Flamingo Flower – Flowering plants

Flamingo Flower is an ornamental, evergreen house plant. It is spreading, oblong to elliptic, leathery leaves, up to 25 cm long and 8 cm wide. The leaf blades are held on a leaf-stalks up to 20 cm long. Both sides of the leaf blade are dotted with minute dark glands. The large, showy spathe, 8-10 cm long, is scarlet to orange-red and broadly oval. The orange-red spadix is usually coiled upward and may be up to 8 cm long. The fruits are orange to red. Flamingo flower is one of the plants listed in the NASA Clean Air Study as successful in removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from the air.

Scientific Name: Anthurium scherzerianum
Common Names: Flamingo Flower

How to grow and maintain Flamingo Flower:

Light:
It requires bright light, but avoid full sun. Keep your plant at least 4 hours of bright light each day. Keep away from direct sunlight that causes scorching or misshapen leaves.

Soil:
It prefers to grow in a rich, organic, moist but well-drained soil. Use a peat moss based potting mix. African violet potting mix is ideal.

Temperature:
It thrives best in normal temperature between 65 – 70 degree Fahrenheit / 18 – 21 degree Celsius at night time and 75 – 80 degree Fahrenheit / 24 – 27 degree Celsius during the daytime. No lower than 16°C / 60°F.

Water:
Water regularly and moderately. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Yellow leaves are often caused by overwatering.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks in spring and summer with a high-phosphorus liquid fertilizer diluted by half or use a slow-release plant fertilizer.

Propagation:
It can be propagated by division, by seed, or by taking stem cuttings with two nodes or more. Put cuttings in water and about a month later, plant the Anthurium cuttings in plant containers. Keep them out of direct sunlight while they are in the water. Divide crowded clumps when repotting.

Repotting:
Re-pot your flamingo flower every two years during the spring season. Transfer to a larger container when root bound using regular potting soil

Pests and Diseases:
Flamingo Flower has no serious pest or disease problems. Watch for mealybugs, spider mites, whitefly or scale. Foliage may scorch in dry or drafty locations. Rots, blight and leaf spot may occur.