Anthurium andraeanum 'Black Beauty' (black anthurium) care

Light

In the wild anthurium andraeanum 'black beauty' grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Bright, indirect light deepens the dark spathe colour and keeps flowering steady; an east window or filtered brighter light works well. Direct sun scorches the spathes, and low light mutes colour and stops blooms. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-7 days in growth for anthurium andraeanum 'black beauty', but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Water thoroughly and let it drain completely, then allow the surface to dry before repeating. Avoid waterlogging the fleshy roots and water less frequently in winter.

Soil and pot

Anthurium andraeanum 'Black Beauty' grows best in coarse, free-draining aroid mix. Combine orchid bark, perlite and coco coir or peat with a little charcoal for an open, airy root zone. Heavy potting soil retains too much moisture and encourages 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 'Black Beauty' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-29°C (65-84°F). High humidity keeps leaves unblemished and extends the life of the dark spathes. A humidifier or pebble tray 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 'black beauty' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer with a half-strength balanced fertiliser, or a high-phosphorus bloom feed to sustain spathes. Reduce or stop feeding in winter and flush the soil now and then to prevent 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 'black beauty' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Spathes fading or greening — Too little light dulls the dark colour and ages spathes faster; move to brighter indirect light and remove spent blooms.
• Brown leaf tips — Low humidity or hard-water salts; raise humidity and use filtered or rainwater, flushing the pot occasionally.
• Root rot — Soggy mix is the main risk; repot into airy media, cut away soft roots and let the soil dry between waterings.
• Stalled growth in winter — Cold or low light slows the plant; keep it above 18°C and avoid draughts and overwatering during dormancy.

Propagation

Divide established clumps at repotting, ensuring each piece keeps roots, or root stem cuttings with a node and aerial root. Grow on in fresh aroid mix kept warm and humid until new shoots form. 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 'Black Beauty' is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Anthurium (flamingo flower) as toxic to cats and dogs. The insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral pain, drooling, swelling of the mouth, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. 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 'Black Beauty' deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium andraeanum 'Black Beauty' 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 'Black Beauty' is also commonly called black anthurium or dark 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