How to grow and care for Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Indoors

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Photo Credit: Gardeners World

Botanical name: Anthurium andraeanum
Family: Araceae
Common names: Laceleaf Anthurium, Oilcloth Flower, Painter's Palette, Tailflower

Laceleaf Anthurium Description

Laceleaf Anthurium also called Oilcloth Flower, Painter's Palette or Tailflower is a popular flowering houseplant which bears long, glossy blooms with a straight or arched yellow or white tail.

The Laceleaf Anthuriums may not be easy to grow under room conditions but with proper care they can last for many years.

Laceleaf Anthurium Size

Laceleaf Anthurium grows to a height of 2-3 ft and bears 4 in. long glossy blooms. The leaves are heart-shaped and are 9 in. long.

Laceleaf Anthurium Flower

The blooms in Laceleaf Anthurium are not true flowers but are spathes, each with a yellow or white spadix covered densely with tiny true flowers.

Laceleaf Anthurium Varieties

Many varieties and hybrids of Laceleaf Anthurium have been developed and are available. White, pink, orange and red flowers are available.

Laceleaf Anthurium Air Purifying

According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Anthurium andreanum was found to be effective in getting rid of common VOCs specifically formaldehyde, toulene, xylene and ammonia from indoor air.

Laceleaf Anthurium Origin

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) is native to the tropical regions of Columbia and Ecuador where they grow as epiphytes on trees.

Laceleaf Anthurium for Sale

Buy this Laceleaf Anthurium in a 5 inches pot or this one which is 18 inches tall at Amazon.

Also check out these beautiful Anthurium Plants available on Etsy.

Photo Credit: Plantsguru

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Care Indoors

Laceleaf Anthurium Light Requirements

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) grows best under bright, indirect light. A curtain-filtered sunny window is perfect for Laceleaf Anthurium.

Protect your Laceleaf Anthurium from direct sunlight to avoid scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

How to Water Laceleaf Anthurium

Keep soil moist at all times for Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) during the growing season but reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist.

Avoid keeping the soil soggy for your Laceleaf Anthurium as it may lead to the root-rot. Read more on how to water houseplants.

Temperature for Laceleaf Anthurium

Average warmth with a minimum of 15⁰C is ideal for Laceleaf Anthurium.

Protect Laceleaf Anthurium from cold draughts to prevent sudden drops in temperature. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Humidity for Laceleaf Anthurium

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) requires high humidity inorder to thrive. To raise humidity for your Laceleaf Anthurium, set the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Regularly clean the leaves of your Laceleaf Anthurium by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust. Read more on how to clean houseplants.

Do not leave water drops on the leaves of your Laceleaf Anthurium as it may cause fungal infestations.

Laceleaf Anthurium Fertilizer (Feeding)

Feed Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) every 2-3 weeks during the growing period with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer inorder to promote flowering.

Withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.

Regularly flush out accumulated salts in the soil of your Laceleaf Anthurium by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole. Allow it to run for a few minutes and repeat the process several times. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

Laceleaf Anthurium Repotting

Repot Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) every 2 years at the beginning of the growing season.

Use a pot one-size larger than the current one and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.

Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot.

Soil for Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

The best soil for Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most potting mixes designed for aroids are ideal for Laceleaf Anthurium.

Buy quality Aroids Potting Soil for your Laceleaf Anthurium from Etsy.

Laceleaf Anthurium Pruning

Pruning Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) is easy. Remove yellow and dead leaves to maintain your plant neat and tidy.

Cut the leaves at the base of the stem with a sharp sterilized knife or scissors to avoid unnecessary injury which can result in disease infestation.

Remove any wayward leaves to maintain the shape of your plant. Read more on how to prune houseplants.

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Propagation

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) can be propagated during the growing season from from splits.

How to propagate Laceleaf Anthurium from splits

Divide the mother Laceleaf Anthurium plant into several sections while ensuring each divison has some roots.

Pot the Laceleaf Anthurium splits in moist, free-draining soil in individual pots and ensure each pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

Ensure the crown of the plant is above the soil level to avoid rotting.

