Anthuriums are commonly bought for their beautiful flowers and leaves, but how often does Anthurium bloom?
Anthuriums will bloom all year if the conditions allow for it, with each bloom lasting between two and three months. I’ve had an Anthurium Andraeanum for a little over four years now, and one of the easiest ways for me to check the health of the plant is to monitor how often it blooms.
It doesn’t take much to keep an Anthurium healthy, and in this guide, I’ll take you through some easy tips that have helped me keep mine blooming for years.
Contents
Where Is The Flower On An Anthurium?
Before I get into what affects the frequency of blooming for an Anthurium, it’s important to know a bit of basic science about the plant as many people (including me when I first bought my Anthurium) get confused about it.
The brightly colored leaves that are usually red but can also be many other colors are called spathes and are often confused for the green foliage that are the leaves of an Anthurium.
The spathe surrounds the central spadix, which is the flowering spike that contains the actual flowers of an Anthurium. The spadix itself is very complicated, and there are plenty of great resources that go into more depth than I ever could.
Hopefully that clears up any confusion!
Factors That Affect How Often An Anthurium Will Bloom
I wouldn’t consider myself the greatest houseplant owner in the world, but I do know a thing or two about keeping Anthuriums happy.
My Anthurium Andraeanum has been blooming for over 4 years now, which isn’t bad considering the average lifespan is between 3-5 years. In that time, I’ve figured out which conditions matter the most, and which are not as important.
Humidity
Humidity is, in my opinion, one of the most important factors for getting an Anthurium to bloom regularly.
Anthuriums are native to places like Columbia and Ecuador and are usually found growing on trees beneath jungle canopies where humidity is very high. You should aim to keep the humidity at least above the 50% or 60% range.
About halfway through the first year of owning my Anthurium, I decided to move it to the bathroom. Within a couple of weeks, I could notice a difference in the overall health of the plant, and over the next couple of months and years, it bloomed much more than before.
You can also use a pebble tray for a similar effect. I would avoid misting as it only increases the humidity for a short amount of time.
Temperature
Optimal temperatures are between 75°F and 90°F (roughly 23°C to 32°C) during the day, and down to around 60°F (around 15°C) during the night time.
Avoid drafts and placing your Anthurium too close to windows, as this can cause temperature fluctuations without you realising it.
Sunlight
Anthuriums are very similar to pothos, and if you have experience with both you’ll know that they both thrive in areas with plenty of bright but indirect sunlight.
Watering
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellowing leaves on Anthuriums, and it will also impact the ability of the plant to bloom.
Ensure your soil is well-draining and only water when the top few inches are dry. I water mine once per week during the growing season and more like once every two weeks in the colder months, but it will vary depending on your climate and where your Anthurium is placed.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing Anthuriums is a great way to boost growth, especially if you use a fertilizer that has a bigger percentage of Potassium.
Potassium (K) is one of the three essential nutrients NPK that is found in complete fertilizers and is responsible for flower growth.
What To Do If Your Anthurium Isn’t Blooming
If your Anthurium isn’t blooming regularly this is a sign that the conditions are not ideal for growth, or that your plant may have a disease or a pest problem.
In this case, the first thing to do is inspect your plant for signs of disease or pests, as these will need to be addressed right away.
Inspect The Plant
Start by looking at the leaves of your Anthurium, checking for any of the symptoms in the list below.
Remember that the leaves are the green and heart-shaped foliage, while the (usually) red part of the plant is the spathe and the yellow spadix is where the flowers are located.
- Yellow or brown spots – These can be a sign that the leaves have bacterial diseases such as blight or it can be damage left behind from spider mites.
- Black specks – Black specks can be left behind by thrips. Thrips can be difficult to see with the naked eye, so it’s easier to identify these specks instead.
- Blotchy discoloration
- Spathe damage – If the spathe (usually red) has scarring or deformities this can also be a sign of thrips.
If you identify a bacterial or pest problem you will need to deal with that first, as this will directly affect the health of the plant and its ability to bloom.
Most bacterial or fungal issues are dealt with by removing any affected part of the plant first, including the roots. Afterwards, your Anthurium will need to be repotted in fresh soil and treated with a fungicide solution. You can get more details on this process here.
Pests are slightly easier to deal with as a pesticide solution can be sprayed directly onto the plant. There are different brands for these as well as homemade solutions, but they can affect the ability of an Anthurium to flower again like before.
Optimise Growing Conditions
Aside from disease and pests, the only thing left to do is check through the conditions in the list above to see if there are any areas that you can improve upon.
Use a thermometer to check the temperature throughout the day, and consider using a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels. Ensure there are no drafts nearby to your Anthurium and follow a proper watering and fertilizing schedule.
Final Thoughts
If you can provide optimal growing conditions year round you should expect your Anthurium to bloom year-round as well with each bloom lasting between 2 and 3 months.
In most scenarios, however, you will experience less growth during the colder months and in some cases, your Anthurium may not bloom at all if the temperature and humidity drop considerably.
