Anthurium Flower Secrets
Anthurium Flower Secrets
How would you like to make your anthurium flowers last up to twice as long?
My family and I have been growing anthurium flowers for more than thirty years. During this time we have picked up a few secrets and tips.
Enter your email to learn:
- How to make your flowers last up to twice as long
- Tips for weddings and special occasions
- Mistakes to avoid when ordering anthurium flowers
Hawaii’s Must-See Sights
Hawaii's Must-See Sights
If you want to make sure that you don’t miss out on seeing Hawaii’s most spectacular sights, things that only locals know about, then you might want to enter your email below to get my free report on Hawaii’s Must-See Sights.
I’ve listed all of my favorite places; places that you do not want to miss, in Hawaii’s Must-See Sights. Enter your email and you’ll discover:
- The name of one of the world’s best beaches
- Where to get the most stunning view of the Hamakua coast
- How to get up close and personal with an active volcano
- A spectacular waterfall that is ridiculously easy to get to
- Where to find a fully restored Hawaiian village
I’ve lived in Hawaii for many decades. My parents were born here. Several of my grandparents were born here as well. So my family and I have spent a lot of time exploring every nook and cranny of the Big Island and I’ve put this knowledge into Hawaii’s Must-See Sights.
Kava Kava High
“You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply.” Woops, that’s Rocky Mountain High. I suppose you’re looking for Kava Kava High.
Sorry to disappoint you but the Kava Kava High is not like the high from hard drugs. (Not that I’ve tried any hard drugs.) But I have tried kava. In fact, here’s a picture of my current bag of kava. It is Hiwa Kava from the folks at Hawaiia Kava Center.
Hiwa Kava
According to them, it was the favorite variety of kava (or awa as we say in Hawaii) of the Kahuna. Now the Kahuna were the high priests and advisors of Hawaiian royalty. They were really smart and also really scary dudes, who were not to be messed with. And they liked this variety of kava the best.
Why did they like it so much?
Well it produces amazing cerebral effects. It generates a sublime state of calmness and focus like no other. I feel like my mind can go places that it normally can’t. It relaxes my muscles and my whole body. It makes my lips and tongue a little numb and it produces a mild euphoria. It seems to lower my overall levels of stress and anxiety. It is totally unlike the effects of alcohol. When I drink it, my mind stays completely sharp and I don’t experience any hangover like effects the next day.
A word of warning. Don’t buy this if you have sensitive taste buds. I buy it and I drink it because I like the effects, but I hate the taste. In my opinion it is the worst tasting of the Hawaiian Drinks.Some people say its taste has hints of cocoa, but I think it tastes like dirt mixed with leaves and a dash of pepper. But that might just be me.
Kona Coffee Review
Hawaii received its first coffee trees in 1828. They were brought to the islands on HMS Blond, which was a British warship. Soon after, coffee was planted in the Kona district of the Big Island. Kona’s rich volcanic soil and unique climate work together to produce a coffee like no other. Kona coffee is by far one of the best tasting Hawaiian Drinks.
Recently I tried 100% Kona coffee from a company called Royal Kona. I sampled their Private Reserve, Medium Roast, Whole Bean. It’s not cheap. In fact, it costs roughly $2 per ounce, but it was definitely worth it.
My Bag of Royal Kona Coffee
It has a very fragrant, intoxicating coffee aroma. I really can’t describe it. I can only imagine what it must smell like when it was being roasted.
And it has a rich, complex flavor. It has a smooth, almost buttery mouth feel, with just a hint of acidity. And I really like the earthy notes that I got from it, which are much more complex than other coffees.
As long as you are a one or two cup a day coffee drinker like me, I think that you’ll love this coffee. But if you drink more than that, you will probably love this coffee, but hate what it does to your wallet.
Ka’u Coffee
You might not be able to tell this from its name, but Ka’u coffee is grown in the district of Ka’u. Ka’u is located on the Big Island of Hawaii just a few miles outside of the Volcano National Park.
