Anthurium andraeanum 'Lila' (Lila anthurium) care

Light

In the wild anthurium andraeanum 'lila' 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, filtered light drives continuous spathe production; an east window or a few feet back from south/west glass is ideal. Direct midday sun scorches leaves and bleaches the colored spathes, while deep shade stalls flowering. 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 'lila', 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. Keep the chunky mix lightly and evenly moist but never waterlogged; water thoroughly and let excess drain. Allow the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Use rainwater or filtered water, as the fleshy roots are sensitive to salt and chlorine buildup.

Soil and pot

Anthurium andraeanum 'Lila' grows best in coarse, airy epiphyte mix. Plant in a fast-draining blend of orchid bark, perlite, coco coir and a little sphagnum, mimicking the open organic debris this epiphyte roots in. Avoid dense peat-only potting soil, which suffocates the thick roots and triggers 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 'Lila' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-29°C (65-84°F). Tropical humidity keeps the spathes turgid and prevents leaf-tip browning. Indoor flowering tolerates 50% but is far stronger above 60%; group plants, use a pebble tray or run a humidifier, especially in heated winter 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 'lila' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or slightly phosphorus-rich houseplant fertiliser diluted to one-quarter to one-half strength. A high-phosphorus feed supports continuous spathe production. Reduce or pause feeding in winter. 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 'lila' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown leaf tips — Usually low humidity or salt/fluoride buildup from tap water; raise humidity and flush the mix periodically with rainwater or filtered water.
• Few or no flowers — Most often too little light or weak feeding; move to brighter indirect light and use a diluted phosphorus-rich feed in the growing season.
• Yellowing lower leaves — Typically overwatering or a soggy, compacted mix; let the surface dry more between waterings and repot into a chunkier, faster-draining blend.
• Root rot — Caused by dense soil or standing water; unpot, trim mushy roots, and replant in airy epiphyte mix with reliable drainage.

Propagation

Propagate by division of the clump at repotting, separating offsets with their own roots, or by removing and rooting stem sections that bear nodes and aerial roots. Seed is slow and rarely comes true for this cultivar. 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 'Lila' is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists Anthurium (Flamingo Flower) as toxic, the toxic principle being insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing releases crystals that cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep 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 'Lila' deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium andraeanum 'Lila' 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 'Lila' is also commonly called Lila anthurium or lilac 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