Anthuriums - Elegant Vibrant Heart-Shape Plants for the Holidays

‘Tis the season for great holiday gifts and if you are still searching for that gift idea – look no further. Instead of picking up your usual potted poinsettia – how about an Anthurium!

Anthuriums are symbols of hospitality, happiness and abundance with their open, heart-shaped and long-lasting characteristics. It is an all-season gift but more so during the holidays when you find that perfect vibrant red color bloom.

The name Anthurium is Greek, meaning “Tail Flower.” But they are also known as the Flamingo Flower, Hawaii Heart, Painted Tongue and Painters Palette because of the unique shape and spadix. They are part of a large family containing 1,000 species.

Anthuriums are known to be the world’s longest blooming plant. A healthy anthurium is constantly in bloom sending out a new leaf which forms a flower bud. Each individual flower can last several months long after the holidays are over.

The flower isn’t what you think it is -  it is easy to assume that the colorful heart shaped flower is the plant’s bloom. The heart is actually a spathe, a shield-like leaf that serves to protect the actual flower. The flower also called the spadix is actually the long bump in the middle of the leaf.

The anthurium comes in many splendid colors – including purple, green, pink, red, white, orange and white and red.

White is a unique color – when you blend all the colors of the rainbow together, you get the color white. The same goes for the anthurium. White never existed in the native world of anthuriums until 1987 when a breeder crossed together four different species of anthuriums. Today, white anthuriums is a very popular species though not easy to find, which makes a unique addition to your collection and a conversation piece.

Purple is another new color, developed around 1980, and the plant produces a stunning tulip shaped flower in a delicate shade of purple. Pink in its many shades from light to dark pink is also a very popular color. Green is another unusual color – some anthuriums may have some shades of green but the rare one, Midori, is completely green. Red is very popular during the holiday season.

With the proper care, anthuriums can re-bloom all year and are a perfect choice for novice plant owners. Proper anthurium care is easy if you keep two key factors in mind. Location and the way you water your plant.

Anthuriums come from the South American rainforest where the temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees and humidity between 80 and 100%. They either live on the forest floor or grow on trees so they are shaded from direct sunlight. Temperatures below 55 degrees are bad for the anthurium – but as indoor plants make it so much easier.

How about humidity? A little misting on the leaves should take care of the humidity. And a location near a window with lots of indirect sunlight.

Anthuriums are used to growing in a tropical rainforest where they are used to receiving rain on a daily basis. Rain falls on them and immediately drips off; it does not pool around their roots. The roots receive moisture and also receive lots of air. The key is to water them regularly while allowing their roots to receive air.

Use good potting soil that is light and fluffy such as perlite, sand, bark, gravel – so long as it drains well. You can water it every day but make sure water is completely drained out of the pot. It is almost impossible to overwater your anthurium in this manner. Left unchecked, root rot will kill your plants. General rule – water daily, if you must, as long as your pot drains completely after each watering.

I used to collect anthuriums and had some hard-to-find colors flown in from Hawaii. I still love them and they are so much like orchids and just as exotic!

Caution: As beautiful as they are – anthuriums are toxic if ingested causing irritation to the mouth, throat and intestinal tract. Keep it away from pets and children.