Anthurium: Easy Houseplants That Offer Long-Lasting Color

While I’ve spent a fair amount of time tending to outdoor plants, my experience with indoor plants was relatively non-existent. The curiosity of the feline members of my household was such that having plants or even cut flowers was not prudent. After one incident with a broken glass vase, I decided cats and indoor plants did not make a good combination.

Fast forward a number of years when an Anthurium was presented to me as a gesture of thanks for speaking to a neighborhood association in 2015. My cats had passed, so bringing it home would have been an option, but instead, I decided to keep the plant in my office where it has flourished, providing long-lasting color with very little care.

The genus name Anthurium is derived from the Greek words “anthos” and “oura” meaning flower and tail. As a member of the Arum family, Anthurium are characterized by an inflorescence consisting of a spathe and spadix. The colorful spathe is a modified leaf, while the spadix is a stalk of densely packed flowers. The Greek word “oura” refers to the spadix as has a tail-like appearance.

The spathes of Anthurium are traditionally pink or red, hence the common name flamingo flower. As I prepared to write this blog, I visited a local nursery and was in awe of the selection, with spathes in bright red, pure white, salmon, pink, and a combination of white, pink, and green. I had to practice self-control and resist the urge to purchase one in every color.

Here are some tips on Anthurium care:

Light: Provide bright but indirect light for maximum flower production.

Water: Water thoroughly but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Fertilizer: Very little fertilizer is required. I’ve never fertilized the plant I was given in 2015, and it has