The Red Peace Lily – A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Anthuriums
People love the red peace lily, which is also called the flamingo flower or anthurium, because it has lush heart-shaped leaves and bright red flowers that look like a “flamingo in flight.” “Even though it’s not a real lily, its beautiful flowers and ability to thrive indoors make it a great choice for plant lovers and people who are just starting out with plants. This book tells you everything you need to know to grow a red peace lily successfully at home.
Botanical Name and Origins
The red peace lily belongs to the Anthurium genus, which contains over 1,000 species of flowering plants native to tropical regions of the Americas. The most common species grown as houseplants are Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum. These tropical perennials originate from rainforests in countries like Brazil and Colombia.
Appearance and Size
Red peace lilies have lush, dark green, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long. Their most distinctive feature is the colorful spathe, a modified leaf that surrounds the spadix, a finger-like spike where the small true flowers are borne. Spathes come in bright red, pink, white, green, orange, and purple. Mature plants grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Light and Temperature
Red peace lilies thrive in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which can scorch their leaves. Daytime temps of 65-80°F are ideal. At night, they prefer cooler 60-65°F temperatures. Keep plants away from hot and cold drafts.
Watering and Humidity
Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings, and then soak it well until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Drooping leaves indicate under-watering. Leaf tips turn brown when there isn’t enough humidity. To raise the humidity around the plant to 40 to 50 percent, use a humidifier or a pebble tray.
Soil and Fertilizer
Use potting mix that drains well and has compost or orchid bark added to it. In the spring and summer, use a balanced liquid fertilizer that has been diluted by half once a month. Reduce feeding in fall and winter.
Repotting
Repot young plants annually in early spring until they reach maturity. Thereafter, repot every 2-3 years when roots fill the container. Choose a pot only slightly larger than the current one to avoid over-potting.
Flowers and Pollination
If you take good care of your red peace lilies, they will bloom for at least six weeks. To make flowers bloom, move pollen from the spadix to the stigma with a small brush. This will produce olive-sized red-orange berry-like fruits. However, pollination is not required for the plant to rebloom.
Propagation
Propagate from stem cuttings in spring or summer. Cut below a node and root in water or moist potting mix. New plants will emerge from the axils where leaves attach to stems. Mature plants can also be divided.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Brown leaf tips – Increase humidity
- Yellowing leaves – Overwatering
- Drooping leaves – Underwatering
- Leaf spots/blight – Improve air circulation
With its tropical appeal and vivid blooms, the red peace lily makes a lively addition to any indoor garden. Follow these tips to keep your anthurium thriving for years of enjoyment!
Potting and Repotting Anthurium
Repotting is necessary every two years or so. Transfer the plant to a pot that is no more than two inches larger than the old one. Pots made of plastic, ceramic and terracotta are all good choices. Keep in mind that terracotta tends to dry out more quickly than plastic and ceramic. Multiple drainage holes are required.
To repot an anthurium, fill the new pot with about 1/3 potting mix, then set the plant onto the soil and lightly pack additional soil around the base, up to the level the plant was buried in its old pot.
Water
Keep soil slightly moist and never allow it to dry out completely. Nearly every week, or when the soil feels dry on top, water plants inside. Water your plant until the water runs out of the holes in the pot, but don’t let it sit in water for too long. Anthuriums can get root rot if they do.
Grown outdoors, plants may need water every two to three days.
5 Reasons your Anthurium leaves turning brown
FAQ
How do you care for anthurium red peace lily?
Anthurium Red Your Anthurium prefers bright indirect light, but can adapt to low light. The more light the plant receives, the more it will grow. It cannot tolerate extended periods of direct sunlight. Water your Anthurium when 50% of the soil volume is dry.
Are anthurium and peace lily the same?
You’d be forgiven for thinking that this plant is a peace lily – they look very similar and its botanical name is close – but this plant is actually an anthurium. Found in the wild across the warmest parts of South America and the Caribbean, the anthurium is a particularly stunning houseplant.
How to care for a red anthurium plant?
To care for a red anthurium plant, provide bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and moderate humidity.
Are peace lilies the same as Anthurium?
Well-known houseplants like the Pothos, Monstera deliciosa, Arrowhead Plant, and Peace Lily are all in the same plant family as the Anthurium. Are anthurium and peace lily the same thing? This plant looks a lot like a peace lily, and its botanical name sounds a lot like a peace lily, but it’s actually an anthurium.
What should I look for when buying an anthurium red peace lily?
When buying an anthurium red peace lily, look for: A healthy root system without signs of rot. Avoid root-bound plants. Leaves that are green and free of blemishes, pests, or disease. Several spathe flowers in bloom. This indicates the plant is mature enough to flower. Compact, upright growth.
What is a red peace lily called?
Botanic Name: Anthurium spp. Common Names: Anthurium, Flamingo Flower, Little Boy Plant, Red Peace Lily, Red Heart Plant. The anthurium red peace lily is a gorgeous tropical houseplant known for its striking flowers and lush foliage. Even though it’s not a real lily, this plant is often called a peace lily because it looks a lot like one.
Do Anthurium & peace lilies like damp conditions?
Both plants do like damp conditions, because they come from rainforests, but you must let them dry out from time to time too – and an anthurium needs to dry out more often than the peace lily. It needs better drainage in its soil to ensure this happens.
How do you care for Anthurium red peace lily?
Fertilizer: Apply a balanced houseplant fertilizer monthly during spring and summer. To keep your anthurium red peace lily healthy and help it grow quickly, do the following: put it near a window that faces east or west and light it from behind. Rotate the plant periodically for even light exposure. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Are peace lilies a Aroid?
Members of this family are often called aroids, and there are over three thousand of them. Anthuriums are in this group as well, and so are many other well-loved houseplants, including Philodendrons, Monsteras, Arrowhead Vines, Pothos, and ZZ Plants. Don’t feel too bad if you assumed a Peace Lily was just a species of Anthurium with white flowers.