Among the variety of indoor flowers, an evergreen plant from the genus of perennials called spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum) stands out for its unusual appearance. Home care is not at all complicated and is available to any novice grower. Spathiphyllum comes from Central America, it settled on the windowsills of Europeans more than two centuries ago. Today, this plant can be found in almost any flower shop. In the people, it is better known as "female happiness".
Appearance of the plant
This elegant flower captivates with its aristocracy and discreet beauty. The peculiarity of the plant is that it does not have a stem, and pointed oblong leaves grow directly from the rhizome, forming a lush bunch. Depending on the species, the spathiphyllum can reach a height of 15 centimeters to 1 meter.
The flowering period lasts several weeks and usually occurs in the spring, but with good care, the plant can delight with its flowers even more than once ayear. The inflorescence in the form of an ear, surrounded by a white drop-shaped leaf, like a veil, is located on a high stem. Gradually, this leaf becomes green in color, and when the decorative appearance of the flower is finally lost, it is recommended to cut it right at the base. This promotes the formation of new inflorescences and longer flowering.
Features of care
This flower is unpretentious and picky. However, home care for spathiphyllum involves creating an environment close to the tropical climate that is native to it. This will contribute to the faster development of the plant and abundant long flowering. Therefore, it is required to maintain the temperature in the room within 23-25 ⁰С. Cold air, drafts can kill the plant. The tropical climate is characterized by high humidity. So that the spathiphyllum does not suffer from its deficiency, it is necessary to make a small pallet with poured moistened sand, and also arrange water procedures once a week in the form of spraying the leaves. And, of course, water it regularly.
The first days after the purchase, spent in the house, are stressful for the plant. Do not rush to transplant a flower until it finally adapts. For this period, it is better to place it in a semi-shaded place, away from direct sunlight. Transplantation can be done in 2-3 weeks. It is not recommended to disturb a flowering plant until the end of flowering.
Root system of a plantSpathiphyllum, which requires abundant watering at home, should always be kept moist. A signal of lack of moisture are drooping and fading leaves.
How to properly water spathiphyllum
This flower loves high humidity. Therefore, it must be maintained not only in a pot, but also in the surrounding air. It is best to pour water into the pan to prevent waterlogging of the soil, which can lead to a lack of flowering and the appearance of red spots on the leaves.
To maintain air humidity, wet sand or moss is poured into the pallet. You can put a jar of water next to it.
Great pleasure gives the flower spraying the leaves. This procedure can be carried out daily, if possible. In extreme cases, you need to spray the plant at least 2 times a week. The leaves then become glossy and more resilient.
Temperature and lighting
Spathiphyllum belongs to light-loving plants, but the direct rays of the sun can lead to its death. It will feel quite comfortable even in a slightly shaded room. With a lack of lighting, the leaves of the plant may become deformed, growing narrow and long, and there may also be no flowering.
The air temperature in the room is within 20-25 ⁰С - this is what the spathiphyllum flower requires. Care at home must necessarily ensure the absence of drafts, which can be detrimentalfor him. It is advisable to keep the flower away from radiators in the winter season to avoid overdrying. If this is not possible, you can throw a damp cloth over the battery.
Feeding
The beautiful bright color of the leaves and their glossy sheen can only be maintained if the plant receives enough nutrients. To do this, every week you need to make mineral fertilizers during flowering and once a month during the dormant period. Their concentration should be low. Dilute at the rate of 1.5 g per 1 liter of water.
Lack of fertilizer can affect flowering and make the spathiphyllum flower less attractive. Home care (advice from experts and amateurs note this) involves the mandatory application of top dressing in order to extend the flowering period of the plant.
Soil requirements
The substrate for spathiphyllum requires fertile, rich in nutrients. Under natural habitat conditions, the soil, as a rule, consists of charcoal, fallen leaves and branches, and compost. It is recommended to prepare such a mixture while caring for spathiphyllum at home. The composition of humus, coniferous soil, sand in equal parts, two parts of garden soil and four parts of peat is considered optimal.
You can experiment a little when creating the substrate and prepare a different composition by adding bark, gravel or orchid substrate. The main thing is that the mixture is loose and light. Too heavy soil will encourage stagnant water, which can cause root rot. For better securitydrainage, some flower growers add brick chips to the ground.
Reproduction of Spathiphyllum
Gardeners prefer to propagate this flower vegetatively, because the seed propagation process is too laborious. Seed germination is very low, and even if young plants can be obtained, there is no guarantee that they will have the characteristics of the variety that was sown.
Usually, propagation is carried out by dividing the rhizome during transplantation or by apical cuttings. This should be done in the spring, before the flowering period has come. The bush is very carefully removed from the pot so as not to damage the root system, and the roots are divided into several parts. Larger roots are taken for planting, they are more likely to strengthen well. Roots are planted in separate pots with moist and warm potting soil.
To root faster, the shoot creates a greenhouse effect. To do this, it is covered with a glass container until the first leaves appear. In the future, the content is the same as that required by an adult spathiphyllum. Reproduction and care at home do not present any particular difficulties.
Transfer
Replanting this plant is often not recommended, because its roots and stem are rather fragile. It is best to do this once a year. And plants that have reached the age of five are transplanted only when the roots are already growing through the drainage hole. When starting a transplant, you need to prepare in advancesoil and do not forget about drainage (expanded clay can be used as it).
Replanting is a real stress for a plant like spathiphyllum. A master class from experienced flower growers, demonstrating how to perform this operation as painlessly as possible, should be carefully studied before proceeding with the process. As a last resort, you should use some of the transplant recommendations described below.
Before removing a flower from a pot, it must be thoroughly watered. All lateral processes should be removed. This is necessary so that the plant does not expend its strength on them, which contributes to the formation of large and beautiful leaves.
In a pot intended for transplantation, pour drainage, on top of a small layer of substrate. Then place the spathiphyllum together with an earthen clod in a pot, adding the soil mixture to the voids and lightly tamping. Water the soil after transplanting only lightly. In the next 3-4 days, the plant is only sprayed twice a day, it does not need to be watered. Until it takes root completely (this usually happens after two weeks), abundant watering should be avoided. Spathiphyllum flower, home care for which is specific, requires very careful handling during transplantation.
Reason for lack of flowering
Sometimes flower growers when growing spathiphyllum are faced with the fact that the plant does not bloom. There may be several reasons for this. First of all, this is too spacious a container. It is known that spathiphyllum blooms when the rootswrap the pot completely. Insufficient humidity, low air temperature or lack of top dressing can also be the reason for the lack of flowering.
The remaining fading inflorescences of the Spathiphyllum plant can slow down the process. Home care also consists in their timely removal - this will provoke the rapid growth of new ones.
Often this problem occurs when the bush is already quite old. After transplanting and breeding, it begins to bloom again.
Diseases and pests
Spathiphyllum has few enemies among insects. He is mainly concerned about spider mites and aphids. In the fight against them, rubbing the leaves with a soapy solution, to which nicotine sulfate can be added, helps a lot. To prevent the product from getting into the soil, you first need to cover the soil with a film. The next day, the solution must be washed off. Pest damage can be avoided if, according to all the rules, the spathiphyllum plant is cared for.
The types of diseases of this flower are different. Leaves may start to turn yellow. This is mainly the result of insufficient watering. It is necessary to gradually soak the dried soil, gradually increasing the amount of water. Do not forget about spraying.
If the room is too cold, it may cause the flower to dry out. For such a heat-loving plant as Spathiphyllum, home care should be carried out in compliance with the required temperature regime.
Blackening of the leaves can be caused by an excess of moisture in the soil. In this casethe plant will have to be transplanted, replacing the substrate. Sometimes blackness can be caused by a lack of nutrition or, conversely, an excessive amount of it.
Spathiphyllum, or "women's happiness" flower, which even a novice grower can care for, can be attributed to the most grateful plants. In response to care, he will delight for a long time with his amazing flowers, attracting love to the house.
