Find Your Ask the Expert: Flamingo Lily care
I recently acquired a plant at a yard sale. The lady who had it didn’t know what it was, but said that she kept it in direct sunlight and when she moved it it didn’t bloom. She also said it was quite huge and she had given it a “hair cut” and it’s come back beautiful.
I did some research and found out it’s a Flamingo Lily? It has beautiful Salmon pink blooms. It looks very healthy, and is starting to get root bound in its 6″ pot. My question is this, I’ve tried to research proper care for this plant and have come up with variations from full sun to shade, and from keep it wet, to dry it out. The only common factor is to keep the humidity up by misting it. HELP!! Also, how root bound do they like to be? Should I be transplanting it to an 8″ pot? What kind of fertilizer should I use, how often?
I’ve attached pics of my Flamingo Lily:
Thank you for taking the time to read, and answer my question. Shannon
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
Shannon, you do have an Anthurium andraeanum ‘Flamingo’. It is easy to find conflicting information about plant care. So, it is best to understand the natural environment in order to understand which plant care is best for your particular plant. Anthurium is a rather large genus of evergreen perennials from the wet mountain forest in tropical and subtropical North and South America.
Humidity & Watering
From this information we can gather the needs of the plant. Humidity is definitely important so mist your plant every few days or keep in an area with natural humidity like a kitchen or bathroom. When you mist, use lukewarm water and spray the plant evenly. It likes to be kept moist, but here is the kicker, it can’t be soggy. So it needs to be in a soil that is loose, humus rich and drains well. When you water moisten the soil evenly.
Temperature & Lighting
Provide a constant temperature and a little towards the warm side at that. Keep away from air vents. With light you want to create the same situation as the tropical forest. Bright filtered light; in other words don’t let the sun shine directly on the plant. Don’t place Anthurium in a window, instead place on a table where it will receive light from the window, but in a diffused manner.
Fertilizers & Re-potting
Use a balanced fertilizer every three to four weeks. Anthurium usually need to be re-pot every couple of years. When the roots of the plant have basically taken over the soil content, it is time to re-pot. Here in the south the rule of thumb is to use a container that is “half again as big.” This means if you are in a 6″ pot you will need a 9″ or 10″ pot. I hope this information is beneficial.
For those of you interested in Anthurium and want one of your own contact your local florists, they may have Anthurium plants available or for special occasions may be able to order the flower and create a tropical arrangement.
Jamie,
Thank you for the quick response to my questions. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to help me out. Now that I know how to properly care for my beautiful new plan, I can give it a good and healthy environment.
Again, thank you!
Shannon
Hi
I also have an Anthirium which when I bought had several flowers. Since then all the flowers have fallen off. I was feeding it with liquid potash once a week but then most of the leaves browned and dried out to about half of the leaf. I have it near a window and water about once a week. When I bought it seemed to have a lot more leaves and it appears quite leggy.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards
Suzy
Hi,
I got my Anthurium sometime around May and it had beautiful leaves and 4 pretty pink flowers. A couple of days after I got it I noticed that it had centipede or milipede type worms in it. so I got some miracle grow 3 month fertilizer soil and not knowing that it didn’t like large pots, I put it in a larger pot. Bad idea, because I noticed that one of the flowers had started to turn brown and died. I kept reading that it liked to be in warm temperatures so I put it close to the window but not in it because it said that it didn’t like direct sunlight. My flowers still died. Another think I noticed was that it didn’t like to be in cold climates and the temporary office i was in was freezing to me so I know my plant was cold, but when I came back to MY office and brought my plant with me, the temperature was much warmer. My flowers continued to die. so, I took it home and put it into a smaller pot with a drainage hole in the bottom and put a saucer underneath it. I put it in my window, with the blinds closed (that room gets very bright in the mornings), and now I’m down to 2-3 healthy leaves and no flowers. The rest of the leaves turned brown as if they were being burned from the center and out. So I cut those off and I noticed that where I cut them the plant stems have dried out and turned hard like wood. Please tell me what I can do to bring my beautiful plant back to life. Did I torture it and it’s just given up or is there still hope for it?
Myisha,
First cut off all of the dead. Then make sure the soil is moist but not soggy. Now LEAVE IT ALONE!!! You plant is going through shock and moving it and constant change will keep it in shock. So your best course of action is to leave it alone for a week or two. Then you should see the plant perk up. Flowers will be the first thing compromised by stress. It may take a time before you see flowers again. Be patient. Keep me posted.
Thanx. I will and I have left it alone and won’t touch it except to water and mist it. Nothing else. Thanx for getting back with me so fast with your advice. Is the mixture I’m using good for it…It’s 2 tablespoons of epsom salt and 1 gallon of water.
Myisha,
“And the plot thickens”. I think I know what is causing the downfall of the plant. You need to stop adding the epsom salt. One you have change the salinity of the water and too add something that the plant doesn’t need extra of Magnesium sulfate. Change the water and use plain distilled water. I always recommend distilled water because it doesn’t introduce other trace elements to the plant. Good Luck.
I also recently purchased an Anthurium. It’s growing really awesomely, but I was just concerned with the way the stems of the the new leaves are looking. They look healthy enough but they’ve completely changed color, from deep green to a deep reddish purple. Are they supposed to do that? And just as a response to what some of the others were saying about this plant dying on them; it comes from a tropical climate where it has to fight for both light and water. Because of this, it holds water well and shouldn’t be watered that often, the soil shouldn’t be the type that retains water because it’s likely that this plant could suffer from root rot. In regards to light, diffused light has worked great for me, full sun will kill it and indoor lighting is will allow it to grow but it’s not quite sufficient health-wise.
Liliana,
Are the stems firm and more reddish purple towards the bloom?
hello,
I purchased an anthurium about 6 weeks ago. It’s doing rather well as far as the flowers are concerned. I have nice blooms and I see new ones starting. But I noticed the leaves aren’t shiny like I’ve seen in recent pictures. Is there something I can do to help with this?
Thanks
Chris,
Really really shiny leaves probably have been sprayed with leaf shine. It is a product you can buy at your local garden center. Leaves can accumulate dust just like your furniture. If you take a damp wash cloth and wipe off the leaves the dust will be removed and the leaves will be a little shinier.
I just got a Flamingo Plant as a gift. I understand that it is toxic to cats and dogs. I have two cats and could not let them near it, which would have been impossible. I planted it outside. In South Florida it is very humid and the temps are in the 80’s about 11 months per year. We are in zone 11.
Will my plant live outdoors?
Thank you.
Most flamingo plants are hardy only to zone 14. Which means it can’t take temperatures below 27degrees. So you will still need to bring it into a warm area during your winters. The ASPCA lists Anthurium (flamingo) as a toxic plan but the American Humane Society doesn’t. Before you bring it in this winter, consult with your vet as to the potential toxicity of the plant.
I have a beautiful flamingo plant & it bloomed wonderfully. Now it’s stopped & the tips of some of the leaves are brown. Not sure what’s going on. Any ideas? I water it about once a week if dried, as I know not to over water & feed it every few waterings. still not sure what’s going on.
I had recieved an antherium plant from a florist a year ago. The plant was “planted” in a pot with water only, no soil. The plant seems pretty healthy and grows new leaves, but I cannot get it to flower. It originally had flowers when I received it and the flowers lasted a long time, but I have since been able to get it to reflower. What type of fertilizer should I use to make this happen?
Try a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content. This will be the middle number in the fertilizer ratio. Try something like 5-10-5 (N-P-K). It is not important which ratio just as long as the middle number is bigger than the other two. Fertilize it every two weeks until November then cut back on the fertilizer. Also reduce your humidity in the winter that might help as well.
Diane,
Sorry I skipped your question. You might need a little more humidity around the plant. Mist the air near the plant once a day. Also, make sure your light source isn’t burning the leaf tips. If you continue to have problems, please send me a picture.
I just received a beautiful Anthruium a week ago. I have seen multiple worms that have about 20 legs on each side and are long, skiny and dark brown. Are they bad for my plant? How do I get rid of them? (I really don’t want them crawling out of the pot and infesting my kitchen).
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I am attaching photos of the worms I think you could possibly have.
The first is a garden centipede taken by the University of Nebraska . Some centepedes can bite and cause an allergic reaction. Spray the soil of the plant with a houseplant spray like Fertilome’s Whitefly and & mealybug spray. you can get it at your local garden center.
The second is an Eastern Tent Caterpillar
.
