Forget's Anthurium (Forget's Flamingo Flower) care

Light

Forget's Anthurium 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. Bright, filtered light (roughly 10,000-20,000 lux), ideally 5-6 hours of indirect light daily. An east window or a few feet back from a brighter one is ideal. Keep it out of harsh direct midday sun, which scorches the thin velvety blades and bleaches the silver veining. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water forget's anthurium roughly once or twice a week in the growing season, less in winter. 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. Water when the top 20-30% of the substrate has dried, keeping the root zone evenly but lightly moist. Never let it sit fully dry or waterlogged. Use room-temperature water, ease off in winter, and ensure the pot drains freely to avoid root rot.

Soil and pot

Forget's Anthurium grows best in chunky, fast-draining aroid/epiphyte mix. As a near-epiphyte it wants an airy, bark-based blend that mimics leaf litter on a tree branch: orchid bark, perlite, sphagnum or coco, plus charcoal. The mix should hold light moisture while letting air reach the roots. Avoid dense, water-retentive potting soil. 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

Forget's Anthurium sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-27°C (65-80°F). High humidity is essential for this species. Below about 60% the leaf margins brown and new leaves emerge small or deformed. A humidifier is the most reliable fix; a pebble tray or grouping with other plants helps, though a terrarium or grow cabinet gives the most consistent results. 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 forget's anthurium sparingly. Feed lightly during active growth (spring to early autumn) with a balanced or orchid-formulated liquid fertiliser diluted to roughly half strength, about every 4-8 weeks. Less is more: this slow grower is sensitive to salt buildup, so flush the substrate periodically and stop 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 forget's anthurium in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown, crispy leaf edges — Almost always humidity too low (below ~60%) or mineral/salt buildup from hard water or over-fertilising. Raise humidity, flush the substrate, and consider filtered or rainwater.
• Yellowing leaves — Usually overwatering or cold/drafty conditions causing soft yellowing and potential root rot. Check that the mix drains freely, let the top portion dry before rewatering, and keep it above 15°C.
• Small or deformed new leaves — Points to root problems, insufficient humidity, or low light. Inspect roots for rot, increase ambient moisture, and move to brighter indirect light.
• Faded or scorched leaves with washed-out veining — Too much direct sun bleaches the velvety surface and silver pattern. Move to bright but filtered light away from harsh midday rays.
• Spider mites — The thin velvety leaves are mite-prone, especially in dry indoor air. Watch for fine webbing and stippling on undersides; raise humidity and treat promptly by rinsing and applying insecticidal soap or neem.
• Root rot / overwatering — A soggy, dense substrate suffocates the epiphytic roots. Use a chunky airy mix, a pot with drainage, and water to even moisture rather than keeping it wet.

Propagation

Most reliably propagated by division in spring: separate offsets or rooted sections that each have healthy roots and 1-2 leaves, and pot them into the same airy bark mix. Stem sections with a node can also root. Seed is possible from ripe berries but slow and mainly for collectors. It does not propagate from leaf cuttings. 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

Forget's Anthurium is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Anthurium (as Flamingo Flower / Tail Flower, family Araceae) as toxic to both cats and dogs; A. forgetii is not individually listed but belongs to this toxic aroid genus. All parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause oral pain, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. Keep away from pets and children, and call a vet or ASPCA Poison Control if ingested. 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.

Forget's Anthurium deep-dive guides

Every aspect of forget's anthurium care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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

Related guides

Forget's Anthurium is also known as Forget's Anthurium, Forget's Flamingo Flower, and Round-leaf Anthurium.

• Types of anthurium — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Snake plant care — light, water and common problems
• Dracaena care — light, water and common problems
• Peperomia care — light, water and common problems
• All 609 plant care guides in the Growli library