Anthurium flowers may turn brown for a variety of reasons. The 5 most common causes of browning are overwatering, overfertilizing, too much sunlight, cold stress, and pest infestations. Each of these can cause previously bright, healthy flowers to wilt, shrivel, or turn brown. Once you know the cause of the browning, you can take steps to get your plant healthy again and prevent further damage. Pruning dead leaves can help ensure that your plant will continue to thrive.
Why Your Anthurium Flowers Turn Brown
Anthuriums are popular houseplants, due to their durability, their beauty, and their colorful, striking flowers. While they are relatively easy to care for, anthuriums can be susceptible to browning, especially on their flowers. There are a variety of reasons this can happen, but luckily, if caught early, damage can usually be stopped, and the plant can be restored to full health.
If your anthurium flowers are turning brown, here are some potential causes:
Overwatering
If overwatered, anthurium flowers tend to turn brown. To prevent this, always allow the plant’s soil to dry out between waterings. An easy way to check this is to push your finger 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the soil. If what you touch is dry, it’s alright to water it. If it’s wet, hold off a bit longer.
- Overwatering can cause anthurium flowers to turn brown.
- To check for overwatering, push your finger 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the soil. If what you touch is dry, you can water it. If it’s wet, hold off.
- Overwatering can cause root rot, which can kill your anthurium.
- If you notice black, soft, or slimy roots, treat for root rot.
If your anthurium’s soil is very wet, you may need to check for root rot. Overwatering can cause the root system to die, which can kill the entire plant if not treated quickly. Remove the root ball from the pot, and look for black, soft, or slimy roots. If you see them, you may be dealing with root rot. Take steps to resolve this, so your anthurium can recover.
Overfertilizing
It’s easy to overfertilize an anthurium. Doing so is a very common cause of brown flowers. Too much fertilizer can actually burn the plant, leaving brown marks. To avoid this, try diluting your fertilizer to ¼ strength before giving it to your anthurium. This means using one-quarter of the amount of fertilizer recommended on the fertilizer label.
- An overfertilized anthurium plant can develop brown leaves.
- To avoid overfertilization, dilute fertilizer to ¼ strength before feeding your anthurium.
- Don’t fertilize your anthurium plant in the winter.
- During the growing season, fertilize sparingly.
During your anthurium’s dormant winter season, don’t fertilize the plant at all. When fertilizing in the growing season, be sure to do so sparingly. One fertilizer application every 3–4 months is all that’s needed.
Too Much Sunlight
While anthuriums enjoy a lot of sunlight, it is possible to provide them with too much of a good thing. Overexposure to sunlight can occur even if you’re growing anthurium as an indoor plant. If your anthurium is very close to a window and its flowers are turning brown, it may be getting a sunburn.
- Anthuriums enjoy sunlight but can burn if exposed to too much.
- If your plant gets a lot of direct sunlight, its flowers can become singed.
- To avoid further burns, move your anthurium further from the window, or to a shadier part of the room.
Too much direct sunlight can harm the delicate flowers, leaving brown singe marks. Try moving your plant away from the window, or to a shadier area of the room to prevent further burns. This will protect the color of the green leaves and bright flowers.
Cold Stress
Very cold temperatures can harm an anthurium, causing brown marks on its flowers. Anthuriums do best in temperatures 60–85℉ (15–30℃). If they are exposed to a chill, or especially a frost, they can become damaged.
- Very cold temperatures can harm an anthurium and cause browning.
- Anthuriums do best in climates 60–85℉ (15–30℃).
- A chill or frost can damage anthurium flowers.
- To prevent cold stress damage, keep plants away from doors and drafty windows in the winter.
To avoid damage caused by cold stress, be sure to move plants away from doorways and drafty windows, especially in the winter. Anthuriums are tropical plants that are easily damaged or killed by cold and frost.
Pests
Anthuriums can be prone to pest infestations. The most common types of pests to attack these plants are mealy bugs, white flies, thrips, aphids, and spider mites. Pests can suck the sap from your plant’s leaves and flowers, causing systemic damage and brown leaves.
- Anthuriums can be prone to pest infestations.
- The most common types of infestations are of mealy bugs, white flies, thrips, aphids, and spider mites.
- Pests suck sap from the plant, causing damage and browning.
- If you notice signs of infestation, quarantine the anthurium, and treat the infestation.
- Spray insects on your anthurium with this all-natural neem oil to kill them.
If you notice signs of infestation, it’s best to quarantine your plant and take steps to eliminate the pests. If you spot any pest insects, spray them with neem oil. Neem oil is a non-chemical pesticide that eradicates pest insects and fungus.
- 3-in-1 Garden Defense: Captain Jack's neem oil acts as a fungicide, insecticide, and miticide, protecting your lawn and garden from a variety of threats, ready-to-use with an attached sprayer.
- Comprehensive Disease and Pest Control: From common fungal diseases like rust and powdery mildew to pests at all life stages, this product offers full-range protection.
- Organic Gardening Approved: Suitable for organic produce and can be used up until the day of harvest, it provides a safe, yet effective solution for maintaining your garden's health.
Should You Leave Brown Anthurium Flowers?
Not only are brown anthurium leaves unattractive, but they can also slow your plant’s growth. While it is possible for an anthurium to continue to grow and thrive with brown leaves, it may not be the best plan for optimizing your plant’s health.
Should You Cut Off Brown Anthurium Flowers?
It’s not completely necessary to cut off brown anthurium flowers, but it is recommended. In addition to being unsightly, leaving too many brown flowers can also be detrimental to your plant’s health. If brown flowers are cut off, the plant will be able to direct all its resources and energy to growing its healthy, living flowers and leaves. This can help your plant to grow larger and stronger.
Why Does Your Anthurium Have Brown Flowers?
The most common causes of brown anthurium flowers are:
- Too much water.
- An excess of fertilizer.
- Overexposure to sunlight.
- Exposure to extreme cold.
- Pest infestations.
If you take the right steps, your anthurium will be thriving and producing colorful flowers again in no time. Remember to check the soil before watering your anthurium, dilute any fertilizer you use, and protect your beautiful plant from hot sunlight, cold drafts, and pest insects.
