Anthurium scherzerianum, 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 bloom every year.
If you are interested in growing Anthuriums indoors, then read on!
Contents
What Is Anthurium Scherzerianum?
Anthurium scherzerianum is an extremely popular ornamental flowering plant. It is also called the “flamingo flower plant” because of its flamingo-looking exotic flowers.
– Flowers
- The flowers of Anthurium scherzerianum are very unique and exotic looking. Even a single specimen will brighten up your entire room.
- The flower of this plant is actually made up of two parts: a spadix, which is a curly orange-colored stem, and a spathe.
- The spathe looks like a solitary petal but is actually a flower bract. Flower bracts are modified leaves from which flowers arise.
- Each flower spathe is a bright red, orange, or pink color that catches the eye from afar. That is why these plants are known all over the world as the flamingo’s flowers.
- These flowers are very long-lasting. Even after you cut them and place them in a vase, they will last for months!
– Leaves
- In addition to flowers, Anthurium scherzerianum also produces exuberant foliage.
- Its leaves are lance-shaped, meaning they are wider in the middle and taper towards the tip.
- Each leaf grows to be 8 inches long and is medium-green in color, growing on thin stalks.
– Stem And Roots
- The Anthurium scherzerianum height makes it perfect as an indoor plant.
- Each stem grows to be about 12 to 28 inches tall.
- Stem height is proportional to the size of the spathe. A Scherzerianum with a larger spathe will need a taller stem.
Anthurium Scherzerianum Care
The first step to caring for this gorgeous flowering 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 decreases 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.
Common tap water is often not the best choice due to 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, the 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 are also seen.
Therefore, we recommend you to 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 Southamerican 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 of 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, cause 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 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.
FAQ
How often do you water Anthurium Scherzerianum?
Anthurium Scherzerianum should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, usually every 1-2 weeks.
Should you cut off brown Anthurium Scherzerianum leaves?
Yes, it’s advisable to trim brown leaves from Anthurium Scherzerianum to maintain plant health and aesthetics.
Does Anthurium Scherzerianum have aerial roots?
Anthurium Scherzerianum, commonly known as Flamingo Lily, can develop aerial roots. These roots often grow above the soil surface and play a role in absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air.
Conclusion
You have covered a lot of ground on Anthurium so far, so let’s just sum it all up to make sure we haven’t missed anything important.
- Anthurium scherzerianum is a very popular ornamental plant that produces bright pink/ red flowers.
- This plant needs very bright but indirect light for its growth and blooming. Put it indoors in a bright room, preferably near a window. However, do not put it under direct sunlight because they are prone to sunburn.
- Use filtered water for Anthurium scherzerianum. Allow the top 50 percent of the soil to become dry before watering them next. Always water these plants thoroughly.
- Propagation is the best method for planting new scherzerianum plants. Cut a 6 inches long stem that has two to three leaves and plant it in the new pot.
- The ideal potting media for this plant is either peat moss or perlite.
- Mulching is important for these plants. A thick layer of some material like charcoal needs to be placed on the topsoil to lock in moisture.
- The flamingo flowered plant needs high humidity levels at all times.
- Surrounding temperatures should also be high. Temperatures lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit will stunt its growth and impede the flowering of this plant.
- Anthurium scherzerianum only needs to be fertilized once every two months using a good but mild fertilizer.
- Keep in mind that this plant and its parts are toxic for animals and humans and can cause rashes, indigestion, and allergies. Keep away from pets and children.
- Always be on the lookout for pests and infections.
There is a reason why Anthurium scherzerianum is such a sought-after flowering plant all over the world. With only a little love and effort, your house will be filled with its eye-catching bloom and foliage. You will not be able to do without this plant anymore!
- 25 Kalanchoe Types and Colorful Varieties for Your Garden - October 3, 2023
- 17 Hawaiian Flowers That Grow and Thrive in the Hot Summer - October 2, 2023
- Watering a Poinsettia and How is it Done Correctly? - September 30, 2023