Now Kona Coffee is thought by many to be one of the finest coffees in the world and if you are interested in kona coffee you might want to view my Kona Coffee Review, but I think coffee from this obscure area, called Ka’u, that few have heard of is one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets. Now I’ve tried both Kona Coffee and Ka’u Coffee and if Kau Coffee isn’t comparable to Kona Coffee, I’d have to say that it is very close in quality and flavor and it is one of my favorite Hawaiian Drinks.
A bag of my Ka'u Coffee from Big Island Coffee.
And you know what the best thing about this little known coffee is? It’s the price; it is significantly less pricey than Kona Coffee, because so few non-locals know about it. But how long will this incredible coffee from Ka’u remain Hawaii’s best kept secret? My wallet hopes that the answer is forever.
P.S.: You didn’t hear this from me…You may have already had Ka’u coffee and not even realized it. I’ve heard a few rumors that some “kona coffee” was really grown in Ka’u and secretly smuggled into Kona for roasting and packaging under the Kona coffee label. But these are just rumors after all.
Anthurium Flower Catalog
We are not accepting orders at this time. We will let you know when we are accepting orders again.
Here are some of the freshest, finest Anthurium flowers from our farms on the Island of Hawaii. These exquisite flowers are perfect for anniversaries, weddings and other special occasions. You can buy one variety of flower or you can mix and match varieties.
Please note that these flowers are shipped as loose, cut flowers to ensure the highest level of quality. You will need to arrange them in your own container or vase. Our minimum order size for flowers is $100. Please review our policies before ordering, and contact us for prices and availability.
| Red Anthurium Flowers | Green Anthurium Flowers |
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| Pink Anthurium Flowers | Red Obake Anthurium Flowers |
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Out of Stock |
| Purple Tulip Anthurium | Mickey Mouse Anthurium |
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| White Tulip Anthurium |
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Anthurium Plant Catalog
We are not accepting orders at this time. We will let you know when we are accepting orders again.
These wonderful anthurium plants are grown on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hawaii is home to some of the best and most prolific anthurium breeders in the world and we will continue to add new varieties to our catalog. If you want to be notified when we add new varieties to our catalog, please send us a message via our contact form.
Note that we only sell top cuttings and our minimum order is $100. Please review our policies before ordering.
| Hokuloa Anthurium Plant | Kalapana Anthurium Plant |
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| $29 | $29 |
| Marian Seefurth Anthurium Plant | Mickey Mouse Anthurium Plant |
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| $29 | $14 |
| Midori Anthurium Plant | Princess Claire Anthurium Plant |
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| $29 | $29, Out of Stock |
| Princess Lily Anthurium Plant | Tatsuta Anthurium Plant |
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| $19 | $29, Out of Stock |
| Tropic Fire Anthurium Plant | |
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| $29 |
Gifts from Hawaii
Are you looking for gifts from Hawaii? Hawaii is a special place that produces many unique gifts that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Whether you are looking for a gift for a grandchild or a grandparent or anyone in between, these Hawaiian gift ideas are sure to put a smile on their face.
Kona coffee is one of the best coffees in the world. It has a deep rich aroma and a very rich taste and an almost buttery finish. What makes it so special is that it is only grown in a tiny area on a single tiny island in the middle of the Pacific, an island that I happen to call home. Kona coffee is only grown in the districts of North and South Kona on the island of Hawaii. This growing region is about two miles wide and twenty miles long. The growing region sits at roughly 800 to 3000 feet of elevation and has deep, fertile volcanic soil which produces amazing coffee. Many of the growers have been growing coffee for several generations and are absolutely fastidious with their processing and roasting methods to produce an exceptional coffee.
Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts
Some foods are amazing all by themselves. Chocolate definitely ranks very high on my list of incredibly yummy things to eat and the salty crunch of dry roasted Macadamia nuts also gets my taste buds tingling. But what is really spectacular is when you put the two of them together. It’s almost impossible to stop eating them. Chocolate covered macadamia nuts make fantastic gifts, assuming you are willing to part with them.
