Anthurium. One of my favourite indoor plants.
Most anthuriums we see today are a form of Anthurium ambianum. This form can handle the cool (though it hates frost) and low-light conditions. In warmer areas, these grow well outside in full shade, or you can grow them indoors.
They have beautiful, luscious green foliage and incandescent flowers that are usually shades of reds, pinks and whites. You can sometimes get purple and black, but they are not always available.
I find most people commonly refer to these as the "red peace lily" as they have a similar flower. Some call them flamingo flowers which I love and I'm pretty sure why this is my daughter’s second favourite plant (lipstick is her first).
The best thing about anthuriums is they flower most of the year and profusely flower during the warmer months. I have had a white one inside, flowering since Christmas, it has only now decided to have a short break.
Anthuriums can be used in pots, in the ground or in terrariums (pictured). Anthuriums are naturally semi- epiphyte and they can grow on rocks or trees. If growing in a pot, I find they don't like to be over potted or continuously potted up. They quite like their roots to fill the pot and be pot bound. They like a good quality, free-draining potting mix. If you do need to pot them up, it's best to let them rest outside for a month or two afterwards.
Anthuriums don't need a lot to drink and they don't like to sit in a saucer full of water. One big drink is better than lots of little ones, as they can also suffer from brown leaf tips like Spathiphyllums.
To keep them continually looking good and putting on a great display, fertilise with Plant of Health Eco Friendly Fertilisers Organic Link about every three months and a fertilise of granular sulphate of potash, usually once weather has warmed up, around late August. I also like to keep their leaves free from dust so every few weeks I take them outside and give it a liquid feed (and shower) with Triple Boost Liquid Fertiliser.
Anthuriums are very versatile plants but they can be rather slow growing and this makes them a great, long-lasting feature plant for most indoor situations.
In the past, these guys have had a bit of a bad rap due to us over-loving them, but I think it's time we added some flowers to our indoor gardens with Anthuriums.