Anthurium Plant Care: Light, Water, Humidity and Blooms

Give it bright light that never hits the leaves directly, water when the top inch of mix is dry, and keep it warm and humid. NC State Extension's figures for Anthurium andraeanum are 65 to 80 F and 60 to 80 percent humidity, in moist, well-drained soil. With those conditions it flowers several times a year.

The plant comes from the tropics of Colombia and Ecuador (NC State), which explains most of its needs: warmth, humid air, and roots that get air as well as water. The sections below give the numbers for each part of the routine and the places where the sources disagree.

NC State asks for bright, indirect sunlight and warns that direct sun can scorch the leaves. White Flower Farm names an east-facing window as the ideal spot and says too little light slows both growth and flowering. Patch Plants describes it as a medium-light plant that should be kept out of direct sun.

In practice, a bright east window, or a spot a few feet back from a south or west window, gives flowers. A dim corner keeps the leaves alive but usually stops the blooms.

• When. NC State: water when the top inch feels dry. Patch Plants: when the top 2 inches are dry. White Flower Farm also checks that the top inch is fully dry before watering, and waters less often in winter.
• How. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer; NC State names root rot from overwatering among the main problems.
• Water type. NC State's genus page recommends rainwater or purified water rather than tap water.
• If the root ball has dried out completely. White Flower Farm's fix is to soak the whole pot in water for an hour so the mix takes up water again, then let it drain.

Brown leaves or brown tips are the usual sign that watering is off in one direction or the other (White Flower Farm), so check the mix with a finger before you change anything.

NC State gives 60 to 80 percent humidity and 65 to 80 F for Anthurium andraeanum, and says the plant does not tolerate cold drafts; its genus page gives 65 to 85 F for anthuriums in general. Patch Plants gives an ideal range of 18 to 26 C and says growth stops below 10 C.

Humidity is the figure most homes miss. Patch Plants mists every two to three days in spring and summer. Grouping plants or running a humidifier near the pot raises humidity for longer than misting does, and keeps the plant away from heating and air-conditioning vents, which dry the air.

• Soil. White Flower Farm uses orchid mix, or a 50/50 blend of potting soil and perlite. NC State lists well-drained soil with an acidic to neutral pH.
• Feeding. The sources differ on frequency. White Flower Farm feeds monthly from April to August with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer at a quarter of the label strength. Patch Plants uses half-strength fertilizer once each season in spring and summer. Both feed only in the warm months, and both dilute it.
• Repotting. Patch Plants repots every two or three years; White Flower Farm repots when the roots outgrow the pot and divides the root ball at the same time to make new plants.
• Propagation. Division, or stem cuttings with two or more nodes rooted in water, perlite or potting mix (White Flower Farm).

The colourful "flower" is a spathe with a straight spadix in front of it; NC State notes that in anthuriums the spathe is persistent and held at a right angle to the spadix. NC State says each bloom lasts up to four weeks and that the plant blooms several times a year in the right conditions. Patch Plants says a spike can last up to three months.

If a mature plant stops flowering, White Flower Farm's two fixes are more light and regular feeding during the growing season. Fertilizer without light does not work; move it to a brighter spot first.

• Yellow leaves. White Flower Farm links them to too much direct sun; NC State links yellowing to overwatering or a nutrient shortage. Check light first, then the soil.
• Brown leaves or brown tips. Watering that is off in either direction (White Flower Farm).
• Soft stems, wet mix, wilting. Root rot from overwatering (NC State).
• Leaf spots. NC State links them to poor air circulation.
• Insects. Aphids, spider mites, mealybugs and scale (NC State). See our pest guide.
• No flowers. Usually too little light (White Flower Farm).

For yellowing that could have several causes, our yellow leaves guide sorts them by where on the plant the yellow appears.

Putting together what the three sources warn about, the mistakes are:

• Treating it as a low-light plant. It survives in shade but flowers poorly (White Flower Farm).
• Direct sun. It scorches the leaves (NC State).
• Keeping the mix wet. Root rot is the main disease risk (NC State).
• Dry air. NC State's humidity range starts at 60 percent, higher than most heated rooms in winter.
• Cold drafts and cold windows. Growth stops below 10 C (Patch Plants).
• Full-strength fertilizer. Both White Flower Farm and Patch Plants dilute it.

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension, White Flower Farm, Patch Plants) recommends rice water, and we found no published test of it on anthuriums. What they do recommend is a diluted balanced fertilizer in the growing season, which gives a known amount of nutrients, and NC State suggests rainwater or purified water rather than tap water. If you want to feed the plant, use the quarter-strength monthly schedule above.

NC State's genus page lists the anthuriums most often grown as houseplants:

• Anthurium andraeanum (flamingo flower). Glossy, heart-shaped leaves and a waxy spathe in red, pink, orange or white with a straight white or cream spadix. The one sold in flower.
• Anthurium scherzerianum (pigtail plant). Recognised by its curly spadix.
• Anthurium crystallinum. Grown for its leaves: silvery veins on deep green.
• Anthurium clarinervium. White veins on velvety dark leaves.
• Anthurium veitchii (king anthurium). Leaves up to 4 feet long.

NC State notes that some anthuriums can be high-maintenance. The foliage types are grown for leaves rather than flowers. A photo of one leaf, front and back, is usually enough for PlantLens to name the species.

Anthurium is poisonous if eaten. NC State rates it a low-severity poison caused by calcium oxalate crystals, says all parts are poisonous if ingested, and lists drooling, mouth pain, swelling and vomiting as the signs; it also causes contact dermatitis. White Flower Farm describes it as toxic to cats, dogs and humans and suggests gloves when handling it, and Patch Plants warns that the sap can irritate eyes and skin.

Keep it out of reach of pets and children. If a pet has chewed it, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435. For a person, call Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222. For plants with a cleaner record, see house plants safe for cats.

Research and drafting for this page were done with the help of AI, and every figure was then checked line by line against the sources listed at the end of the page. Sources were opened on 2026-09-25. If you find a mistake, tell us and we will correct it.