The Ohia tree produces fiery red Lehua blossoms and it is the most abundant native tree species in Hawaii. It can grow as tall as 98 feet and it is a sight to behold when it is blooming. But not only do the Lehua blossoms look beautiful, they also produce wonderfully sweet nectar that Hawaiian honey bees seem to really enjoy. These Hawaiian honey bees work hard to produces a creamy rich honey with a subtle flavor of the islands.
If you are looking for a great gift for someone who already knows the ins and outs of caring for salt water fish, seahorses might just be a unique gift for them. These seahorses are not caught from the wild like many other seahorses are, but they are instead bred in captivity. Natural stocks of seahorses that are caught in the wild are dwindling, so buying farm raised seahorses helps to prevent the extinction of seahorses in the wild.
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies, the name says it all. I really don’t see a need to get into just how delicious these cookies taste. They are made right here in my hometown on the island of Hawaii out of the finest local ingredients. They are so good that they are almost mandatory gifts when we visit friends and relatives on other islands.
I’d almost be remiss if I didn’t mention gift cards. Some people in our lives are almost impossible to shop for and gift cards can be the perfect solution.
At other times, we may simply run out of time to buy gifts. The great thing about gift cards is that they can be purchased and even printed out or emailed directly to the person that you are buying a gift for.
So if you are in a pinch, you can buy a gift card and let the recipient of your gift choose their own ideal Hawaiian gift.
Anthurium Flower Overview
Anthurium flowers come in many different shapes and sizes. I’m sure that you could find hundreds of different kinds of flower variations. But there are just three main types of anthurium flowers: obake, tulip and standard. These classifications are based on the shape and the color pattern of each flower.
Obake Anthurium Flowers
Obake means “ghost” in the Japanese language. Since many of the earliest anthurium growers in Hawaii were Japanese, I guess it makes sense that this type of anthurium flower would receive a Japanese name. But what is less clear is why they chose to name these types of flowers “ghost.” Perhaps, it is because these beautiful, large flowers have an ethereal quality. Obake also has a second meaning in Japanese. It can also mean “a thing that changes” or something that is in transition. Perhaps the change from one color to another that is present in all obake flowers meets this definition.
Click Here To See Our Anthurium Flower Catalog.
 Orange Obake Anthurium Flowers |
 White Obake Anthurium Flower |
Obake anthuriums are, in my opinion, the most stunning type of anthurium flowers. They produce the largest flowers and they rarely found in a single boring color, but instead are multi-colored. Each flower will often have one color in the center and a different color at their edges. They are shaped like elongated hearts and their spathe is often a little wavy. They are the most expensive variety to purchase, so I guess others feel the same way that I do about them.
Tulip Anthurium Flowers
Tulip anthuriums are shaped like tulips. Hopefully this isn’t a big surprise. They tend to be the smallest variety, often producing flowers that are only two to six inches in size.
 Tulip Anthurium Flower |
 Purple Tulip Anthurium Flower |
They come in a range of colors including red, pink, purple, lavender and white. Unlike other types of anthuriums, some varieties of tulip anthuriums produce a pleasant, sweet scent. Unfortunately, their fragrance doesn’t always seem to last when they shipped as a cut flower. So you may need to find a tulip anthurium plant that is in bloom to experience their pleasing fragrance for yourself.
Standard Anthurium Flowers
 Red Anthurium Flower |
 White Anthurium Flower |
Standard anthuriums are the oldest and most common variety of anthurium. They are what most people think of when the word anthurium is mentioned. They are shaped like perfect Valentine’s Day hearts and the majority come in solid colors, thought a minority come in multi-colored patterns. They typically range in size from three to eight inches and the most famous color is red. Though they can also come in orange, green, pink, various pastels and purple. Multi-colored varieties can have an obake-like color pattern or they can also be speckled.
