Anthurium andraeanum 'President' (President anthurium) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Anthurium andraeanum 'President' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Bright, filtered light maximises the size and number of its large red spathes. Direct sun burns and fades the bracts; insufficient light gives leggy growth and few blooms. Position near an east window or set back from a brighter exposure. 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 'president': 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 and let it drain completely, allowing the surface to dry before the next watering. The thick roots rot quickly in waterlogged mix, so empty the saucer. Scale back watering in winter when growth slows.

Soil and pot

Anthurium andraeanum 'President' grows best in chunky, free-draining epiphytic aroid mix. Combine orchid bark, perlite, and coco coir or peat with charcoal. This vigorous hybrid grows a substantial root system that needs an open, airy medium retaining light moisture while draining fast to prevent 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 'President' sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 18-29°C (65-84°F). Performs best above 50%, producing larger blooms and cleaner foliage. Dry indoor air browns spathe and leaf margins. Use a humidifier, pebble tray, or plant grouping to lift humidity; keep open spathes dry to avoid water spotting. 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 'president' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks through spring and summer with a half-strength balanced fertiliser, or a high-phosphorus bloom feed to support its heavy flowering. Reduce in autumn and winter. Flush the pot occasionally to clear salt build-up that scorches the active roots. 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 'president' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Spathe scorch or fading — Direct sun or hot, dry air. Move to bright indirect light and away from radiators and heating vents.
• Sparse flowering — Too little light or over-feeding with nitrogen. Increase light levels and switch to a higher-phosphorus bloom fertiliser in the growing months.
• Root rot and yellow leaves — Overwatering or a heavy, water-retentive mix. Let the surface dry between waterings and repot into a chunky aroid blend with good drainage.
• Browning leaf edges — Low humidity or fertiliser salts. Raise humidity and flush the pot every couple of months to remove accumulated salts.

Propagation

Propagate by division when repotting, separating rooted offsets or side crowns each with roots and a growing point. Stem sections with aerial roots root in a warm, humid, airy medium. Being a hybrid it does not come true from seed, so vegetative division keeps the cultivar identical. 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 'President' is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Anthurium as toxic to cats and dogs. The toxic agent is insoluble calcium oxalate raphides; chewing releases them into the mouth, causing burning oral pain, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Keep away from pets and children and wash hands after cutting stems. 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 'President' deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium andraeanum 'President' qualifies for 4 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.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Anthurium andraeanum 'President' is also commonly called President anthurium or red 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