The anthurium is a popular species of flowering plants, with around 1,000 different kinds of plants in its species. It is the largest genus of the Araceae family and is also known as the tailflower or the flamingo flower.
While the plant is commonly found in many parts of the Americas, it is primarily distributed from Northern Mexico, and is also found in Northern Argentina. The large leaves and the distinctive appearance of the flowers really sets this one apart from other flowers and plants.
The anthurium is often used for flower arrangements and decorations, and the plant is also sold in small pots, even though it’s slightly more complicated in closed surroundings.
The plant tends to grow best in an outdoor environment and requires high levels of moisture and humidity. It does really well in parts of Florida and is also found in Hawaii and mainly South America. The Caribbean is also home to the anthurium plant.
Many people buy the anthurium flowers because they are so beautiful, and the large leaves look so different when compared with other houseplants. When grown en masse, the red flowers and the green leaves paint a very colorful picture.
However, if your anthurium isn’t flowering, it could be due to a number of reasons. Anthuriums are generally quite particular about their environment.
Problems such as soggy soil or insufficient lighting can cause a hindrance and prevent the anthurium from blooming. Before we talk about the different problems that you might encounter in getting your anthurium to bloom, it’s important to focus on essential anthurium care.
Anthurium Care Basics
Proper watering, maintaining humidity levels, and feeding it with the right fertilizer are all essential tasks. Ideally, the best way to make sure that your anthurium grows properly is to provide it with the natural environment that it prefers to grow in.
The anthurium is a rainforest plant, and most such plants tend to grow in a similar way like bromeliads and orchids. They grow just as they do on trees. More importantly, they are also quite particular about the environment they grow in.
Obviously, that doesn’t mean that these plants require more care or are difficult to grow. All it means is that you have to find a suitable place in your house where you can keep your potted anthurium and let it grow.
You also have to keep an eye on the plant and make sure that it gets enough energy to bloom and produce these beautiful flowers. The plant requires bright, indirect sunlight throughout the course of the day.
It also prefers a well-draining potting mixture that can be peat-based, or pine-bark based. Obviously, there are several important things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to growing the anthurium, so it’s important that you understand the important care basics for the plant.
Now, if your anthurium isn’t blooming, it could be due to a number of reasons. Here are some issues that might be preventing the anthurium from flowering.
1 – The Right Potting Mixture
One of the main reasons why your anthurium might not bloom is because of the potting mixture that you are using. If you don’t have a well-draining potting mixture, the anthurium will struggle to bloom.
If your potting mixture does not drain quickly, it simply means that the soil isn’t draining the water as fast as it should every time you water the plant. With the passage of time, the potting mix is going to get waterlogged, and this will affect the ability of the plant to absorb oxygen from its surroundings.
With time, the plant will become weaker and weaker and it won’t have enough energy to bloom. As you already know, plants utilize a considerable amount of energy to bloom and produce flowers.
Everything needs to be perfectly right for that to happen. If it isn’t, the plant will not bloom and will try to preserve itself. More importantly, waterlogging in the soil will also result in root rot, and that could drown the plant, effectively killing it over time.
In nature, anthuriums tend to grow on the trees found in rainforests. As a result of that, they receive a great deal of rain, and their roots are actually not buried in the soil, instead, they are hanging and exposed to the air.
As a result of that, they are able to get all of the oxygen that they require. The roots of the plant have to adapt specially to the rainfall cycles and they simply cannot thrive in soggy soil environments.
To maintain a consistent flowering routine and ensure that your anthurium grows properly, you have to make use of a potting mixture that was created for orchids. You can easily buy one from your local store, or you can make your own as well.
You just need to buy pine bark or a peat-based potting mixture that contains volcanic rock or perlite. This will ensure that the roots of the plant remain aerated.
More importantly, you should always ensure that there are sizeable drainage holes at the bottom of the pot to allow the excess water to escape out. Not cutting out the drainage holes is a common mistake that people make, and could prevent the anthurium from flowering.
2 – The Right Amount of Lighting
Arguably the biggest mistake that people make when caring for an anthurium is that they do not provide it with the appropriate amount of sunlight. All plants need sunlight to thrive.
Insufficient lighting is by far the biggest reason why your anthuriums might not grow. In the rainforests, these plants receive dappled sunlight, and as a result of that, they are able to flower quite easily.
It’s one of the main reasons why anthuriums are not this sensitive and can provide lots of foliage in lower lighting conditions. However, the plant is just not going to flower unless it gets bright, indirect sunlight.
Ideally, you should keep the plant in a spot that receives indirect sunlight throughout the course of the day. For instance, a spot close to a window toward the South is a fantastic idea. It’s going to receive diffused light throughout the day.
If you don’t have such a spot anywhere in the house, you might want to consider using full spectrum grow lights. Grow lights are now incredibly popular and can be used to ensure that your plant gets a full day of light (at least nine hours).
This will help you enjoy the vibrant flowers and will be a great addition to your house.
3 – Managing the Temperature
The temperature range for these tropical plants is usually between 70 and 85 degrees F. This is the general temperature indoors, so your anthuriums won’t really cause many problems.
This isn’t a concern for most people, but it does become one if your plant is exposed to drafts. If there are sudden temperature changes or drafts where the plant is kept, it could prevent the anthurium from growing properly.
The anthurium is an incredibly sensitive plant and does not respond well to temperature changes. For instance, if you keep the plant near an external door or a window, or even near a cooling or heating vent, it’s going to have an adverse impact on the plant.
So, if you are doing everything right but still not getting the results that you want, making a change as simple as just relocating the plant to a different spot could be enough to make it bloom.
4 – Humidity
This is a tropical plant, and as a result of that, it requires a lot of humidity. The entire theme in this article is focused on replicating the natural environment in which the anthuriums grow.
Humidity is a key component in a tropical rainforest because it usually remains very high. Lack of humidity, therefore, could be a serious problem for a plant such as the anthurium.
If the plant does not get an adequate amount of humidity, you will notice the foliage losing its freshness, and the sheen from the surface of its leaves will also go away. Furthermore, the resilience of the plant to flower will also decrease by a significant margin.
To ensure that your anthurium receives an appropriate amount of humidity, you should consider grouping all of the anthuriums in your house and then placing an electric humidifier nearby. Electric humidifiers are a wise choice as they will continue running for a longer period of time and will improve the humidity all around the area.
If you don’t have a humidifier, there are other methods that you can use to maintain the humidity. A water tray, for example, is a great choice.
You will need a simple, flat tray, and you will need to put some pebbles in it. Ideally, you should opt for smooth pebbles that can be found in the grounds. Then, just pour water into the tray until the pebbles are submerged, or until the water is at a similar level.
You can then place the water tray near the plants to maintain its humidity levels. Keep in mind that the moisture in the air might increase dramatically, and this could cause insect infestations and can lead to fungus or mold in the environment.
Ideally, you should also keep a blowing fan nearby, though you should never point it toward the plant. Excessive airflow is going to scorch the leaves as the plant will dry out really quickly.
You just have to make sure that there is a bit of air circulation in the area where you have kept the anthurium.
5 – Establishing a Proper Watering Regime
You also have to make sure that you establish a proper watering regime to ensure that your plant grows quickly. One of the reasons that your anthurium might not be flowering is because of the watering regime you follow.
Anthuriums generally love moisture, and it might be a logical decision to ensure that the plant always has access to water through the potting mixture. However, as discussed, the plant does not take well to waterlogging.
The roots will not receive appropriate amounts of oxygen, and as a result, the plant will succumb to death. So, how much water is enough for the anthurium?
When watering the anthurium, you need to first water the potting mixture as best as you can. Then, you should wait until the excess water has completely drained from the plant. Once that happens, you need to insert your finger into the soil and check the level of moisture.
You have to water the plant again once the soil has dried out a little. However, you shouldn’t let the plant become completely dry.
There’s no specific regime that you can follow when it comes to watering the anthuriums. It primarily depends on the weather conditions and the local climate in your area. The type of area, the dimensions of the plant, and the environment at home will also play a key role in determining the amount of water that the plant receives.
To give you a small example: you will have to water the plant more frequently during the summer months as compared to the winter season. During the winter season, the plant doesn’t really need a lot of moisture.
6 – Fertilization
Last but not least, you have to pay attention to the amount of fertilizer that you give to the plant. Since it is a potted houseplant, it won’t benefit from the natural minerals and nutrients found in the soil.
To ensure that the plant receives these nutrients, you should choose a liquid fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus. Ideally, you should choose one that is designed for flowering plants.
But before adding the fertilizer, you should dilute it to no more than 20% in strength. Then, add it to the soil after watering the foliage. This is going to revitalize the anthurium and make it bloom.
These are just some of the things that you can do to ensure that your anthurium blooms consistently!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.