The crimson anthurium I bought for my mom was the only plant I took home from the university greenhouse that didn’t harbor a pest ready to take advantage of her houseplant collection.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
We won’t even talk about the mealybugs I accidentally introduced into the greenhouse at home…
Lucky for me, anthuriums, more colorfully known as flamingo plants, aren’t prone to many pest problems. But like all plants, they do occasionally attract a few hungry insects.
If these insects strike, you’ll be prepared to identify and deal with them with the information we’ve compiled for you below.
Here’s the lineup of common culprits you may find bugging your anthuriums:
How to Identify and Manage Common Anthurium Pests1. AphidsAphids are pear-shaped, soft insects that come in a variety of green and brown shades and suck on the leaves and stems.
Not only do they suck the plant’s juices until the leaves become distorted and yellow, they exude a sticky byproduct called honeydew, which feeds ants and black sooty mold, and this is not a pretty sight.
One aphid can turn into a huge problem rapidly, because these pests can reproduce without mating. They give birth to live young, which can also give birth after only seven days.
I’ll give you a second to think about the math there. Not pretty, right?
The good news is, beneficial insects like ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and lacewings all attack aphids and will help to knock down aphid populations and keep them down if growing these plants outdoors or in a greenhouse.
Green Lacewing Eggs
You can purchase green lacewing eggs at Arbico Organics.
These handy
Read more on gardenerspath.com