Anthurium Flowers on Lava Rocks

Background

• Anthuriums, native to tropical regions of the Americas, bear the common names Hawaiian Love Plant, Flamingo Flower, Tailflower, Cockscomb and Tongue of Fire. Florida, the Netherlands and Hawaii are major growers of anthuriums. Growers generally root the plants in non-soil growing mixes such as peat, perlite and bark. Volcanic cinder and other non-soil mediums also work for rooting anthuriums, according to the University of Florida.

Flowers

• The characteristic anthurium flower is actually an inflorescence, not a single flower. The anthurium's bloom consists of multiple tiny flowers on a prominent spadix and a glossy spathe -- the heart-shaped base of the bloom. The spadix is the plant's reproductive organ, the tip of the bloom that projects from the colorful leaf-like spathe. It's a bisexual flower, producing both pollen and female flowers to be fertilized. Keeping an anthurium on a lava rock in bright, indirect light promotes flower production. If the plant doesn't receive enough light, it will stop booming.

Care

• Anthuriums prefer warm environments similar to their original tropical habitats.The plants generally thrive at 70 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Direct sunlight will burn the leaves.

  High relative humidity promotes Anthurium health. Keeping the lava rock in a shallow pan of water helps to improve the humidity for the plant. Misting the anthurium removes dust and helps to supply more moisture. Apply water soluble houseplant fertilizer once a month by watering the lava rock with it. The anthurium will take in the fertilizer through its roots. Cut off finished blooms with a clippers or sharp knife.

Pointers

• It's fine to prune and shape the anthurium to keep the plant small in scale with the lava rock. Avoid getting anthurium sap on your skin; the sap can be an irritant, according to the University of Florida website. Keep anthuriums out of the reach of children and pets to avoid the risk of contact with the plant's sap.