Difficulty Level: Easy

Here’s a little secret: the beautiful heart-shaped “flowers” are not flowers! What makes these durable, easy-care houseplants so appealing are red, white, pink, or purple waxy leaves called spathes that flare from the base of the fleshy spike where the actual tiny flowers grow.

• These indoor plants are epiphytes, a type of air plant that comes from warm, tropical regions where they either grow on the surface of other plants or in rich organic humus. Therefore, as a houseplant, the Anthurium is extremely durable and requires little care.

• Simply repot with a peat moss or a coco coir-based soil mixture, provide bright, indirect sunlight, and allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings.

• For more robust, repeated “flowering,” allow the Anthurium to rest for six weeks with little water during the winter at approximately 60°F.

• If you notice the “flower” is green rather than the color you expected, it may be a new sprout forced to bloom when it should have been resting. If a “flower” is fading, it is likely an older bloom ready to dry up and fall off.

Nope. Afraid not 😕

• Flowering Anthurium needs bright, indirect light (direct sunlight will scorch the leaves and flowers!).

• Low light will slow growth and produce fewer, smaller “flowers.”

• Water thoroughly when the first inch of the soil becomes dry to the touch, stopping when water starts draining from the drainage holes.

• Avoid overwatering (Anthurium roots are susceptible to rot!).

• The more light and warmth your Anthurium gets, the more water it will need.

• Check the soil for dryness every few days. These plants will provide signs of stress or thirst, so pay attention: thirsty plants will be light if you lift them, and will have droopy or puckering leaves.

• You will not need to water as often in the winter when the plant is not actively growing.

• The Anthurium prefers very warm temperatures (70-90°F), but don’t worry – these plants are extremely adaptable and can flourish in typical household temperature ranges.

• However, be careful of temperature extremes: if your thermostat drops below 50°F, the Anthurium will stop growing; if your house gets too hot, your Anthuriums will wilt.

• Most Anthuriums thrive on humidity, but the flowering varieties can tolerate more dryness.

• If your humidity level is less than 50%, consider using a humidifier to increase the level to at least 60%.

• Filling small trays with pebbles and water and grouping indoor plants together can slightly increase the humidity immediately surrounding your plants.

From our experience, many plants can be brought back to complete health after a few days of routine waterings and care.

If the plant arrives slightly damaged or limp, this may be a result of the plant being deprived of light and water.

It's always best to send us a photo, so we can help you identify and fix the little treasure.

Anthurium flowers, also known as flamingo flowers (which are actually modified heart-shaped leaves) are strikingly crimson, and the anthurium plant is popular in many homes. Its beauty makes it all the more distressing when brown leaves start appearing on your plant.

Here are some of the common reasons why your anthurium is losing flowers, and how to help it recover.

Natural Aging of your Anthurium

Had your plant for a while? The leaves could just be experiencing natural aging! Old growth, particularly near the bottom of the plant, will naturally fade and drop to provide energy to newer growth. When leaves or flowers are wilting or turning yellow or brown, cut them off with sharp shears to ensure the plant devotes more energy to retaining its healthy growth.

Rapid all-over yellowing and browning of your anthurium is also known as “leaf blight.” If your plant is deteriorating rapidly and all over your plant is likely suffering from one of the issues below.

Your Anthurium is Suffering from Sunburn

The more light the plant receives, the more flowers your plant will produce – but direct sunlight will cause your leaves to dry up rapidly and kill the plant. Place your Anthurium in a spot with bright indirect light.

Nutrient Deficiency for your Anthurium

It might be that your anthurium is not getting enough nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium after it has been depleted from your potting soil. We suggest using a controlled release fertilizer, at only ¼ the recommended amount on the label, for a few weeks until your plant begins to recover.

Overwatering Leading to Root Rot

Tropical plants like anthurium are highly susceptible to root rot if consistently overwatered. Keep the soil lightly moist during the growing season from March through September. Water your Anthurium well and then allow the top 25-50% of soil to dry out before watering again.

If your plant’s health is deteriorating rapidly, you’ll want to pull your plant out of the pot to check for root rot. If the roots are black or slimy, the only way to help your plant recover is to trim back the rot and repot your anthurium.

Save your Anthurium by Repotting

To save your anthurium, you need to repot it. You should be using a well-draining fresh potting soil. Here are some steps to repot your plant:

Choose a pot that is approximately 2” larger than the current pot with drainage holes.

Fill the new pot one-third of the way with your new potting mix.

Gently slide your anthurium out of its pot.

Take sharp shears and cut off any dead or mushy looking roots.

Place your anthurium in the new pot, fill the pot with the remaining potting mix, and tamp it down.

Water the plant thoroughly till the water drains out the bottom, then let it rest.

Anthurium flowers, also known as flamingo flowers (which are actually modified heart-shaped leaves) are strikingly crimson, white, or pink. Its beauty makes it all the more distressing when those eye-catching flowers start falling off your plant.

The good news is, it’s likely that this plant is just losing its blooms as a part of its natural life cycle! A well-tended anthurium blooms all year round in approximately 3-month intervals, so you could just be in-between blooms. However, this tropical plant can also be temperamental if not tended properly, and if your plant’s flowers and leaves are fading or wilting you may need to make some changes.

To encourage healthy growth, cut them off any wilting or browning flowers with sharp shears to ensure the plant devotes more energy to retaining its healthy flowers. If your plant’s health continues deteriorating, here are some of the common reasons why your anthurium is losing flowers, and how to help it recover.

Overwatering or Underwatering Your Anthurium

Both too much and too little water can cause anthurium to lose their flowers – but too much water can cause root rot and kill your plant altogether. If your plant’s leaves are turning brown or wilting along with losing flowers, you need to make some quick course corrections in your plant care routine.

Keep the soil lightly moist during the growing season from March through September. Water your Anthurium well and then allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to completely dry out before watering again.

Cold Damage to Your Anthurium

Anthurium are tropical flower plants and require warm temperatures to thrive. While indoor plants are usually kept warm enough, cold damage can occur due to overzealous AC units or during winter. Your Anthurium prefers temperatures between 65-80 degrees during the day and no cooler than 60 degrees at night. Air circulation can help your plant, but avoid placing it near heating and air conditioning vents and fans.

Improper Light Conditions For Your Anthurium

The more light the plant receives, the more flowers your plant will produce – but never expose it to direct sunlight as that’s the fastest way to not only lose flowers but kill your plant. Place your Anthurium in a spot with bright indirect light. During the winter they can handle less light.

Improper Humidity For Your Anthurium

Your Anthurium loves a humid environment, so misting daily can help your plant recover. Use a pebble tray or a humidifier during the winter months when the air tends to be much drier.