Pictures From Our Farm
Here are a few pictures of the anthurium flowers that live on our farm. Would you believe that some of these anthurium plants are almost as old as I am? Well it’s true, if they aren’t harmed by injury or disease, anthurium plants can outlive us. We take top cuttings, plant them, let them grow for a few years and take top cuttings again, and this cycle repeats almost endlessly.
 Anthurium Field |
 Obake Anthuriums |
 Midori Anthurium |
 Kalapana Anthurium Flower |
 Kozohara Anthurium Flower |
 Light Pink and Green Obake Anthurium |
 Princess Lily Anthurium |
 Purple Tulip Anthurium |
 Purplish Red Tulip |
 Immature Anthurium Plants |
 Mature Anthurium Plants |
 Tatsuta Obake Anthurium |
A Common Mistake When Ordering Anthurium Flowers
When ordering anthuriums for the first time, a common mistake is to not know exactly what is being ordered. Often, people will see a picture perfect anthurium bouquet or arrangement on a website and expect that this arrangement is exactly what they are going to be getting. But when it finally arrives and they open the box they are disappointed to find a bunch of loose flowers that they have to arrange on their own. To guard against making this mistake, check with the retailer to find out if they are selling loose flowers or actual arrangements.
Trivia
- Anthurium means “tail flower” in the Greek language
- Samuel Damon brought the anthurium to Hawaii in 1889
- The rain forests of Central and South America were the ancestral home of anthurium plants
- Anthurium plants can be mildly poisonous, they can cause stomach issues if ingested
- There are more than 800 species of anthuriums
- Virtually all anthurium flowers are of the species Anthurium Andreanum, this includes: obake, tulip and standard anthuriums in nearly every color of the rainbow
- Anthurium flowers are perfect, meaning that they have both male and female parts
Little Known Facts About Anthurium Flowers
What you think of as anthurium flowers really aren’t flowers at all, they are actually spathes. A spathe is really just a specialized leaf, or in other words, a bract, which is essentially a cross between a petal and a leaf. The spathe can come in almost all of the colors of the rainbow, from red to violet and it can also come in a variety of shapes, from the standard heart shape to the tulip shape.
In the center of the spathe, is where the real anthurium flower resides. This is where the spadix, a.k.a.: nose, tail or inflorescence is located. The spadix is the actual anthurium flower; it is where the stamen (male part of the flower) and stigma (female part of the flower) are to be found. The stamen and stigma can only be seen with magnifying glasses and appear as tiny bumps on the spadix.
In summary, the anthurium flower consists of the following parts. The spathe, which everyone calls a flower, but which is actually just a glorified leaf; the spadix, which is the actual flower; and the stigma and stamen, which are the female and male parts of the flower that appear as tiny bumps.
Anthurium Plants
Anthurium Plants
There are just two major categories of anthuriums that you may find in your local plant store: foliage varieties and flowering varieties. And the vast majority of what you see will there will be flowering varieties.
As far as foliage varieties go, the main types are Anthurium Crystallinum and Anthurium Faustinomirandae. A. Crystallinum will typically produce dark green, smooth leaves with highlighted white veins that are up to two feet in size. While, A. Faustinomirandae will often produce monstrous five foot leaves that are stiff as paperboard. But good luck finding these in your garden store, these will take a little effort to procure.
In terms of flowering varieties the two main varieties are Anthurium Scherzerianum and Anthurium Andreanum. A. Scherzerianum is a tough plant and it is an excellent choice for your first anthurium plant as it is easy to care for and tough to kill. But it leaves much to be desired in terms of the types of flowers that it produces, which are rather limited. It usually produces small white flowers with a curly orange spadix and it has smaller spade shaped leaves.
If you want the widest possible choice in flower shapes, sizes and colors, look to A. Andreanum. It is the species that is responsible for virtually all of the various types of anthurium flowers that are found in flower shops. In Hawaii, in the 1940’s, anthurium hobbyists learned how to selectively breed anthuriums. The fruit of their efforts was an explosion of different types of A. Andreanum flowers. They produced the three main flower shapes: standard, obake and tulips. And they also created many of the colors that we see today: red, orange, green, purple, pink, pastels, speckled and much, much more.
