curl up, if the leaves develop brown spots or if entire leaves turn brown, then your anthurium is probably suffering from a lack of water. The root ball must not dry out, which is why you should regularly carry out a finger test: If the substrate feels dry on the surface, it is time to water. On the other hand, if the soil is still damp, you should wait a few more days.
pests
The flamingo flower is also quite resistant to pests. Only spider mites and scale insects can cause problems for the plant from time to time. Spider mites, also known as red spiders, only appear when the air is too dry and can be easily driven away by increasing the humidity. Scale insects, on the other hand, simply wipe off with a damp cloth and some washing-up liquid.
Anthurium does not bloom, what to do?
If the anthurium does not really want to bloom, it is probably lacking nutrients. If you fertilize the plant regularly, then the first flowers should appear soon. Another reason for flowering laziness is a location that is too dark - moving to a brighter place helps.
tips
The flower stalks of the flamingo flower can also be arranged as cut flowers in the vase, either in a mixed bouquet or alone. Change the water regularly and place the container in a light, not draughty place, then you can enjoy the colorful splendor for two to three weeks.
sorts
The most popular hybrid varieties of Anthurium include: