The flamingo flower comes in many variations. You can find out how to keep it and how to avoid common care mistakes here.
Flamingo flowers immediately catch the eye with their colorful or strikingly patterned leaves and are therefore very popular. Because of their brightly colored bracts, the lesser anthurium (Anthurium scherzerianum) and the large anthurium (Anthurium andreanum), as well as their hybrids, are mainly kept as indoor plants . Not only can they be planted in soil, they even thrive in water. How it works? These and other questions about care, location and propagation of the two species of anthurium are answered in this article.
Flamingo flower: origin and characteristics
Flamingo flowers belong to the Araceae family and originally come from the tropics of Central and South America. According to current knowledge, the genus includes about 1000 different species. Anthurium species that are often found in our living rooms are the Lesser Anthurium (Anthurium scherzerianum) and the Greater Anthurium (Anthurium andreanum) or hybrids of both species.
Anthuriums are evergreen and often have brightly coloured, sheath-shaped bracts in white, pink or red, which are also called spathe. However, the actual flower is, typical of the arum family, bulb-shaped and rather inconspicuous and is surrounded by the bract. The decorative leaves of the flamingo flower are heart-shaped and glossy and can grow up to 40 cm long. The Lesser Flamingo Flower has elongated, rather dull leaves that can reach a length of 30 cm. It often has more flowers than the anthurium.
Plant Anthurium
Anthuriums can be planted conventionally in soil, but can also be cultivated hydroponically. They require a little care, but the reward is profuse flowering all year round.
The right location for the Anthurium
Flamingo flowers, in keeping with their tropical origins, like it warm and humid. The Anthurium feels most comfortable in a sunny or semi-shady place without direct sunlight. Drafts should be avoided. The best temperature in summer is 20 to 25 °C, in winter 16 to 18 °C is enough. These low temperatures promote the formation of flowers next spring, especially in the case of the Lesser Flamingo Flower, which is also referred to as a cold stimulus.
The right soil for the Anthurium
The substrate for the Anthurium should be loose and permeable and have a high humus content. The flamingo flower does not tolerate lime and prefers an acidic to moderately acidic pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Green or indoor plant soil, for example, is well suited. The anthurium also thrives in a mixture of one third each of sand, leaf compost and peat, although the use of peat is not recommended for environmental reasons. A sustainable alternative would be, for example, our peat-free Plantura organic universal soil mixed with sour grape pomace.
Plant flamingo flower in a pot
If the flamingo flower is to be cultivated in a pot, it is important that it has a drainage hole on the bottom. Now a drainage layer, for example made of potsherds, can be filled in first. This ensures that the water can always drain off well and that no waterlogging forms. The Anthurium is then planted in a suitable substrate. For safety, gloves should be worn, as touching the plant can cause skin irritation. In addition, the soil can be covered with moss to protect the soil and roots from drying out.
Keep Anthurium in water
Anthuriums can also be kept in water. Most anthuriums can easily adapt to this form of housing, but then grow a little more slowly than in the ground. However, if the leaves turn yellow, it is better to put the plant back in a suitable substrate.
To keep the Anthurium hydroponic, first rinse the roots of the plant with lukewarm water to remove any remaining soil. Now the flamingo flower simply has to be placed in a container with water so that the roots are just covered. If you keep the anthurium in the glass, you can even watch the roots grow. It is important to use low-lime water such as rainwater. That should be every three weeksWater changed and tank cleaned. To provide the flamingo flower with the nutrients it needs, a little plant food or a drop of fertilizer is added every now and then.
However, in the long run, growing in true hydroponics or soil is better for the plant than growing in a glass. For hydroponics you need a waterproof planter, in which the water and a special nutrient solution are filled and a water level indicator is attached. In the inner pot is the plant, which is held with the help of granules, for example expanded clay. This allows enough oxygen to reach the roots. If the water level falls below the minimum line, it must be watered again. When kept in water, it is particularly practical that the humidity is automatically increased and watering is required less often.
Comparison of hydroponics and hydroponics:
Hydroponics:
- Hydroponics in a glass looks very decorative.
- Roots are completely covered with nutrient solution (can lead to oxygen starvation and overfeeding in the long run).
- Water must be changed regularly.
Hydroponics:
- Use of substrate (e.g. expanded clay) to give the plant support and oxygenate it.
- Watering less with water level indicator (Also allows you to water ahead).
- The plant gets everything it needs from the nutrient solution in the cachepot via the roots (less risk of over-fertilization).
Anthurium care
To give the flamingo flower the care it needs, there are just a few things to keep in mind. With a bit of practice, the posture will be easy.
Water the anthurium properly
When watering, it is particularly important that the substrate never dries out, but that the plants are not standing in water either. You should therefore water regularly, but not too much, and remove excess water from the planter or saucer. In addition, flamingo flowers do not tolerate lime, which is why decalcified water or rainwater should be used. Watering is best done with room-warm water.