How To Care For Anthuriums
Anthuriums are strong plants and they are relatively easy to care for. There is really just two things that you need to do.
First, you need to water your plant regularly. It is critical that you give your anthurium enough water to keep it hydrated and do not give it so much water that it drowns. Ideally, you should water your plant every day, but you need to make sure that its soil drains well. You never want it to be left sitting it water. The water must drain away to allow oxygen to reach its roots. If oxygen does not reach its roots, anaerobic bacteria start to grow and will attack the root system of your plant.
Second, you need to fertilize your anthurium. The ideal way to do this is to use a very dilute liquid fertilizer once a week. But this is really too way too much work and the easier solution is to apply a slow release fertilizer every three to six months. This is much easier and produces close to the same results as the liquid fertilizer method.
Proper Growing Conditions For Anthuriums
You have to keep in mind that anthuriums come from tropical rain forests, so you’ll want to replicate this environment as closely as possible when you are growing an anthurium plant. To do this you’ll need high humidity, warm temperatures and filtered sunlight.
The ideal place to meet these conditions is a window in your bathroom. When you take a hot shower, this will produce a lot of humidity. So the first necessary condition is fulfilled. By keeping your plant in your home you will generally meet the second condition which is a warm, but not excessively hot temperature. Anthuriums love temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees and they will be happy if you keep your home at this temperature. Finally, putting your plant near a window will give it filtered sunlight. Anthuriums like a lot of light, but too much light can cause their leaves to burn. Just put your plant as close to the window as you can, without it burning.
Bromeliad Care
Vital Guidelines to Caring for Bromeliad Plants
Bromeliad plants are some of the most exotic plants in the world and they are easy to grow. But one simple little mistake with watering can kill your beautiful bromeliad plant. So keep reading if you want to avoid making this common rookie mistake.
Bromeliad plants are members of the Bromeliaceae family, which includes the most famous bromeliad of them all: the pineapple. Bromeliads grow well indoors and come in a wide variety of colors. They are cherished because of the stunning flowers that they produce from the center of their rosette.
Proper bromeliad care involves addressing the following factors to ensure that your bromeliad plant stays healthy and grows well. The factors are:
- Water
- Light
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Air Circulation
- Feeding
Watering a Bromeliad Plant
Over the years, Bromeliads plants have adapted to survive harsh drought conditions and so they can handle periods of low moisture very well. You are much more likely to harm your plant by over watering it than by under watering it. Over watering your bromeliad plant can cause root rot and when root rot is left unchecked it can kill your bromeliad.
You should wait until the surface of your bromeliad’s potting mix begins to feel dry and then you should water it thoroughly until water comes out from the bottom of the pot. This will flush any excess salts out of the potting mix. If you don’t water your plant completely, salts will build up and harm your plant.
Bromeliad plants store water in the center of their rosettes, but in most instances you should avoid allowing water to collect in the center of your bromeliads for a number of reasons. First, standing water can stagnate and cause your plant to get a bacterial or fungal infection. Second, when your plant is exposed to low temperatures the water can freeze or serve to retain the cold temperature and cause your plant to be damaged by frost. Third, your plant can get all the water it needs through its root system, so there is no pressing need to put any water in its rosette.
If you have an epiphytic bromeliad that is attached to a piece of wood or a tree, it will lack a rosette and a large root system, so it will have a harder time getting the moisture it needs. You must make sure that you mist it with water regularly so that it receives the moisture that it needs to grow.
Finally, one rookie watering mistake that can kill your bromeliad is watering it with a metal watering can. Bromeliads are very sensitive to metals and using a metal watering can may harm or even kill your plant.
Light levels and Bromeliads
Most bromeliads can tolerate a wide variation in light levels, but to look they need the right amount of light. In general, bromeliad varieties with thick, hard, gray leaves tend to like higher levels of sunlight, while varieties with thin, green, soft leaves like lower levels of sunlight. When growing your plant indoors any area with bright light, as long as it is not direct sunlight is best for your plant.
