Proper Care For An Anthurium Flamingo FLower
Ask the Expert: Flamingo Lily care
I recently acquired a plant at a yard sale. The lady who had it didn’t know what it was but said that she kept it in direct sunlight and when she moved it it didn’t bloom. She also said it was quite huge and she had given it a “hair cut” and it’s come back beautiful.
I did some research and found out it’s a Flamingo Lily? It has beautiful Salmon pink blooms. It looks very healthy , and is starting to get root bound in its 6″ pot. My question is this.. I’ve tried to research proper care for this plant and have come up with variations from full sun to shade, and from keep it wet to dry it out. The only common factor is to keep the humidity up by misting it. HELP!! Also, how root bound do they like to be? Should I be transplanting it to an 8″ pot? What kind of fertilizer should I use, how often?
I’ve attached pics of my Flamingo Lily?
Thank you for taking the time to read, and answer my question. Shannon
May 27th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Shannon,
You do have an Anthurium andraeanum ‘Flamingo’. It is easy to find conflicting information about plant care. So, it is best to understand the natural environment in order to understand which plant care is best for your particular plant. Anthurium is a rather large genus of evergreen perennials from the wet mountain forest in tropical and subtropical North and South America.
From this information we can gather the needs of the plant. Humidity is definitely important so mist your plant every few days or keep in an area with natural humidity like a kitchen or bathroom. When you mist use lukewarm water and spray the plant evenly. It likes to be kept moist, but here is the kicker, it can’t be soggy. So it needs to be in a soil that is loose, humus rich and drains well. When you water moisten the soil evenly. Provide a constant temperature and a little towards the warm side at that. Keep away from air vents. With light you want to create the same situation as the tropical forest. Bright filtered light; in other words don’t let the sun shine directly on the plant. Don’t place Anthurium in a window, instead place on a table where it will receive light from the window but in a diffused manner. Use a balanced fertilizer every three to four weeks.
Anthurium usually need to be re-pot every couple of years. When the roots of the plant have basically taken over the soil content, it is time to re-pot. Here in the south the rule of thumb is to use a container that is “half again as big” This means if you are in a 6″ pot you will need a 9″ or 10″ pot. I hope this information is beneficial.
For those of you interested in Anthurium and want one of your own contact your local florists, they may have Anthurium plants available or for special occasions may be able to order the flower and create a tropical arrangement.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Jamie,
Thank you for the quick response to my questions. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to help me out. Now that I know how to properly care for my beautiful new plan, I can give it a good and healthy environment.
Again, thank you!
Shannon
June 13th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Hi
I also have an Anthirium which when I bought had several flowers. Since then all the flowers have fallen off. I was feeding it with liquid potash once a week but then most of the leaves browned and dried out to about half of the leaf. I have it near a window and water about once a week. When I bought it seemed to have a lot more leaves and it appears quite leggy.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards
Suzy
September 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Hi,
I got my Anthurium sometime around May and it had beautiful leaves and 4 pretty pink flowers. A couple of days after I got it I noticed that it had centipede or milipede type worms in it. so I got some miracle grow 3 month fertilizer soil and not knowing that it didn’t like large pots, I put it in a larger pot. Bad idea, because I noticed that one of the flowers had started to turn brown and died. I kept reading that it liked to be in warm temperatures so I put it close to the window but not in it because it said that it didn’t like direct sunlight. My flowers still died. Another think I noticed was that it didn’t like to be in cold climates and the temporary office i was in was freezing to me so I know my plant was cold, but when I came back to MY office and brought my plant with me, the temperature was much warmer. My flowers continued to die. so, I took it home and put it into a smaller pot with a drainage hole in the bottom and put a saucer underneath it. I put it in my window, with the blinds closed (that room gets very bright in the mornings), and now I’m down to 2-3 healthy leaves and no flowers. The rest of the leaves turned brown as if they were being burned from the center and out. So I cut those off and I noticed that where I cut them the plant stems have dried out and turned hard like wood. Please tell me what I can do to bring my beautiful plant back to life. Did I torture it and it’s just given up or is there still hope for it?
