These tropical flowers are great candidates for growing indoors How to Grow and Care for an Anthurium Plant 3:18
Anthurium, also called flamingo flowers, are known for their unique, bright red, green, and white colors. The genus consists of around 1,000 perennial plants native to Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean.
Though they can easily be grown outdoors in tropical climates, they are more often kept as houseplants or in greenhouses due to their specific care needs.
Anthurium can bloom repeatedly for long periods; varieties are distinctive with heart-shaped waxy spathes (i.e., modified leaf around the flower) and red or yellow spikes. Growth rate is slow or moderate and dependent on ample light but susceptible to sunburn. Many anthuriums are climbers, and all need high humidity and warmth to thrive. Anthurium is toxic to both humans and pets.
The Red Peace Lily – A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Anthuriums
The red peace lily also known as flamingo flower or anthurium, is a popular houseplant admired for its lush heart-shaped leaves and bright red blooms that resemble a “flamingo in flight.” Though not a true lily, its showy flowers and tolerance for indoor conditions make it an excellent choice for beginners and plant parents. This guide covers everything you need to know about successfully growing the red peace lily in your home.
Botanical Name and Origins
The red peace lily belongs to the Anthurium genus, which contains over 1,000 species of flowering plants native to tropical regions of the Americas. The most common species grown as houseplants are Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum. These tropical perennials originate from rainforests in countries like Brazil and Colombia.
Appearance and Size
Red peace lilies have lush, dark green, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long. Their most distinctive feature is the colorful spathe, a modified leaf that surrounds the spadix, a finger-like spike where the small true flowers are borne. Spathes come in bright red, pink, white, green, orange, and purple. Mature plants grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Light and Temperature
Red peace lilies thrive in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which can scorch their leaves. Daytime temps of 65-80°F are ideal. At night, they prefer cooler 60-65°F temperatures. Keep plants away from hot and cold drafts.
Watering and Humidity
Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, then soak thoroughly until water drains from the pot’s bottom. Drooping leaves indicate under-watering. Low humidity causes brown leaf tips – use a humidifier or pebble tray to increase moisture levels around the plant to 40-50%.
Soil and Fertilizer
Use a well-draining potting mix amended with compost or orchid bark. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Reduce feeding in fall and winter.
Repotting
Repot young plants annually in early spring until they reach maturity. Thereafter, repot every 2-3 years when roots fill the container. Choose a pot only slightly larger than the current one to avoid over-potting.
Flowers and Pollination
Given proper care, red peace lilies will produce showy flowers for 6 weeks or more. To pollinate, use a small brush to transfer pollen from the spadix to the stigma. This will produce olive-sized red-orange berry-like fruits. However, pollination is not required for the plant to rebloom.
Propagation
Propagate from stem cuttings in spring or summer. Cut below a node and root in water or moist potting mix. New plants will emerge from the axils where leaves attach to stems. Mature plants can also be divided.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Brown leaf tips – Increase humidity
- Yellowing leaves – Overwatering
- Drooping leaves – Underwatering
- Leaf spots/blight – Improve air circulation
With its tropical appeal and vivid blooms, the red peace lily makes a lively addition to any indoor garden. Follow these tips to keep your anthurium thriving for years of enjoyment!
Potting and Repotting Anthurium
Repotting is necessary every two years or so. Transfer the plant to a pot that is no more than two inches larger than the old one. Pots made of plastic, ceramic and terracotta are all good choices. Keep in mind that terracotta tends to dry out more quickly than plastic and ceramic. Multiple drainage holes are required.
To repot an anthurium, fill the new pot with about 1/3 potting mix, then set the plant onto the soil and lightly pack additional soil around the base, up to the level the plant was buried in its old pot.
Water
Keep soil slightly moist and never allow it to dry out completely. Water indoor plants about once a week or when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. Water your plant until it runs from the pots drainage holes but do not leave it to sit in water—anthuriums are vulnerable to root rot.
Grown outdoors, plants may need water every two to three days.
5 Reasons your Anthurium leaves turning brown
FAQ
How do you care for anthurium red peace lily?
Anthurium Red
Your Anthurium prefers bright indirect light, but can adapt to low light. The more light the plant receives, the more it will grow. It cannot tolerate extended periods of direct sunlight. Water your Anthurium when 50% of the soil volume is dry.
Are anthurium and peace lily the same?
You’d be forgiven for thinking that this plant is a peace lily – they look very similar and its botanical name is close – but this plant is actually an anthurium. Found in the wild across the warmest parts of South America and the Caribbean, the anthurium is a particularly stunning houseplant.
How to care for a red anthurium plant?
To care for a red anthurium plant, provide bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and moderate humidity.
Are peace lilies the same as Anthurium?
Well-known houseplants like the Pothos, Monstera deliciosa, Arrowhead Plant, and Peace Lily are all in the same plant family as the Anthurium. Are peace lily and anthurium the same? You’d be forgiven for thinking that this plant is a peace lily – they look very similar and its botanical name is close – but this plant is actually an anthurium.
What should I look for when buying an anthurium red peace lily?
When buying an anthurium red peace lily, look for: A healthy root system without signs of rot. Avoid root-bound plants. Leaves that are green and free of blemishes, pests, or disease. Several spathe flowers in bloom. This indicates the plant is mature enough to flower. Compact, upright growth.
What is a red peace lily called?
Botanic Name: Anthurium spp. Common Names: Anthurium, Flamingo Flower, Little Boy Plant, Red Peace Lily, Red Heart Plant. The anthurium red peace lily is a gorgeous tropical houseplant known for its striking flowers and lush foliage. Though not a true lily, this plant is commonly called a peace lily due to its similarities in appearance.
Do Anthurium & peace lilies like damp conditions?
Both plants do like damp conditions, because they come from rainforests, but you must let them dry out from time to time too – and an anthurium needs to dry out more often than the peace lily. It needs better drainage in its soil to ensure this happens.
How do you care for Anthurium red peace lily?
Fertilizer: Apply a balanced houseplant fertilizer monthly during spring and summer. Follow these tips to keep your anthurium red peace lily healthy and encourage lush growth: Place in bright, indirect light near an east or west-facing window. Rotate the plant periodically for even light exposure. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Are peace lilies a Aroid?
Members of this family are often called aroids, and there are over three thousand of them. Anthuriums are in this group as well, and so are many other well-loved houseplants, including Philodendrons, Monsteras, Arrowhead Vines, Pothos, and ZZ Plants. Don’t feel too bad if you assumed a Peace Lily was just a species of Anthurium with white flowers.