Fertilize anthurium: time and choice of fertilizer
From time to time the flamingo flower needs new nutrients through fertilization. It should be fertilized regularly but little.This means that fertilization takes place every two weeks in summer and approximately every two months in winter and only at half the concentration. Since the anthurium is sensitive to too much s alt, a primarily organic fertilizer should also be used. Our Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertilizer, for example, is suitable for this, as it supplies the flamingo flower with all the necessary nutrients. Beneficial microorganisms in the organic fertilizer also stimulate root growth and improve nutrient availability.
Tip: If the anthurium is kept in water, a special hydroponic fertilizer that provides all the essential nutrients is absolutely necessary.
Pruning Anthurium
The flamingo flower does not need to be cut back. Only brown and dried leaves should be cut off at the base with a sharp knife. If you want to cut back the anthurium, this is easily possible. The severed stalks will keep in a vase for some time.
Repot Anthurium
Young Anthuriums should be repotted every spring when the growth phase begins. With older plants, it is sufficient to replace the top layer of substrate or to repot them every three to four years. Since the skin can be sensitive to touching the anthurium, it is advisable to use gloves when repotting. The flamingo flower is then placed in a larger pot corresponding to its root mass. Rotten roots should be removed before planting.
Brown leaves on the flamingo flower: what to do?
If the flamingo flower gets brown leaves, there can be various reasons. In any case, brown and dried leaves should be removed so that the plant does not invest any more energy in them. Possible causes of leaf discolouration are:
- Too much direct sun: The Anthurium should be placed in a place without direct sun.
- Too much or too little water: Here it can help to change the water supply over a period of time and to observe how the plant develops.
- Insufficient humidity: This is also reflected in the leaves curling up. The plant should then be sprayed with low-lime water from time to time.
Tip: The most common care mistakes with the flamingo flower are too hard water, too low temperatures or too little humidity.
Flamingo flower does not bloom: causes andMeasures
There can also be different reasons for missing flowers. The following causes often lead to reduced flowering:
- Insufficient light: The flamingo flower does not tolerate direct sunlight, but the location should be bright enough.
- Insufficient fertilizer: Without sufficient nutrients, the anthurium cannot flower.
- Wrong nutrient ratio: For flowering, the plant mainly needs potassium and a little less nitrogen, as the latter tends to promote the growth of green parts of the plant.
Tip: A cold stimulus helps to stimulate the formation of flowers, especially with the Lesser Flamingo Flower. For this, the plant should be kept at 16 to 18 °C for about six weeks in winter. During this time, it also needs a little less water and no fertilizer. Once warmed up again and given regular tending, flowering should begin.
Propagating Anthurium: Offshoots, Seeds and Co.
The easiest way to propagate Anthurium is to divide old mother plants, which often even form rooted side shoots. This can be done by repotting in the spring. The flamingo flower can then be divided at the root ball. It is important that all parts have sufficient roots and at least one leaf. The daughter plants are then planted in their own pots and placed in a light and warm place. If the anthuriums are still quite small, it can help to increase the humidity. For example, you can put a plastic bag over the plant and pot. This must be removed regularly to prevent mold from forming. Gloves should also be worn for safety when propagating the flamingo flower.
Another method is propagation by cuttings. To do this, some stems are cut off at the base with a sharp knife and all leaves are removed except for the top ones. The cuttings can later form roots in these places. It is now placed in a glass of water in a bright, warm place. The water should be changed regularly. It may take a few weeks before the Anthurium has formed enough roots and can be planted.
A propagation of the flamingo flower by seeds is only possible if the plant has been fertilized. Because anthuriums are cross-pollinatedclearly prefer, several plants of the same species are needed to harvest seeds. If fertilization is successful, the often colorful fruits form rather slowly within a year. Therefore, the faded flower stalks must not be removed. When the berries are ripe, they must be harvested and the seeds removed from the fruit. The seeds should then be washed off and used quickly, as the germination capacity is already greatly reduced after 24 hours. Then it can be sown on an acidic, nutrient-poor potting soil and lightly pressed, but not covered with soil. The whole thing should be kept moist. It is best to stretch cling film over the seed pot and provide it with a few air holes to increase the humidity. After about two weeks, germination should have started.
Proper wintering
Overwintering the flamingo flower is not difficult and can even contribute to increased flowering. In winter, the Anthurium needs above all:
- A lower temperature than summer, preferably between 16 and 18°C, but not colder.
- Less water, but the root ball should never dry out completely.
- Fertilization only every six to eight weeks, as the growth phase does not start again until spring.
Common diseases and pests
Sometimes the flamingo flower can be infested with pests. The most common pests are:
- Spider mites: Recognizable by a fine web and brown colored leaves.
- Mealybugs: Sluggish lice that leave light colored spots on the leaves.
- Leaf spot disease: In rare cases, leaf spot disease can also be the cause of mottled discolouration and wilted leaves.
Is the flamingo flower poisonous?
Like most arum plants, the flamingo flower is slightly poisonous to humans and animals. Contact can cause skin irritation; contact with mucous membranes and eyes in particular should be avoided. Consumption can lead to gastrointestinal problems. However, the leathery leaves tend to deter animals from eating the plant. For safety, gloves should be worn when repotting or propagating.
A colorful flamingo flower is not enough for you? More floriferousWe present indoor plants for your home in our special article.