September 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Myisha,
First cut off all of the dead. Then make sure the soil is moist but not soggy. Now LEAVE IT ALONE!!! You plant is going through shock and moving it and constant change will keep it in shock. So your best course of action is to leave it alone for a week or two. Then you should see the plant perk up. Flowers will be the first thing compromised by stress. It may take a time before you see flowers again. Be patient. Keep me posted.
September 25th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Thanx. I will and I have left it alone and won’t touch it except to water and mist it. Nothing else. Thanx for getting back with me so fast with your advice. Is the mixture I’m using good for it…It’s 2 tablespoons of epsom salt and 1 gallon of water.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Myisha,
“And the plot thickens”. I think I know what is causing the downfall of the plant. You need to stop adding the epsom salt. One you have change the salinity of the water and too add something that the plant doesn’t need extra of Magnesium sulfate. Change the water and use plain distilled water. I always recommend distilled water because it doesn’t introduce other trace elements to the plant. Good Luck.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I also recently purchased an Anthurium. It’s growing really awesomely, but I was just concerned with the way the stems of the the new leaves are looking. They look healthy enough but they’ve completely changed color, from deep green to a deep reddish purple. Are they supposed to do that? And just as a response to what some of the others were saying about this plant dying on them; it comes from a tropical climate where it has to fight for both light and water. Because of this, it holds water well and shouldn’t be watered that often, the soil shouldn’t be the type that retains water because it’s likely that this plant could suffer from root rot. In regards to light, diffused light has worked great for me, full sun will kill it and indoor lighting is will allow it to grow but it’s not quite sufficient health-wise.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Liliana,
Are the stems firm and more reddish purple towards the bloom?
March 29th, 2009 at 10:03 am
hello,
I purchased an anthurium about 6 weeks ago. It’s doing rather well as far as the flowers are concerned. I have nice blooms and I see new ones starting. But I noticed the leaves aren’t shiny like I’ve seen in recent pictures. Is there something I can do to help with this?
Thanks
March 30th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Chris,
Really really shiny leaves probably have been sprayed with leaf shine. It is a product you can buy at your local garden center. Leaves can accumulate dust just like your furniture. If you take a damp wash cloth and wipe off the leaves the dust will be removed and the leaves will be a little shinier.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I just got a Flamingo Plant as a gift. I understand that it is toxic to cats and dogs. I have two cats and could not let them near it, which would have been impossible. I planted it outside. In South Florida it is very humid and the temps are in the 80’s about 11 months per year. We are in zone 11.
Will my plant live outdoors?
Thank you.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Most flamingo plants are hardy only to zone 14. Which means it can’t take temperatures below 27degrees. So you will still need to bring it into a warm area during your winters. The ASPCA lists Anthurium (flamingo) as a toxic plan but the American Humane Society doesn’t. Before you bring it in this winter, consult with your vet as to the potential toxicity of the plant.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I have a beautiful flamingo plant & it bloomed wonderfully. Now it’s stopped & the tips of some of the leaves are brown. Not sure what’s going on. Any ideas? I water it about once a week if dried, as I know not to over water & feed it every few waterings. still not sure what’s going on.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
I had recieved an antherium plant from a florist a year ago. The plant was “planted” in a pot with water only, no soil. The plant seems pretty healthy and grows new leaves, but I cannot get it to flower. It originally had flowers when I received it and the flowers lasted a long time, but I have since been able to get it to reflower. What type of fertilizer should I use to make this happen?
May 4th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Try a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content. This will be the middle number in the fertilizer ratio. Try something like 5-10-5 (N-P-K). It is not important which ratio just as long as the middle number is bigger than the other two. Fertilize it every two weeks until November then cut back on the fertilizer. Also reduce your humidity in the winter that might help as well.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Diane,
Sorry I skipped your question. You might need a little more humidity around the plant. Mist the air near the plant once a day. Also, make sure your light source isn’t burning the leaf tips. If you continue to have problems, please send me a picture.
May 8th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I just received a beautiful Anthruium a week ago. I have seen multiple worms that have about 20 legs on each side and are long, skiny and dark brown. Are they bad for my plant? How do I get rid of them? (I really don’t want them crawling out of the pot and infesting my kitchen).
May 11th, 2009 at 7:42 am
I am attaching photos of the worms I think you could possibly have.
The first is a garden centipede taken by the University of Nebraska . Some centepedes can bite and cause an allergic reaction. Spray the soil of the plant with a houseplant spray like Fertilome’s Whitefly and & mealybug spray. you can get it at your local garden center.