I don’t think the caterpillars are poisonous but you need to pick them off and throw them away.
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second image Eastern Tent Caterpillar from http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/america
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I have attached some pictures of one I just scooped out of the soil. They are not extremely clear, but it’s an idea of what they might be. They are not hairy either.
Also, I am wondering, do I need to re-pot the plant if I can see the roots are all over the top of the soil?
It’s looking good and sprouting new leaves and flowers.
Thanks!
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Here is what the pot looks like with the roots very visible on top. What does the plant like in this case?
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It looks like you have millipede. They can cause a little skin irritation but are relatively harmless. You can use the spray mentioned above or diatomaceous earth sprinkled on top of your soil.
You might want to re-pot your anthurium. However, I wouldn’t put any soil on top of the root ball. I would only close the gap between the pot and the existing root-ball.
Thanks for ALL your help!
I recieved the plant in mid April. The bloom died and the leaves keep turning brown/yellow. What do I need to do? I water once a week, is not in direct light but I keep loosing leaves. Should I cut the brown/yellow ones off? How covered should the bottom be? I just want to get it looking healthy and blooming again. I have only had the one bloom it was bought with. Please help.
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another side picture
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t looks like you have millipede. They can cause a little skin irritation but are relatively harmless. You can use the spray mentioned above or diatomaceous earth sprinkled on top of your soil.
Olivia,
You need to cut the damaged leaves off and give the plant more water. The soil needs to be saturated with water not just the top. Once you correct the water issue the plant should recover.
i sent an Anthurium Flamingo Flower to my daughter for her birthday, she lives in Louisiana – it arrived neatly packaged and was planted in a piece of lava rock…. is there any site you would recommend her looking at to get helpful hints on the proper care and trimming of this plant… she has never owned a plant, and she lives many states away for momma to help LOL
she said the leaves began to wilt but then perked up with som sun and little more water…. but she has no idea how to properly care (fertilize, trim, etc…) for one or what signs of trouble may be… also, with regard to ‘worms’ in the plants – is this normal, she has not found any and she has had it for about 2 weeks… is there any chance she will get any inthe plant at this point?
thanks for any advice from a protective momma! :)
You say it is planted in a piece of lava rock? Is it in any soil? If the plant is in very little soil, she will need to keep a close eye on the moisture level. That maybe why it was wilting.
As for Anthurium plant care, they like light or partial shade areas. So in the house you want a bright room but don’t let the sun beat directly on to the plant. They want a warm but not hot condition. Keep away from drafts and air conditioning vents. Anthurium like humidity. You can create a humid environment by misting the air around the plant with warm water every day or so. Keep the plant evenly moist.
If your daughter has any questions about how to take care of her plant, she can ask them here and I will help her to the best of my ability.
I cut off all the damaged leaves and saturated water. I now seem to have small bugs in the soil, not worms just mites maybe? I have still lost a few more leaves and no new growth. I think a section has also rotted. That part is all dried up. It is planted in miracle grow potting soil. I have sprayed the plant and the soil with houseplant insect spray. The bugs keep returning. What do I do? Should I repot in new soil? I really want to save it. Please help.
Keep the soil moist not soggy. After the initial saturation the soil should be moist to the touch but not dripping with water. As for the insects, it may take a couple treatments before the insect go away. They probably have laid eggs. The insect spray will only work on the adult insects and not the eggs. Cut out any part of the plant that is mushy or soft. Then give the plant sometime. Plants are just like us after cold. It takes a little time for them to recover.
Hi. Where can I purchase Anthurium plant seedling in trays of 24/48 etc?
I have searched endless sites. but only find individual plants.
Thanks for your help. Tenzin
What you are looking for will be referred to as Anthurium plugs. I haven’t purchased the plugs before – we usually bring in the 2″ or 4″ plants and go from there. So I don’t have a particular source to direct you to. You might try a google search for Anthurium plugs.
I purchased a lovely anthurium early this summer. I kept it outdoors and it did beautiflly. It has been inside since October and I kept it under a grow light that I have. Now I notice that it has little, what looks like bugs on it. It is not scale, but kind of looks like dust particles. The leaves are turning brown in patches, but the flowers continue to be beautiful. Any Ideas on what the problem might be?