Place the set up in a warm, shaded place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges.

Allow the new Laceleaf Anthurium plants to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.

How to force Laceleaf Anthurium to bloom

After blooming, give your Laceleaf Anthurium a 6 weeks rest period in a cool, dimly-lit room at 15⁰C. Give it very little water during this period.

Bring out your Laceleaf Anthurium after the rest period and continue with normal care. This will break the dormancy cycle and signal your Laceleaf Anthurium to start blooming.

Photo Credit: Thai Garden Design

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Problems Indoors

Laceleaf Anthurium brown leaf tips

There are two possible causes of brown leaf tips in your Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum).

One possible cause of brown leaf tips in your Laceleaf Anthurium is is too dry air especially if the room temperatures are too high.

To raise humidity for your Laceleaf Anthurium, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or place it in the bathroom or other moist areas in the home. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

The second possible cause of brown leaf tips in your Laceleaf Anthurium is soggy soil.

Soggy soil holds too much water which reduces the amount of oxygen in the soil. Since the roots require oxygen to grow, the lack of adeqaute oxygen causes them to begin dying.

When the roots die, they cannot take up water and other nutrients necessary to the upper parts of the plant.

As such, the plant begins to die and death begins in the furthest parts of the plant which are the leaf tips, hence the brown tips.

To prevent brown leaf tips in your Laceleaf Anthurium, maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining (drains easily).

Laceleaf Anthurium yellow leaves

There are two possible causes of yellow leaves in your Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum).

One possible cause of yellow leaves in your Laceleaf Anthurium is soggy soil.

Maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining.

The second possible cause of yellow leaves in your Laceleaf Anthurium is cold draughts (cold air).

Protect your Laceleaf Anthurium from cold draughts or place it away from windy doors and windows.

Laceleaf Anthurium brown leaf spots

The brown leaf spots are sunburn marks caused by exposure of Laceleaf Anthurium to direct sunlight.

Move your Laceleaf Anthurium to a shaded place or use a curtain to filter the light.

Laceleaf Anthurium drooping leaves and stems

There are four possible causes of drooping leaves and stems in your Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum).

The first possible cause of drooping leaves in your Laceleaf Anthurium is low humidity.

The second possible cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Laceleaf Anthurium is incorrect watering; either underwatering or overwatering.

Maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season and reduce watering during the cold season but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.

The third possible cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Laceleaf Anthurium is too high temperature due to exposure to direct sunlight.

Protect your plant from direct sunlight by filtering the light with a sheer curtain to avoid sunscorching.

The fourth possible cause of drooping leaves and stems in your Laceleaf Anthurium is pests and diseases infestation.

Regularly inspect your plant and take timely control measures for these pests (see below).

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Pests

The common pests in Laceleaf (Anthurium andraeanum) are Spider Mites, Aphids and Fungus Gnats.

Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.

Laceleaf Anthurium not blooming (flowering)

A Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) that is not getting enough light will not bloom (flower).

Light is very important for flowering. Light provides the energy necessary for the plant to make food that is needed for growth and flower production.

Ensure that your Laceleaf Anthurium is receiving the brightest light but protect it from direct sunlight. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

Underfeeding is another reason why your Laceleaf Anthurium will not bloom (flower). The plant requires adequate nutrients to make food that is needed for growth and flower production.

Feed your Laceleaf Anthurium every 2 weeks with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season to promote flowering.

However, withhold feeding your Laceleaf Anthurium during the cold season to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.

Laceleaf Anthurium flowers turning green

If your Laceleaf Anthurium was in bloom when you bought it, the reason could be it was forced to bloom before it was ready to bloom so it loses color as it ages.

Improper watering, excess nitrogen fertilizer and wrong temperatures can also cause greening of the flowers.

Lastly, the blooms last for about 4 weeks and as they age, they begin to lose color by becoming green and paler as aging continues. Some species of Anthuriums produce blooms that turn brilliant green in color; check the species you are growing.

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Diseases

Laceleaf Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) is prone to root-rot disease which is more prevalent in soggy soil.

To prevent root-rot disease, maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining (drains easily).