The second is an Eastern Tent Caterpillar
.
I don’t think the caterpillars are poisonous but you need to pick them off and throw them away.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:02 am
second image Eastern Tent Caterpillar from http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/america
May 11th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I have attached some pictures of one I just scooped out of the soil. They are not extremely clear, but it’s an idea of what they might be. They are not hairy either.
Also, I am wondering, do I need to re-pot the plant if I can see the roots are all over the top of the soil?
It’s looking good and sprouting new leaves and flowers.
Thanks!
May 11th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Here is what the pot looks like with the roots very visible on top. What does the plant like in this case?
May 12th, 2009 at 7:52 am
It looks like you have millipede. They can cause a little skin irritation but are relatively harmless. You can use the spray mentioned above or diatomaceous earth sprinkled on top of your soil.
You might want to re-pot your anthurium. However, I wouldn’t put any soil on top of the root ball. I would only close the gap between the pot and the existing root-ball.
May 12th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Thanks for ALL your help!
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
I recieved the plant in mid April. The bloom died and the leaves keep turning brown/yellow. What do I need to do? I water once a week, is not in direct light but I keep loosing leaves. Should I cut the brown/yellow ones off? How covered should the bottom be? I just want to get it looking healthy and blooming again. I have only had the one bloom it was bought with. Please help.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
another side picture
May 26th, 2009 at 2:52 am
t looks like you have millipede. They can cause a little skin irritation but are relatively harmless. You can use the spray mentioned above or diatomaceous earth sprinkled on top of your soil.
May 26th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Olivia,
You need to cut the damaged leaves off and give the plant more water. The soil needs to be saturated with water not just the top. Once you correct the water issue the plant should recover.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:01 am
i sent an Anthurium Flamingo Flower to my daughter for her birthday, she lives in Louisiana - it arrived neatly packaged and was planted in a piece of lava rock…. is there any site you would recommend her looking at to get helpful hints on the proper care and trimming of this plant… she has never owned a plant, and she lives many states away for momma to help LOL
she said the leaves began to wilt but then perked up with som sun and little more water…. but she has no idea how to properly care (fertilize, trim, etc…) for one or what signs of trouble may be… also, with regard to ‘worms’ in the plants - is this normal, she has not found any and she has had it for about 2 weeks… is there any chance she will get any inthe plant at this point?
thanks for any advice from a protective momma!
May 27th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
You say it is planted in a piece of lava rock? Is it in any soil? If the plant is in very little soil, she will need to keep a close eye on the moisture level. That maybe why it was wilting.
As for Anthurium plant care, they like light or partial shade areas. So in the house you want a bright room but don’t let the sun beat directly on to the plant. They want a warm but not hot condition. Keep away from drafts and air conditioning vents. Anthurium like humidity. You can create a humid environment by misting the air around the plant with warm water every day or so. Keep the plant evenly moist.
If your daughter has any questions about how to take care of her plant, she can ask them here and I will help her to the best of my ability.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I cut off all the damaged leaves and saturated water. I now seem to have small bugs in the soil, not worms just mites maybe? I have still lost a few more leaves and no new growth. I think a section has also rotted. That part is all dried up. It is planted in miracle grow potting soil. I have sprayed the plant and the soil with houseplant insect spray. The bugs keep returning. What do I do? Should I repot in new soil? I really want to save it. Please help.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Keep the soil moist not soggy. After the initial saturation the soil should be moist to the touch but not dripping with water. As for the insects, it may take a couple treatments before the insect go away. They probably have laid eggs. The insect spray will only work on the adult insects and not the eggs. Cut out any part of the plant that is mushy or soft. Then give the plant sometime. Plants are just like us after cold. It takes a little time for them to recover.
August 9th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Hi. Where can I purchase Anthurium plant seedling in trays of 24/48 etc?
I have searched endless sites. but only find individual plants.
Thanks for your help. Tenzin
August 10th, 2009 at 8:15 am
What you are looking for will be referred to as Anthurium plugs. I haven’t purchased the plugs before - we usually bring in the 2″ or 4″ plants and go from there. So I don’t have a particular source to direct you to. You might try a google search for Anthurium plugs.