Forget Fussy Orchids – This Bold Flowering Houseplant Blooms for Months and Is Much Easier to Grow
Anthuriums are just as impressive to display in your home
As much as I adore my moth orchids, there's no doubt they are some of the fussiest houseplants. To achieve a gorgeous display of long-lasting blooms, you have to get the conditions just right. And if anything in their growing environment slightly changes, they'll drop all of their flowers and quickly wilt.
It's for this reason I've been considering some alternatives to growing orchids – enter the anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower. It's another indoor flowering plant that puts on a display for several months at a time, in fact often longer than orchids. It's demands far less maintenance and has intriguing waxy blooms (or spathes, which are modified leaves) in bright colors – you're likely most familiar with the red anthurium (like this from The Sill).
They tolerate neglect much more than orchids and can adapt to a wider range of conditions. Though, anthuriums still needs a few essential needs met to thrive for months on end. Here, plant experts share their thoughts on why anthuriums are replacing orchids and why they're a better option for beginners.
The Trouble with Orchids
It's no secret that orchids are fussy houseplants with very particular care.
One of the biggest things houseplant owners struggle with is watering orchids correctly. Too much water and your orchid will turn yellow, too little and your orchid will wilt from dehydration.
Having said that, I have now mastered orchid watering by following one rule: only water with its roots look silver, not green. It's the easiest way to prevent orchid root rot, as well as using a well-draining potting mix like this orchid bark from Walmart.
Another problem with orchids is their lighting requirements. Natively, many moth orchids are found growing in tropical rainforest environments. This means they're accustomed to dappled light, rather than intense direct sun which can scorch their leaves.
At the same time, you'll notice your orchid's flowers falling off and drooping if it receives too little light. Mixed with the fact they thrive in high humidity, it can be hard to find a spot with the optimal balance – though this pebble humidity tray from Amazon can help boost humidity levels for your orchid.
Repotting orchid aerial roots can also be an awkward task, as you don't want to snap any. They also need repotting every couple of years, making it somewhat frequent compared to other houseplants that like being root-bound.
And as for their blooms, it is possible to get an orchid to rebloom, however this requires some specific care. More commonly they bloom just once a year, leaving you with a leafy, unassuming plant for the majority of the year.
For these reasons, orchids aren't necessarily the best plant for beginners or if you're looking for a showy flowering houseplant to display year-round.
Why Anthuriums Are Easier
While anthuriums come with their own list of care requirements, they are so much more straightforward and less fussy than orchids.
'Give them bright, indirect light, occasional fertilizer and keep them evenly moist, and they will reward you with beautiful long-lasting blooms,' says Julie Bawden-Davis, indoor plant expert at Healthy Houseplants.
Anthuriums have waxy spathes in a wide range of colors, from red and pink, to purple and white. They tend to bloom from spring to fall, with each flower spike lasting for a few months at a time.
'The anthurium keeps sending up blooms as long as it is in the correct light. The orchid flowers last a long time but will have a resting period when it has no flowers,' says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf from the Houseplant Guru.
Unlike delicate orchid blooms, anthurium flowers are much more robust. Though, direct sun can cause sunburn, so it's best to keep them in an indirect light spot or behind a sheer curtain to filter light (like this one from Wayfair).
Anthuriums are also better suited to adapting to low light than orchids, but they will flower most prolifically in brighter light.
When it comes to watering, Lisa notes anthuriums are also much easier to manage:
'Anthuriums are forgiving of drying out a bit, but an orchid isn’t as forgiving. Its leaves may wrinkle, and its roots dry up,' she explains.
Having said that, anthuriums prefer consistent moisture, so you should water them when your soil moisture meter (which you can get from Amazon) indicates the top couple of inches of soil have dried out.
As for repotting, anthuriums need rehoming less frequently than orchids.
'Anthuriums only need to be repotted when they are rootbound or have grown tall, and the stem needs to be lowered in the pot,' Lisa says. 'Also, in my opinion, anthuriums are still a beautiful plant when they aren’t blooming. Orchids, not so much,' she adds.
With waxy foliage, anthuriums are also super easy to keep clean and keep pest-free. You can simply wipe them gently with these houseplant dusting gloves from Amazon.
Shop Anthurium Essentials
This liquid fertilizer is a special formula to support anthurium growth and encourage flowering.
This live anthurium plant has beautiful red spathes. It comes with a white decorative pot.
This charming metal watering can is ideal for houseplants, with a long narrow spout.
Best Anthurium Varieties
While you may picture red anthuriums when you think of flamingo flowers, there are actually so many other colors to consider to brighten up your home. Here are our top picks:
This white anthurium comes in a decorative pink and white-striped plant pot.
This anthurium has vibrant pink spathes. It comes in a planter of your choice.
The purple anthurium has a unique hue. It arrives in a small 4-inch plant pot.
FAQs
Do Anthuriums Need Fertilizer?
Yes, anthuriums benefit from monthly fertilizing during spring and summer. A high-phosphorus anthurium feed (like this from Walmart) will support flowering. You should stop fertilizing in fall and winter. Our guide to fertilizing anthuriums has more guidance.
Once you anthurium is finished flowering, you can get an anthurium to bloom again but cutting the faded flower spikes at the base (you can use these sharp Fiskars micro snips from Amazon), and prioritizing optimal growing conditions.
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Lisa is a houseplant expert who runs her blog The Houseplant Guru with over a decade of professional experience at Steinkopf Nursery and Garden Center in Michigan. As a child, Lisa helped her grandma tend to African violets and other houseplants. Since then, Lisa has forged a career providing houseplant advice, holding lectures and writing for publications across the US.
Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden author and University of California Certified Master Gardener, who has written several gardening books, including Indoor Gardening The Organic Way. In addition to running HealthyHouseplants.com, she shares indoor gardening advice on her YouTube channel @HealthyHouseplants.
