Anthurium scherzerianum of the Araceae family, the popular flamingo flower plant, is very easy to grow at home. We have gathered advice from florists all over the world that you can use to make sure your plant produces its exuberant blooms every year.
If you are interested in growing Anthuriums indoors, then read on!
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Anthurium Scherzerianum Care
The first step to caring for this gorgeous flowering Anthurium plant is to know what its cultural needs are. Learn all about it here.
Light
Providing the right amount of light is crucial for the successful growth of flowering plants. Read below to find out the absolute dos and don’ts of the light requirements of Anthurium scherzerianum.
- Anthurium scherzerianum needs loads of bright but indirect light for its growth and flowering. Put them indoors in a room full of natural sunlight.
- These plants should never be put under direct sunlight. Do not put them in a garden without shade or even near windows without blinds or curtains. They can get sunburnt easily, which can lead to stunted growth and reduced blooming.
- The number and size of flowers produced also decrease if it is not exposed to proper light during the whole of the growth period.
Water
Read on to find out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the water requirements of Scherzerianum plants.
– What Type of Water Is Most Suitable?
The most suitable water for growing scherzerianum is filtered reverse osmosis or distilled water. You can also use common rainwater unless the rain in your region is unusually acidic or alkaline which will increase the lifespan of your Anthurium plant.
Common tap water is often not the best choice due to the various toxic chemicals herein contained. However, you can still use it as long as it has a pH below 7.5.
– How Much and How Often Should I Give Water?
The watering schedule for these plants is quite straightforward. Each time you water them, make sure to do so thoroughly, until water flows completely through the soil, out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, and into the tray underneath. Always remove the extra water from the tray.
Allow at least the top 50 percent of the soil to dry completely before the next watering. You can check whether the soil is dry by sticking a pencil into it. Most scherzerianum plants will only need to be watered once per week.
– How Do I Know I Am Providing My Plant With the Right Amount of Water?
The trick to check if your houseplant is receiving the right amount of water is to observe its leaf tips. Underwatering causes brown leaf tips, whereas overwatering causes the leaf tips to become yellow. Do not water these plants if the soil is still moist. Also, always remove the water accumulated in the bottom tray of the pot.
– What Happens if I Overwater My Plants?
Your leaf tips will turn a sickly yellow. Overwatering also leads to nasty bacterial and fungal infections of the roots and stems. These infections are often very hard to treat and can, under unfortunate circumstances, prove to be fatal.
Propagation
Once you decide to grow and care for the flamingo flower plant at home, you are presented with four options:
- Growing them from seeds
- Fertilizing them yourself
- Vegetative propagation
- Tissue culture
Out of all these, the simplest and the most commonly preferred method is, no doubt, vegetative propagation. It is straightforward enough so that even newbies in gardening can follow through with it. Continue reading below to learn the art of propagating Anthurium Scherzerianum via a step-by-step approach:
- Always choose a healthy scherzerianum plant for propagation. A weak and sick plant should not be used, as attempting propagation would sicken it further. Cut a stem that is at least 6 inches long and contains two or three leaves. Use sharp shearing scissors so as not to damage the plant in the process.
- Next, we suggest that you plant Anthurium in pots that are relatively small-sized for the cut stem. Start with a 10-inch pot. This pot should have drainage holes at the bottom. You can also create these holes yourself. Fill it with a suitable potting medium that provides adequate drainage.
- Now make a hole that is 2 to 3 inches deep in the middle of the potting medium.
- Put the stem piece that you cut previously in this hole very carefully. Fill any space that is left after this with more soil.
- In the beginning, you will need to water your newly propagated Anthurium almost on a daily basis and not let the soil become dry. Do this until new roots emerge. After that, you can resume the usual pattern of watering.
- Put your pot somewhere where its ideal light, temperature, and humidity requirements are adequately being met. For the first few weeks, if you keep it in temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, your plant will grow at a really healthy pace.
- How will you know that your plant has grown new roots? The revealing sign is when you start to observe new foliage on the stem or it starts growing in size. New roots take around six weeks to grow sufficiently.
Problems
There are some common problems that plague a lot of scherzerianum growers. We bring wisdom from Anthurium experts on how you can best avoid or deal with them.
– Pests and Infestations
You need to worry more about pests if you grow Anthurium scherzerianum outdoors rather than indoors. This plant is more subject to sucking pests that feed on its sap than chewing bugs. This is because chewing bugs tend to avoid their thick, waxy leaves.
Keep a good eye on your plant for any signs of infestations, like eaten leaves and the sudden appearance of bugs. Clean the plant regularly using any good quality insecticide spray. You can also use insecticide soap for this purpose.
– Dehydration
Not watering your plant regularly and adequately, or letting the soil become dry for a prolonged period, can lead the plant to undergo dehydration. Dehydration can lead to wilting of leaves and stems. It affects flowering and growth. In severe cases, leaf and stem death is also seen.
Therefore, we recommend you be vigilant about fulfilling the water requirements of your scherzerianum. If, for some reason, you forget to water them for a long time, then you will have to take the entire plant out of the pot and put its entire root system in lukewarm water for a long time to rehydrate it.
– Toxicity
Unfortunately, the exotic flamingo flower plant is toxic for humans and animals alike. This goes for its leaves, flowers, stems, and sap. If you want to grow them at home, you will have to be careful about protecting pets and little kids from chewing on and touching this plant. Mild stomach problems have been known to occur if any part of this plant is ingested.
Even coming in contact with its sap can cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. Our florists always make sure they are wearing gloves when they touch this plant for any reason like pruning or cleaning it. Do the same!
A Foolproof Guide
This South American flowering plant is a favorite among gardeners and florists for its beautiful flowers and foliage. They are the perfect indoor plants: With only the minimum effort put in, the rewards you get in return are totally worth it. Learn how to grow them at home by yourself below.
The Most Suitable Potting Media
- You should invest in good-quality organic soil for your Anthurium scherzerianum plant.
- The potting media should retain adequate water but also drain well.
- Choose a time-tested potting medium, such as peat moss and perlite.
– Mulching
We also recommend mulching your flamingo lilies. Munching is when you place a thick layer of material around the plant and on top of the soil. The purpose mulching fulfills is:
- Locking moisture in the soil
- Protecting the plant from the drying effects of drying winds
- Preventing dehydration from the scorching sun
- Providing extra nutrition for the plant
For Anthurium scherzerianum, we recommend that you use coconut husk or semi-rooted wood as the mulching material.
Temperature and Humidity Needs
The flamingo lily is often called the perfect bathroom decor plant because of its temperature and humidity needs.
- Daily average indoor temperatures should be 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit daily.
- Temperatures lower than this range will impede the bloom of the Anthurium Scherzerianum flower, causing the leaves to turn yellow and the growth rate to slow down.
- Do not place this plant near the air-conditioner, vents, or windows with strong wind drafts.
- Provide this plant with humidity levels of 80 percent or higher.
– Repotting
The Anthurium scherzerianum plant should be repotted either once every two years, or when the plant outgrows its current pot. The best time to repot it is during spring.
Fertilizer
Now, this is a plant species that does not require much fertilizer.
You will only need to fertilize your plant once every two months using a good-quality store-bought nutritional fertilizer.