Anthurium scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' (Rothschild's pigtail anthurium) care

Light

In the wild anthurium scherzerianum 'rothschildianum' 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, shaded from direct midday sun, gives the best spotted spathes. This species tolerates a touch more light than andraeanum hybrids, but harsh sun still scorches the leaves and bleaches the spathes. 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 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 7-10 days for anthurium scherzerianum 'rothschildianum', 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 consistently moist but not waterlogged; let the top layer dry slightly before watering again. Water thoroughly, drain fully, and empty the saucer. Use low-mineral water to keep the spotted spathes and leaf tips clean.

Soil and pot

Anthurium scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' grows best in semi-coarse, chunky well-draining mix. Blend orchid or kiwi bark, perlite, coco coir, and horticultural charcoal. The mix should drain well yet hold gentle moisture, protecting the fleshy roots from rot while supporting steady growth and bloom. 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 scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 18-27°C (65-80°F). Likes moderate-to-high humidity, reflecting its cloud-forest origin. It handles average rooms reasonably, but below 40% leaf and spathe edges brown. A pebble tray, humidifier, or grouping with other plants helps. 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 scherzerianum 'rothschildianum' sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser at quarter to half strength to promote foliage and the spotted blooms. Reduce in winter and flush the pot periodically to prevent salt build-up that browns leaf tips. 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 scherzerianum 'rothschildianum' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Few or no flowers — Most often too little light or excess nitrogen. Provide brighter indirect light and a higher-phosphorus feed to trigger the spotted spathes.
• Browning leaf and spathe edges — Low humidity or mineral build-up. Raise humidity and water with filtered or rainwater.
• Yellowing leaves — Overwatering and soggy media. Let the surface dry between waterings and ensure the mix drains freely.
• Sunscorched or bleached spathes — Too much direct sun fades the red speckling. Move to bright, filtered light.

Propagation

Propagate by division of rooted offsets or by splitting the clump at repotting, keeping roots and a growing point on each piece. Cultivars don't come true from seed, so division preserves the spotted spathe pattern. 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 scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs. Anthurium is ASPCA-listed as toxic; the leaves and spotted spathes contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing causes oral pain, intense drooling, swelling of the mouth, tongue and throat, and vomiting. Keep this plant away from 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 scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of anthurium scherzerianum 'rothschildianum' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anthurium scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' 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 scherzerianum 'Rothschildianum' is also commonly called Rothschild's pigtail anthurium or spotted flamingo flower.

• 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