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Photo: Taken by Fanghong / CC BY 2.5 / Wikimedia Commons
IndoorExotic

Anthurium

Anthurium andraeanum

أنثوريوم

A compact plant with glossy, heart-shaped leaves and long-lasting red, pink or white spathes. It wants 60 to 80 per cent humidity, which an AC flat does not give, so it suits a bright bathroom.

Mature size0.3–0.6 m tall, 0.3–0.5 m spreadGrowthModerateSunPart shadeWaterModerate
Heat: 1 of 5
Salt: 1 of 5
Drought: 2 of 5
Shade: 2 of 5
Ease of care: 2 of 5
Use in a designGet it looked after

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Anthurium behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
24°
26°
29°
34°
38°
40°
42°
42°
40°
36°
31°
27°

New leaves and spathes

Mar – Oct

Orchid-type feed

Apr – Oct

Repot or divide

Mar – May

Hot glass and dry AC air

Jun – Sep

Check for mealybugs and mites

Apr – Oct

Growth slows

  • New leaves and spathes: Mar–Oct

    Flowering follows light, humidity and warmth rather than a fixed season.

  • Orchid-type feed: Apr–Oct

    The RHS says to feed regularly from April to October with an orchid fertiliser.

  • Repot or divide: Mar–May

    NC State lists division and stem cuttings; the RHS roots cuttings at 21°C in a closed propagator.

  • Hot glass and dry AC air: Jun–Sep

    Browning leaves are often a sign of dry air; scorch from direct summer sun.

  • Check for mealybugs and mites: Apr–Oct

    NC State lists aphids, spider mites, mealybugs and scale.

  • Growth slows: Dec–Feb

    Water a little less often; keep it away from cold vents.

Anthurium is evergreen and has no fixed flowering season indoors: new spathes follow light, humidity and warmth rather than the calendar, and NC State says insufficient light or nutrient deficiencies decrease flower production. The RHS gives April to October for feeding with an orchid fertiliser. In July and August hot glass can scorch the leaves and the dry air of continuous air conditioning browns the edges. From December to February growth slows and the compost takes longer to dry, so water a little less often. Spring is the time to repot or divide.

Meet the plant

Meet the Anthurium

Meet anthurium, the plant that supplies colour on a stem. The red, pink or white heart-shaped 'flower' is a spathe, a waxy modified leaf, and the finger-like spike at its centre, the spadix, carries the tiny true flowers. Because the colour sits in a leaf-like structure rather than in petals, the display is long-lasting, and NC State notes the flowers are popular with florists for exactly that reason.

It comes from the forests of Colombia and Ecuador, where it grows in warm, humid shade. That is the honest challenge in Dubai: NC State gives its preferred conditions as 60 to 80 per cent humidity and 18 to 27°C, and a cool, dry, air-conditioned room is the wrong climate. A bathroom with a window, a tray of damp gravel and grouped plants give it a better chance.

The mood is glossy and a little formal. One anthurium on a table brings a single strong colour into a green room, and the dark, heart-shaped leaves look as finished as the flower. It is a plant to be placed with care rather than forgotten.

Anthurium andraeanum is an arum from Colombia and Ecuador. The RHS says a houseplant is usually about 30 centimetres tall, and that it is related to the peace lily and monstera. The bright red, pink or white 'flower' is a spathe around a spadix, and the glossy, heart-shaped leaves look good even when the plant is not in bloom.

It wants bright, indirect light, such as an east- or west-facing window or a south-facing one behind a sheer curtain (RHS). Direct summer sun scorches the leaves, and NC State says too little light cuts flower production. In Dubai that means a bright room, a metre or two back from the glass, rather than a hot windowsill.

Humidity and water quality are the real hurdles. NC State recommends 60 to 80 per cent humidity and says it does not tolerate cold draughts or sudden temperature changes. The RHS says to use rainwater or filtered water at room temperature, since alkaline tap water can harm these acid-loving plants, and to water only once the compost is approaching dryness, checking about 5 centimetres down. Browning leaves are often a sign of dry air.

Use an open, acidic, sharply draining mix, much like an orchid mix (RHS), and feed with an orchid fertiliser from April to October. Watch for mealybugs, aphids, spider mites and scale (NC State), and don't leave the pot standing in water, since root rot follows. A plant can be multiplied: the RHS says a piece of stem with leaves and aerial roots, stood in water in a warm, bright place, soon roots, and NC State lists division as another route.

Design

Where to use it

Colour accentBright bathroomSide tableLong-lasting gift plant

Anthurium is best placed where a patch of colour is wanted and the air is a little moister: a bright bathroom with a window, a kitchen windowsill away from direct sun, a side table in a bright room with a humidity tray beneath it. The RHS names a bathroom as ideal. Keep it out of the airflow of an AC vent, since NC State says it does not tolerate cold draughts or sudden temperature changes, and out of hot afternoon sun.

