How to Grow Anthurium in Pots: Bark Mix, Cuttings and Flowers
Anthurium is a rainforest plant that grows on tree bark, not in soil, and that is the key to growing it well. Pot it in a chunky, airy mix of bark, cocopeat and charcoal, give it bright light without direct sun, water when the top few centimetres dry, and keep the air humid. Ordinary garden soil packs around its thick roots and slowly suffocates them, which is why so many gift anthuriums die in their first summer.
Quick facts
- Light: bright, indirect; an east window or a shaded veranda.
- Temperature: roughly 18C to 27C is comfortable; protect from cold drafts and 40C heat.
- Humidity: high, ideally 60 percent or more.
- Pot: snug; 12 to 18 cm (5 to 7 inch), 1 to 3 litres, with plenty of holes.
- Propagation: division or stem cuttings with aerial roots.
- Safety: sap contains calcium oxalate; irritating to mouth, skin and eyes.
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What potting mix does anthurium need?
The bark mix
Mix roughly 2 parts orchid bark or broken coconut husk chips, 1 part cocopeat, 1 part perlite or coarse brick grit, and a small handful of horticultural charcoal. Squeeze a fistful: if it clumps into a ball like garden soil, add more bark. Water should run straight through in seconds. Repot store bought plants into this mix after flowering, because many nursery plants sit in dense peat that stays wet for days.
Our general potting mix guide explains why chunky ingredients add air.
Where does anthurium grow best in our climate?
- Karachi: the most natural fit. Humid air, mild winters: grow on a shaded balcony most of the year.
- Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi: indoors near a bright window. Move away from glass on frost nights; in June, keep it in the coolest bright room.
- Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur: indoors only, ideally in a room that gets AC for some hours, with a humidity tray.
- Islamabad, Peshawar: indoors in winter; a shaded veranda in the monsoon.
- Hills: a warm indoor plant; never outdoors in winter.
Pot vs ground: always a pot in this region. It has no cold tolerance and needs drainage the ground can’t give.
Watering anthurium by season
- Summer: when the top 2 to 3 cm is dry, often every 3 to 4 days indoors; check daily in 45C weeks.
- Monsoon: slower drying; check before watering.
- Winter: about every 7 to 10 days; use room temperature water.
- Humidity: stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles and group it with other plants. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth weekly.
Our page on watering potted plants in summer and winter covers the finger test.
What is the best fertilizer for anthurium flowers?
Feed a balanced or phosphorus leaning liquid fertiliser at quarter to half the label strength every two to three weeks from February to October, and stop in winter. Flush the pot with plain water once a month so salts don’t build up, a common problem with hard tap water. Too much nitrogen gives big leaves and no spathes.
Why is my anthurium not flowering?
| Cause | Sign | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too little light | Dark, healthy leaves, no flowers | Move to a brighter spot without direct sun |
| Dense soil | Slow growth, soggy pot | Repot into bark mix |
| Dry air | Brown leaf tips | Pebble tray, grouping |
| Cold | Stops growing in winter | Keep above about 15C |
| Wrong feed | Lush leaves only | Switch to a bloom feed |
Anthurium leaves turning yellow: what does it mean?
- One or two old lower leaves: normal ageing.
- Many leaves, wet mix: overwatering or root rot. Unpot, cut off brown mushy roots, repot in fresh bark mix.
- Yellow with scorched patches: direct sun.
- Pale new leaves: hungry plant; feed lightly.
- Sticky leaves or white fluff: mealybugs or scale; wipe off with soapy cotton, then neem spray.
How do you propagate anthurium?
Division (easiest)
- Do it in February to March when repotting.
- Ease the plant out and look for side clumps with their own roots and two or three leaves.
- Pull or cut them apart with a clean knife.
- Pot each piece in bark mix and keep it humid and shaded for two weeks.
Stem cuttings
- Older plants grow a bare stem with aerial roots. Cut a section with at least one leaf and one or two aerial roots.
- Set it in damp sphagnum moss or bark mix in a clear box or under a plastic bag.
- New roots and a leaf usually appear in several weeks.
Seed is for hobbyists: it needs both flower stages, fresh berries and months of care, and hybrids don’t come true.
When should you prune anthurium?
Snip off faded spathes at the base of their stalk as soon as they brown, and remove old yellow leaves any time. Do any bigger tidy up, like removing a bare leggy stem or dividing, in February to March, as growth restarts. Pruning hard in late autumn or winter leaves the plant slow to recover and can rot cut stems in cold, wet mix, often costing you the spring flowers.
Anthurium care in winter
Move it away from cold window glass and doors, keep it out of heater blasts, water less, stop feeding and keep it above about 15C. In Islamabad and Lahore, a room in the warm interior of the house is safer than a window ledge on frost nights.
Anthurium sap contains calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing a leaf or flower causes burning, drooling, mouth and throat swelling and vomiting in children, dogs and cats. Keep pots high, wear gloves when dividing, and wash hands after. If a child chews it, rinse the mouth and call a doctor or poison helpline; go to emergency if there is trouble swallowing or breathing. Our poisonous plants for kids and pets list has similar houseplants. Use soapy water or neem for pests first, reading labels and wearing gloves for anything stronger. More houseplant guides are in Phool aur Paudhe.
Anthurium care questions
How do I grow anthurium from cuttings?
Cut a stem section with a leaf and an aerial root, set it in damp sphagnum moss or bark mix, and keep it humid under plastic in bright shade until new roots form.
Can anthurium grow in normal soil?
Not for long. Garden soil stays wet and airless around its thick roots and causes rot. A bark based mix is the safe choice.
How often does anthurium flower?
A healthy plant in good light can produce spathes several times a year, and each lasts for weeks.
Can anthurium take direct sunlight?
Only gentle early morning sun. Midday and afternoon sun scorch the leaves, especially in the plains.
Why are my anthurium leaves getting brown tips?
Usually dry air, salt build up from tap water, or irregular watering. Raise humidity and flush the pot monthly.
Can anthurium grow in water?
It can survive in water for a while, but it grows weaker and flowers less. A bark mix gives far better plants.
How often should I repot anthurium?
Every two to three years, in spring, or when roots crowd the pot and climb out. Only move up one pot size.
Is anthurium poisonous to cats?
Yes. Its calcium oxalate crystals irritate the mouth and cause drooling and vomiting. Contact a vet if your cat chews it.