Anthurium andraeanum 'Baron' (Baron anthurium) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Anthurium andraeanum 'Baron' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Provide bright, filtered light for steady flowering, such as an east window or set back from brighter glass. Direct sun burns leaves and spathes, while shade reduces blooms and weakens 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 'baron': 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, let it drain fully, then wait for the surface to dry. The thick roots dislike sitting wet, so empty any saucer and water less often through winter.

Soil and pot

Anthurium andraeanum 'Baron' grows best in coarse, free-draining aroid mix. Use orchid bark, perlite and coco coir or peat with charcoal for an open, well-aerated medium. Dense potting soil holds excess water and risks rotting the roots. 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 'Baron' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-29°C (65-84°F). Humid air keeps leaf tips green and prolongs spathe life. A pebble tray, humidifier or grouping with other plants offsets dry indoor air. 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 'baron' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a half-strength balanced houseplant fertiliser, or a higher-phosphorus bloom feed to maximise spathes. Cut back in autumn and winter and flush the pot occasionally to clear fertiliser salts. 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 'baron' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Yellow lower leaves — Typically overwatering and poor drainage; let the mix dry more between waterings and check the pot drains freely.
• Brown crispy tips — Low humidity or salt build-up; raise humidity and switch to filtered or rainwater, flushing the pot periodically.
• Few or small spathes — Too little light or over-feeding with nitrogen; increase indirect light and use a phosphorus-rich bloom feed.
• Sticky honeydew and pests — Aphids, mealybugs or scale can appear; wipe leaves, isolate the plant and treat with insecticidal soap or neem.

Propagation

Divide the clump at repotting, keeping roots with each offset, or root stem cuttings bearing a node and aerial root. Pot up 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 'Baron' is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Anthurium (flamingo flower) as toxic to cats and dogs. Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, severe drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting and difficulty swallowing when chewed. Keep well away from pets. 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 'Baron' deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium andraeanum 'Baron' 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 'Baron' is also commonly called Baron 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