Pink Flamingo Flower Basket

Anthuriums are native to tropical South and Central America. The common name for Anthurium is Flamingo Flower. The inflorescence consists of a colorful heart-shaped spathe with a spike-like spadix arising from the center. The variety of Anthurium you have received is a cultivar especially bred for compactness and container growing. The “flowers” are long-lived on the plant, lasting up to six weeks.

Place your Anthurium near a window where it will receive bright indirect light with no direct sunlight. It will do best with warm temperatures of 75º to 85ºF during the daytime, and 70° to 75°F at night, but temperatures as low as 45°F and as high as 90°F can be tolerated.

Anthuriums need humidity to be at 50 percent or more, much higher than in the average home interior. Increase humidity around your Anthurium by placing the potted plant on a tray of moistened pebbles, or at least misting the leaves frequently with lime-free water.

Anthuriums like their soil to be kept evenly moist but not soggy. It is better to let the soil dry slightly between waterings than to keep it too wet which can lead to root damage and yellowing lower leaves, possibly death. If the soil is allowed to dry excessively, some leaf tip burn will most likely occur. If allowed to go too dry, to the point of wilting, submerge the entire pot under water until all bubbling stops.

Fertilize your Anthurium once a month from spring through summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. Be sure to fertilize only when the soil is moist.

Prune to shape as you desire, keeping in mind the small- scale size of the plant and its container. Flowers will appear from small shoots that originate where the leaves meet the stem and the shoot tips in the spring.

Flowers in the spring, harvest in the autumn. If too much new growth is produced at the branch tips, don’t be shy about cutting it back to a lower position to shorten the trees height as it begins to re-grow. Planting in a larger container is the easiest way to keep the plant healthy.

Remove the tree from its pot, during winter, every 2-3 years and remove about 1/3 of the roots. Re-pot with a blended potting soil. This will encourage new roots and keep it growing happily.

Keep the tree from cold extreme temperatures in a bright location through the winter. Depending on your location, you could leave it outside in a frost free area or in a bright, warm room if freezing temperatures occur. As old leaves fall off, fertilize regularly to create new growth and keep the tree productive.