Peace lily - 1 - cropped

Peace lily

Peace lily is a close cousin with similar needs for bright indirect light and moister air, and its white spathes are a cool counterpoint to anthurium's red or pink.

Calathea roseopicta. Common name: Rose Painted Calathea.

Calathea

Calathea also wants humid air and soft water, so the two can share a bright bathroom or humidity tray, and its patterned leaves set off anthurium's solid colour.

Philodendron hederaceum (P. micans) in Boltz Conservatory, Madison, Wi

Philodendron

Philodendron is an easier-going aroid whose trailing hearts echo anthurium's leaf shape and soften the edge of a shelf.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering

Summer: Water once the compost is approaching dryness, checking with a finger about 5 centimetres down (RHS), often weekly in a cool AC room. Use filtered or rainwater at room temperature.

Winter: Water a little less often as growth slows; never leave the pot standing in water.

Soil
An open, acidic, sharply draining mix, much like an orchid mix (RHS), in a pot with good drainage holes.
Feeding
An orchid fertiliser regularly from April to October (RHS); none in winter.
Pruning
Cut spent spathes and flower stalks at the base, and remove yellowed leaves. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to keep dust off.
Planting
Repot or divide in spring when the roots fill the pot, into an open orchid-type mix; the RHS says stem or rhizome cuttings root in a closed propagator at about 21°C.
Pests
MealybugsAphidsSpider mitesScale insects

Avoid these

Common mistakes

  • Treating it as an easy houseplant in an air-conditioned room. NC State says it wants 60 to 80 per cent humidity; a bathroom, a gravel tray or a humidifier is needed.
  • Using tap water and ordinary potting compost. The RHS says alkaline tap water harms these acid-loving plants, and they need an open, acidic mix.
  • Placing it near an AC vent. NC State says it does not tolerate cold draughts or sudden temperature changes.
  • Misting the leaves in still air as the only measure. NC State says leaf spots occur if the foliage gets wet with poor air circulation; a tray of damp gravel or a humidifier is better.
  • Putting it in direct sun. The RHS says direct summer sun scorches the leaves.

Extra notes

Good to know

  • The ASPCA lists the related flamingo flower (Anthurium scherzerianum) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of insoluble calcium oxalates; NC State says A. andraeanum is toxic if eaten by pets or people.
  • The bright part is a spathe, a modified leaf, rather than petals; the true flowers are the tiny ones on the spike.
  • NC State credits it with air-purifying ability, but a 2019 review found potted-plant chamber results do not carry over to ordinary rooms.
  • It is acid-loving, which is why the RHS recommends an orchid-type mix and soft water rather than hard tap water.

Toxicity: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA's entry for the flamingo flower (Anthurium scherzerianum): insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting (not horses) and difficulty swallowing. NC State says A. andraeanum is toxic if ingested by pets or people.

Pros

  • Long-lasting red, pink or white spathes above glossy, heart-shaped leaves
  • Colour comes from bright, indirect light; no direct sun needed
  • Compact, about 30 to 60 cm tall, so it fits a side table or bathroom shelf
  • Looks good even between flushes, thanks to its glossy foliage

Cons

  • Wants 60 to 80 per cent humidity; an air-conditioned flat is far drier
  • Needs rain or filtered water; alkaline tap water harms it (RHS)
  • Toxic to dogs, cats and horses if chewed (ASPCA)
  • Dislikes cold draughts and sudden temperature changes (NC State)
  • Roots rot quickly in a dense or wet mix

FAQ

Common questions

Can anthurium live in an air-conditioned Dubai apartment?
It can, but it needs help. NC State gives 60 to 80 per cent humidity as its preference, far more than most AC rooms offer. A bright bathroom, a pebble tray, grouping plants or a small humidifier gives it a better chance; keep it away from cold vents.
Why are the leaves of my anthurium going brown?
The RHS says browning leaves may be due to dry air; scorch from direct summer sun is another cause. Raise the humidity, keep it out of direct sun and use filtered water.
Why won't my anthurium flower again?
NC State says insufficient light or nutrient deficiencies decrease flower production. Give it bright, indirect light and, from April to October, an orchid fertiliser (RHS).
What water should I use for an anthurium?
The RHS says rainwater or filtered water at room temperature, since tap water in hard-water areas is alkaline and can harm these acid-loving plants. Water once the compost is approaching dryness.
Is anthurium safe for cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists the flamingo flower as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting. Keep it out of reach.

Not sure how it suits your garden?

Ask about Anthurium on WhatsApp

Sources

  1. 1. RHS: How to grow anthuriums
  2. 2. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Anthurium andraeanum
  3. 3. ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Flamingo Flower
  4. 4. Cummings & Waring (2019): Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality — J. Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology

Last reviewed 2026-10-05 by Ghaf Gardens horticulture desk.

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