I believe you have a case of two-spotted spider mites. Their cast skins and webbing often look like dust. You will need to apply a houseplant spray that controls spider mites. Your local gardent center nursery should have this product.
Hi
I got my anthurium 2 weeks ago. It has been doing well except that now I notice that flowers are kind of of turning inwards, some leaves are having a yellow outline and at the end of the leaf the stem makes an angular turn. Is it hungry of sun? Trying to avoid it? I had kept it beside the blinded window and moved it to table when I thought it was having too much sun. But since then the flowers have begun to turn in. Please advice.
Thank you a wonderful website.
The blooms will fade, but they should do it this soon. Here is what you need to do — place it in bright filtered light — beside the blinded window is ok as long as the light isn’t shining directly on the plant. Mist your plant with warm water every day or at least every other day. Make sure the soil is moist but not soggy. If it continues to progress with the yellowing outline send me a picture.
Hi…we bought an Anthurium plant 3+ months before.She was very beautiful and healthy for a while and then started to shrivel and have some brown burnt spots on her leaves…i found this webpage and got some idea anout her maintenance.
we live in Croatia..our normal cool temp in winter is 50 to 55 F (outdoor),…since she is an indoor plant i kept her in my living room which has AC..and the temp is usually 68-70 F…but the problem i imagine is ..this could be very drying for her..no humidity in the living room bcos of the AC…
So i shifted her to the other room…which does not have any sunlight or any sort of heating which will probably dry her up…she was fairing really well for 2 months or so..(also i took Jamie Jamison Adams advice and left her alone and she was looking normal in a very short time..thanks to Jamie..)….we were very happy ..but now again for the last 1 week she is looking real bad..like most of her leaves are shriveling ,has brown burnt spots,flowers also has brown burnt looks…
iam so sad that i dont know how to help her back to health
please help me with some suggestion….
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the other photo
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one more
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The best I can tell from the photos is that you have a water issue. This is what I suggest:
1) cut off the leaves that are at least half brown. Remove the stem and all. As you remove the leaves look for signs of spider mites (webbing) or aphids (small little bugs and a sticky substance). If you find these insects, you will need to get rid of them.
2) Increase the water so that the soil remains moist but not soggy. Make sure all of the soil is evenly moist. In the last picture the soil looks dry and pulling a way from the pot. You don’t want the soil to ever become dry enough to pull away from the pot.
3) Mist the plant every day with lukewarm water. This is best done in the morning. Anthurium like a humid environment.
4) Move the Anthurium back to the living room. It is the better environment for the plant.
Good Luck and keep me posted.
How do we breed this Anthurium? Any advices..?
Do you want to create new cultivars or do you just want to propagate them?
Actually I want to make a nursery for this Anthurium. But, I have problem to find the seed from any shop or garden centre. Can we make the seed or use stem cutting to breed this Anthurium plant?
Actually I want to create a small nursery to breed this Anthurium. But I have problem to get its seed because there is no garden centre here. I have 3 Anthurium with me now. Can we get the seed from my Anthurium or can we do the stem cutting?
Most likely you will want to propagate them vegetatively. Take a look at this site http://www.jaycjayc.com/anthurium-propagation-cuttings/. They demonstrate how to do this.
I am having problem with my flower :(
The leaves seems shriveled at the edges and hard to touch,
the stem near the leaf makes an angular turn,
one or two leaf has got some greyish stuff on it near the stem in which I can scrap it off
I place my flower on the side of my table near the window.
attached pictures
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problem with the leaves
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I have two thoughts – one is that the plant may have aphids. This one is simple to detect and easy to cure. Take a magnifying glass and look at the under side of the leaf. If aphids are present, you will see the little insects attached to the leaf. To treat this problem you will need an insecticide that is safe for houseplants.
My other thought is that you have a fungus or blight. This one is a little harder to remedy. You will need a fungicide. If you think it is a fungus, take one of the leaves that has the most damage on it to your local garden center and nursery. They should be able to find the right fungicide for your problem.
Hi, I have a anthurium I’ve had for about three weeks. It is in a pot in about 2 inches of water(without soil) and all the flowers have died. A new leaf has popped up but not unrolled yet but is still dying. All the other leaves that haven’t died look fine. It’s not in direct sunlight but the roots don’t look good. Help?