Anthurium andraeanum 'Pacora' (Pacora anthurium) care

Light

Anthurium andraeanum 'Pacora' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Provide several hours of bright filtered light at an east window or back from south/west glass. Direct sun scorches the large spathes and dulls their bicolour; insufficient light reduces flowering and the green-pink contrast. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water anthurium andraeanum 'pacora' when the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-7 days in growth. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep the chunky mix evenly moist but not waterlogged; water thoroughly, let it drain and empty the saucer. Use room-temperature, low-mineral water and reduce in winter. Soggy roots cause rot and yellowing leaves.

Soil and pot

Anthurium andraeanum 'Pacora' grows best in loose, chunky, fast-draining epiphytic aroid mix. Blend orchid bark, perlite, coco coir and a little organic matter for an airy, free-draining medium. Aim for slightly acidic pH 5.5-6.5. Dense potting soil retains too much water around the thick 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 'Pacora' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-29°C (65-84°F). A rainforest epiphyte that demands high humidity; the large obake spathes brown at the edges below ~50%. Use a humidifier, pebble tray or plant grouping, and keep away from heating vents and air-conditioning. 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 'pacora' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or phosphorus-leaning houseplant fertiliser at half strength. As a light feeder it burns easily, so keep doses modest, flush salts occasionally, and pause 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 'pacora' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Loss of bicolour contrast — Too little light mutes the green-pink obake pattern; provide bright indirect light to keep the markings vivid.
• Browning spathe margins — The large spathes brown in low humidity or with hard water; humidify and use low-mineral water.
• Sparse blooming — Excess nitrogen or insufficient light; move brighter and switch to a balanced or phosphorus-rich feed.
• Yellow leaves and root rot — Overwatering in dense mix; repot into chunky aroid blend and let the surface dry between waterings.

Propagation

Divide mature clumps into rooted offsets and pot in fresh aroid mix for reliable results. Stem cuttings with an aerial root root in damp sphagnum or perlite. Seed is slow and will not reproduce the obake colouring true to type. 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 'Pacora' is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Anthurium as toxic to cats and dogs. The plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals typical of aroids; chewing causes oral pain, drooling, 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 'Pacora' deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium andraeanum 'Pacora' 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 'Pacora' is also commonly called Pacora anthurium or obake 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