To find out if your bromeliad is receiving the right amount of light look at its leaves. If your plant’s leaves are getting paler or more yellow, your plant may be receiving too much light. Conversely, if your plant’s leaves are becoming a darker shade of green and stretching or elongating, your plant may be receiving too little light. A helpful tip is to periodically snap digital photos of your plant to use as a comparison. But always take these photos under the same artificial light source or the colors may be distorted.
Air Temperature
Unless the area you live in has temperatures that exceed 100 degrees your bromeliad plant will probably be fine on the high end of the temperature scale. Usually the low end of the temperature scale is where most bromeliad growers run into problems. There are a few varieties of bromeliads that can survive short exposure to temperatures of 32 degrees, but in general 40 degrees is the lowest temperature a bromeliad can be exposed to. If you are growing a bromeliad indoors, you should strive to keep the temperature between 60 and 75 degrees. Bromeliads like temperatures of 65 degrees at night and 75 degrees during the day.
Bromeliad plants with soft leaves prefer higher temperatures, while bromeliads with tough leaves are able to handle lower temperatures a little better.
Humidity Levels
A relative humidity level of 50% is ideal for most types of bromeliads. And a range of 40 to 60 percent is best. If the humidity in your home is lower than this, you should consider installing a humidifier near your bromeliad plant. This will add moisture to the air and allow your bromeliad to thrive. Another option is to mist your plant with water regularly, and yet another option is to set the pot of your bromeliad upon a layer of gravel that is soaked with water. But remember the water level should never encroach on the base of the pot. If it does, capillary action will pull water into your bromeliad’s potting mix and cause it to become water logged. Please refer to the section on watering your bromeliad if you don’t already know why this is bad for your bromeliad plant.
Air Circulation: Good for people and for Bromeliads Too
You probably like good air circulation and hate stale air. Well your bromeliad plant is much like you. It doesn’t like poor air circulation either. Good air circulation is vital for keeping your bromeliad healthy. It will prevent the growth of fungus and alleviate attacks by various species of scale insects. You can ensure good air circulation with a small fan or by simply opening the windows of your home on a temperate day. You’ll breathe easier and so will your bromeliad plant.
Feeding your Bromeliad Plant
Just like you, your bromeliad needs to eat too. Only it doesn’t need to eat as often. In general, you should fertilize it when it is actively growing and hold back on fertilizing it when it is not growing, which generally happens during the winter time. During the spring and summer growing season apply a liquid fertilizer to the potting mix once every two months. Make sure that you dilute the liquid fertilizer to 33% of the recommended strength, because bromeliads don’t like to over eat.
When applying the fertilizer, be very careful not to get it into the rosette. If this happens, salts can build up in the rosette and harm your bromeliad plant. These salts can inflict painful burns on newly emerging leaves.
Subscribe to my free newsletter and learn:
- The 3 most important things you must do to keep your new bromeliad alive
- How to water your bromeliad properly, so it isn’t harmed by excess salts or bacterial growth
- When to repot your bromeliad and how to avoid killing it during the repotting process
Rare Bromeliad Plants
Are you interested in buying rare bromeliad plants?
One of the foremost bromeliad breeders in the world is located a few blocks away from our farm. He has given talks about bromeliads to other bromeliad breeders around the world and he is the expert that other bromeliad breeders and growers look to when they need advice about bromeliads.
My parents have known him for several decades and he recently reminded me that he knew me since I was less than two feet tall. (Yes, I was only a few years old at the time.)
He has been developing exotic new varieties of bromeliads for a number of decades and he has quite a few varieties which are exceptionally rare, because he personally hybridized them.
I’m thinking of adding a few of these incredibly rare bromeliads to our catalog, but only if there is interest. I would expect prices to range from $75 to $150 and up to $275 (in a few exceptional cases) per plant.
Do you have interest in acquiring any of these exceptionally exotic bromeliads?
If you are, please use our contact form to let me know.
Amazon Bestsellers: Bromeliads