The anthurium is truly exotic and correspondingly sensitive. Mistakes in care make the robust plant susceptible to diseases and pests.
Flamingo flowers provide exotic charm on the windowsill. The unique bulbous blossoms of the aroid family are eye-catchers. Anthuriums are currently experiencing a true renaissance on the windowsill. The glossy foliage looks grand and elegant in combination with the independent flowers. When it comes to care, the flamingo flower (Anthurium) has a number of requirements that are not unlike those of orchids.
Origin of the Falmingo Flower
Flamingo flowers come from the tropics. In Central and South America, the evergreen perennials often grow sessile under trees. In its natural habitat, the Anthurium is a stately plant that can grow up to a meter tall.
In our part of the world, hybrids of two species of flamingo flowers are sold. The large flamingo flower forms sprawling, lush green and glossy leaves. With the right care, this Anthurium can flower all year round. The Lesser Anthurium has oblong, dull leaves and blooms only in spring.
| Flamingo Flower (Anthurium) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | 1upright, clump-forming |
| Growth: | 40 - 100 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 60 cm |
| Flower: | February to May, depending on the variety also all year round |
| Location: | Evening sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | permeable, moderately moist, slightly acidic |
The ideal location for the Anthurium
A bright but not full sun location should be found for the exotic rainforest dweller. The blazing sun is just as little tolerated as drafts. The anthurium, on the other hand, thrives very well in the flower window above the heating. However, one requirement is that the plant is regularly sprayed with lime-free water.
Flamingo flowers need room temperatures between 20 and 24 degrees. If it is colder than 16 degrees in the room, the tropical plants die. In winter, a slightly cooler stand can be chosen.However, the plants should not be cultivated permanently below 18 degrees.
Tip: A slightly cooler winter location promotes flowering of the Lesser Flamingo Flower next spring.
Anthuriums need high humidity and should therefore preferably be placed in the bathroom. Cultivating anthuriums is a bit of a challenge for the indoor gardener. There are many parallels to the orchids. If you are familiar with orchid care, you will also be able to successfully cultivate anthuriums.
The ideal substrate for Anthurium
Flamingo flowers thrive in high-quality potting soil. Care must be taken to ensure that the substrate has good permeability. An acidic pH is optimal. To achieve this, the soil can be enriched with peat or bog substrate.
Warning: The substrate should not contain lime.
Indoor gardeners can also put the soil together themselves. The following components are mixed in equal parts:
- Sand
- peat
- Leaf Compost
Hydroculture promises less success. If waterlogging occurs, the roots of the flamingo flower rot very quickly and the plant dies.
Planting and repotting flamingo flowers
The Anthurium is sold as a pot plant. The substrate in the narrow planter wears out over time. In the case of humus-rich soil, frequent replacement is also important because constant decomposition takes place and the pH value of the soil changes as a result.
Tip: Young plants should be repotted annually. In the case of older anthuriums, the substrate should be replaced at least every three years.
If the root ball is heavily penetrated, the Anthurium needs a larger planter. Make sure that the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot are as large as possible. To prevent waterlogging, potsherds are placed over the drainage holes. This keeps the openings free and the liquid can drain off unhindered.
Transplant flamingo flower - step by step
1. Pot up the plant
2. Check the roots
3. Remove dead and rotting root sections
4. Provide the planter with drainage made of broken pottery pieces
5. Fill in the substrate
6. Insert the plant
7. Fill up the substrate completely
8. Water the plant slightly
Water the anthurium properly
Warm temperatures and high humidity prevail in the tropical rainforest. In most living rooms areAlthough the temperatures are reasonable, the humidity is far too low. Anthuriums should therefore be sprayed with warm water regularly, ideally several times a day. Since the plants do not tolerate lime, tap water is unsuitable in most regions of Germany. Use mineral water, rainwater or boiled tap water instead.
The soil should feel evenly moist. Fluctuations in the liquid balance are not tolerated by the plants. In winter, watering is significantly reduced as the plant is in a dormant phase.
Tip: In order to maintain the intense shine of the leaves of the anthurium, it should be showered or dusted off regularly.
Fertilize the flamingo flower properly
The flamingo flower should be supplied with fertilizer regularly. Fertilize weekly during the growing season from April to August. You can use a conventional flowering plant fertilizer. Even in autumn and winter, fertilization is not completely stopped, but should be done every six to eight weeks.
The most important planting and care tips at a glance
| Occupation | What matters? |
| Select Location | bright warm no full sun no draught |
| Prepare the ground | permeable humus acidic lime-free |
| Planting and repotting flamingo flowers | Replant young plants annually Completely replace substrate Create drainage to prevent waterlogging |
| Water Flamingo Flower | must not dry out constant supply of liquid avoid waterlogging spray frequently |
| Flamingo flower fertilize | Weekly during the growth phase Every eight weeks in autumn and winter Use fertilizer for flowering plants |
Pretty varieties in focus
The genus Anthurium is particularly species-rich with over 700 representatives. Most flamingo flowers grow in the jungle as epiphytic plants on the mighty jungle giants. The number of Anthurium rooted in the ground is small.
Only two species are important for cultivation as a houseplant in our latitudes:
Flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum)
- handsome size
- Leaves up to 40 centimeters long
- pretty leaf shine
- short cream to yellow spadix
- lacquer bracts inRed, Pink, Green or White
- common use as cut flower
Anthurium scherzerianum
- smaller in stature
- Leaves up to 30 centimeters long
- Leathery Leaves
- twisted orange-red spadix
- Bracts have a waxy sheen
- common use as a houseplant
Tip: Crosses of both species are also very suitable for indoor culture.
Propagating the flamingo flower
Anthuriums can be propagated most easily by division. The rootstocks can be divided in late winter. You can combine this with repotting the plant. The sections should have sufficient roots and at least one leaf.
Another challenging way of propagation is mossing. For this purpose, the soil around the plant is provided with sphagnum moss. Anchor the aerial roots in the moist moss. By removing the moss, small young plants become visible. The indoor gardener first lets these grow and later separates them from the mother plant.
Recognizing diseases and pests on the flamingo flower
The plants are considered robust and are rarely affected by diseases or pests if the care instructions described are followed. However, various problems can arise due to maintenance errors such as a location that is too cool and low humidity.
Root Rot
The roots rot quickly when waterlogged. The wrong substrate can also be the cause here. The plant can be saved by repotting and completely replacing the substrate.
Brown spots on leaves
Brown spots indicate casting errors. In young plants, leaf coloration is often a reaction to direct sunlight. The affected leaves are removed and the watering behavior adjusted.
Red Spider
The infestation can be recognized by a web covering the leaves. If the infestation is severe, the leaves turn yellow. The cause is usually too low humidity. Regularly showering the plant with water helps.
spider mites
If spider mites have settled on the houseplant, the webs are on the underside of the leaves and are therefore less clearly visible. Silvery dots can be seen on the upper side of the leaf. Spider mites disappear when the humidity is increased and the plant is sprayed regularly.
Is anthurium poisonous?
AsThe anthurium is a poisonous houseplant. Slight symptoms of poisoning occur when consumed. Direct contact with the sap can cause skin irritation.