Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' (Alabama anthurium) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Bright, filtered light drives continuous flowering; an east window or a few feet back from south/west glass is ideal. Direct midday sun scorches the spathes and bleaches leaves, while deep shade halts blooms and stretches growth. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering anthurium andraeanum 'alabama': when the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-7 days in growth. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water thoroughly until it drains, then let the surface dry before repeating. The fleshy aroid roots rot in soggy media, so never leave the pot standing in water; ease off in winter when growth slows.

Soil and pot

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' grows best in coarse, free-draining aroid mix. Use a chunky blend of orchid bark, perlite and coco coir or peat with a little charcoal. The roots need air pockets and fast drainage; a dense all-purpose potting soil holds too much water and invites root rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-29°C (65-84°F). As a tropical epiphyte it loves humid air; 60% or higher keeps leaf tips from browning and extends spathe life. A pebble tray, grouped plants or a humidifier helps in dry, heated rooms. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed anthurium andraeanum 'alabama' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength, or use a high-phosphorus bloom feed to encourage spathes. Stop or reduce feeding in autumn and winter; flush the pot occasionally to clear salt build-up. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on anthurium andraeanum 'alabama' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown leaf tips and edges — Usually low humidity or salt/fluoride build-up from tap water; raise humidity, flush the pot and use filtered or rainwater.
• No flowers — Too little light or over-feeding with high nitrogen. Move to brighter indirect light and switch to a higher-phosphorus feed.
• Yellowing lower leaves — Most often overwatering and soggy roots; let the mix dry further and confirm the pot drains freely.
• Faded or greenish spathes — Insufficient light or simply spathes ageing; brighten the position, and remove old blooms once they green and fade.

Propagation

Divide the clump at repotting, separating offsets with their own roots, or take stem cuttings with at least one node and an aerial root. Pot divisions into fresh airy aroid mix and keep warm and humid until established. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Anthurium (flamingo flower) as toxic to cats and dogs. The plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes oral pain, intense drooling, mouth and tongue irritation, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep out of reach of pets and children. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of anthurium andraeanum 'alabama' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' watering schedule
• Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' light requirements
• Best soil mix for anthurium andraeanum 'alabama'
• Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' fertilizing guide
• When to repot anthurium andraeanum 'alabama'
• How to propagate anthurium andraeanum 'alabama'
• Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' growth rate & size
• Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' cold hardiness
• Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' temperature & humidity
• Is anthurium andraeanum 'alabama' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is anthurium andraeanum 'alabama' toxic to cats?
• Is anthurium andraeanum 'alabama' toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Anthurium andraeanum 'Alabama' is also commonly called Alabama anthurium.

• Types of anthurium — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Monstera care — light, water and common problems
• Pothos care — light, water and common problems
• Fiddle leaf fig care — light, water and common problems
• All 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library