If you’ve been hanging around the planty corners of the internet lately, you’ve probably noticed something: there’s a particular surge in interest in Anthuriums in our community over the last couple of years! These dramatic houseplants are so beautiful, and more and more plant parents in our Growing Joy community have been asking about them. So when I met the Cass, aka plantaddicted_cass, the Anthurium Queen, at the Southeast Plant Show, I knew instantly that I wanted to bring her story to you. She radiated joy. She lit up when she talked about her plants. And she’s here to share with you her obsession with anthuriums, how many thousands of plants she now grows, propagates, sells, nurtures, and laughs about. Time to prop!

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:12] Meet Cass aka the Anthurium Queen who turns one plant into many
• [04:17] How she uses humor to heal and share with the world her passion for plants
• [05:14] How she fell in love with Anthuriums
• [07:19] Plant fails and the messy truth behind her collection
• [08:12] Experimenting with soil mixes and learning the hard way!
• [09:01] How Cass’s plant hobby became a business
• [11:09] What are some anthurium care tips?
• [11:46] Easy Anthuriums for beginners!
• [13:22] Why Bird’s Nest Anthuriums might surprise you!
• [13:57] How to understand Anthurium light needs
• [14:33] What brown tips really mean and how to fix them
• [15:09] Offer your garden beautiful melodies that calm the mind and soul with Wind River Chimes!
• [16:50] Don't miss out on Manukora honey's $150 off Black Friday starter kit offer until December 2nd!
• [18:27] How to keep Anthuriums happy and lightly moist
• [19:04] Cass’s “muscle milk” fertilizer secret
• [20:20] How to propagate Anthuriums from seed
• [24:32] Harvesting the berries and collecting seeds
• [25:23] How to germinate fresh seeds in moss or tree fern fiber
• [26:24] When and how to separate the seedlings
• [27:23] Potting up baby Anthuriums for the first time
• [28:25] What is Cass’s “tote life” growing system for high humidity?
• [29:57] How to acclimate seedlings to room conditions
• [32:38] What are the biggest mistakes people make when trying this at home?
• [33:15] How to rehab struggling Anthuriums and check for pests
• [34:26] What is Cass’s favorite airy substrate mix?
• [35:45] Where can you find Cass online?
• [37:11] Upcoming Anthurium Society and plant expo events!
• [38:44] How to plan and budget for next year’s big plant trips
• [39:42] Maria’s wrap-up: Cass’s story proves plants can truly transform lives
• [40:02] Try Palm Street with Maria’s link for up to $55 in coupons
• [41:16] Free resources for plant parents and how to connect with Maria online

 

 

 

Order my book!

Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,

so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!

 

 

Why Anthuriums Feel So Special

An Anthurium has a presence that is hard to describe. The shapes, the textures, the weight of the leaves, the way they evolve as they mature.

I remember gasping over my first juvenile monstera leaf when it unfurled, but there is something even more intimate about the steady drama of an Anthurium leaf.

Cass laughed when she admitted that she still gasps every time a new leaf appears, even with thousands of plants around her.

These plants invite a very personal kind of plant care. You watch them. You listen to them. You learn their language. That might be why so many people grow more attached to them than they expect.

 

 

Cass’s Anthurium Tips Every Beginner Needs to Hear

Here’s what Cass wants you to know about anthuriums:

1. Choose the right Anthurium for your lifestyle

Not all Anthuriums need high humidity and constant attention. Some are just chill.

Cass’s top beginner picks:

• Anthurium clarinervium – thick leaves, thick roots, and surprisingly low-maintenance
• Anthurium superbum (bird’s nest) – these are shockingly hardy!
• Vittariifolium or other pendens – long, draping leaves that are stunning
• Pedatum – looks like fingers

These tolerate ambient home conditions, lower humidity, and even a bit of underwatering. (My bird's nest blooms more than my clarinervium ever has!)

 

2. Anthuriums tell you what they need

• If stems are stretching, they need more light
• If leaves are curling downward, that’s too much light
• If brown tips, that’s usually watering issues (not pests!)
• If new growth is sluggish, check the roots

 

3. Root checks save lives

If you suspect a problem, unpot it. Look at the roots. Fixing early root issues saves the entire plant.

 

4. Don’t let them fully dry out

Anthuriums hate extreme dryness followed by heavy watering. That’s a fast track to root rot.

 

 

How to Water Anthuriums

Anthuriums don’t want to be dry, and they don’t want to be soaked. They want “lightly moist.”

When they dry out too much and you suddenly flood them with water, the roots go into shock.

A chunky, airy mix helps a lot. Think:

• large perlite
• coco coir
• a little charcoal
• something moisture-retentive but never compacted

And if your home dries plants out quickly, adding a small percentage of regular potting soil helps hold moisture in.

 

 

How You Can Grow Anthuriums From Seed

I had no idea Anthurium propagation was this… juicy. So when your Anthurium puts out a new leaf, it usually also makes what's called an inflorescence, and they go through many stages:

Anthurium flowers go through:

1. Female phase (sticky stage) – when you pollinate
2. Male phase (pollen stage) – when you collect pollen

After pollination, the spike becomes an infructescence and produces berries, each holding one or two seeds.

Cass pops those fresh seeds (never dried) into moist moss in a Tupperware, seals it, adds light, and lets humidity work its magic. And then month later, baby leaves are everywhere.

And if I can try this with my single clarinervium, so can you.

 

 

Becoming a Plant Seller

When Cass’s collection exploded, she began selling through markets and eventually through Palm Street.

They encouraged her, supported her, and helped her step into full-time plant selling.

And now her live sales are addictive, dangerous, and full of deals, plant friends!

 

 

Growing Anthuriums With Curiosity and Confidence

I think the main thing I walked away with is that you do not need to be an expert to enjoy Anthuriums. You can just be curious. You can experiment. You can make mistakes. Cass talks about her rehab bins openly, and I hope that makes you feel braver.

Plants do not need us to perform. They just need consistent attention and a willingness to look closer. If something goes wrong, you fix it. If something goes right, you celebrate it. And sometimes you gasp at a new leaf even when you think you should be over that feeling by now.

 

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 219: How to Care for Alocasias, Ep 219
• Enjoy up to $55 in new user savings on Palm Street!
• International Aroid Society
• The BIG Plant Expo

 

 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic this holiday season with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Manukora

Make your coffee and smoothies better with Manuka honey! Manukora honey is a rich, creamy honey from the remote forests of New Zealand, ethically harvested and packed with powerful nutrients. It contains triple the antioxidants and prebiotics of regular honey, supporting immunity and gut health. Versatile and delicious, it can be used in coffee, smoothies, smoothie bowls, or enjoyed straight from the spoon for an energy boost.

Go to manukora.com/bloom to get $150 off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook. Promo runs until December 2nd.

 

 

 

Follow Cass:

Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Cass's Coloring Book

 

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria