🌺 Anthurium Care Guide: How to Keep Them Thriving Indoors
- Tammy Johnson
- Dec 6
- 3 min read
Written and edited by Tammy 7th December 2025
You wouldn't be a 'plantie' if you didn't stop to admire those stunning, glossy, heart-shaped blooms of the Anthuriums, we see everywhere at Christmas time. They're one of the most striking indoor plants you can bring into your home. With their bright red “flowers” (really just fancy coloured leaves!) and cheerful yellow centre spike, they add instant warmth and tropical flair to any space.
Here’s the good news: with the right care, your festive Anthurium won’t just survive the holidays… it can thrive beautifully all year round.
Let’s unpack where these stunners come from, what they need, and how we can keep them glowing long after the Christmas decorations are packed away.
🌿 What is an Anthurium?
Anthuriums belong to the Araceae family, the same family as peace lilies and philodendrons. They’re native to the warm, humid rainforests of Central and South America, where they grow as epiphytes, meaning they often cling to trees rather than rooting deeply in soil.
(This tells us a lot about their care: ✔ airy, loose soil✔ warm temperatures✔ bright but filtered light✔ consistent moisture✔ plenty of humidity
When we mimic these rainforest conditions, Anthuriums reward us with glossy foliage and long-lasting colour.)
🎄 Why We See Anthuriums at Christmas
Their bold red and deep green colouring makes them a natural fit for the festive season-makes sense! Nurseries and retailers bring them into stores in November–December because:
they’re hardy as indoor plants
they hold their colour for months
they pair beautifully with Christmas décor
they’re popular as gifts
But Anthuriums aren’t “seasonal plants”, they’re perennials, meaning you can keep them thriving well into the new year and beyond.
🌞 Light Requirements
Anthuriums love bright, indirect light, think rainforest floor with dappled sunlight.
✔ Best Spots
Near a bright window with filtered light
East-facing windows
A metre or so back from north-facing windows (Aus/Southern Hemisphere)
✘ Avoid
Direct HOT sun → scorches leaves and fades the spathes (technical name for the flower)
Dark rooms → leads to fewer flowers, slow growth, dull leaves
If the plant stops producing blooms, light is usually the first thing to fix.
💦 Watering & Moisture
Consistency is key for Anthuriums.
What they like:
Moist but never soggy soil
Water when the top 2–3 cm feels dry
Lukewarm water (cold water can shock them)
Signs you're overwatering:
yellow leaves
mushy stems
brown leaf edges
Signs of underwatering:
wilting
crispy leaf tips
dull, droopy foliage
👉 Tip: Anthuriums LOVE humidity. Mist the leaves, place the pot on a pebble tray, or keep them near other plants to create a micro-climate.
🌱 Best Soil Mix for Anthuriums
Think loose, chunky, airy. Anthuriums dislike heavy potting mixes.
Ideal Mix
1 part premium indoor potting mix
1 part orchid bark
1 part perlite or pumice
This mimics the rainforest environment where their roots cling to bark and breathe freely.
🌡 Temperature & Humidity
Anthuriums thrive between 18–28°C, making them perfect indoor plants.
✔ Keep them away from:
cold drafts
air conditioners
heaters blowing hot, dry air
sudden temperature drops
If your home gets dry in summer or winter, add humidity. Even a simple water-filled saucer nearby can help.
🌸 How to Encourage More Blooms
If your Anthurium stops flowering, try adjusting:
✔ Light
They bloom best with strong, indirect light.
✔ Feeding
Use a liquid fertiliser high in potassium every 4–6 weeks during the warmer months.
✔ Pot Size
They prefer being slightly pot-bound. Too large a pot = more leaves, fewer flowers.
✔ Temperature
Cooler rooms = fewer blooms.
🪴 Repotting Your Anthurium
Repot every 1–2 years or when:
roots appear on the soil surface
the pot feels tight
water runs straight through
growth slows
Choose a pot one size up only and refresh the potting mix to keep it airy.
🐛 Pests & Problems
Common pests:
fungus gnats
scale
mealybugs
aphids
Treatment:
wipe leaves with a damp cloth
apply neem oil or eco-oil
improve air circulation
decrease watering if gnats appear (sprinkle the top of the soil with cinnamon)
🎁A Happy Anthurium All Year Round
Anthuriums are more than just Christmas décor, they’re hardy, elegant indoor plants that, with a little understanding, will thrive in your home for years. Treat them like the tropical treasures they are, and they’ll reward you with colour and glossy foliage season after season.
Comments