Beauty and unpretentiousness are the qualities for which many flower growers appreciate spathiphyllum. How to care for this plant that blooms almost all year round? Fortunately, this does not require special skills. It is enough just to follow the recommendations given in the article.
Description
Care requires even such an unpretentious flower as spathiphyllum. How to care for him? To begin with, it is worth understanding what this plant is. The flower belongs to the aroid family, it came to our window sills from the tropics of Central America. The plant is known as "women's happiness". It is often presented as a gift to the fair sex as a wish for a happy marriage, harmony in the family. There is an opinion that spathiphyllum languishes in a house in which spouses are constantly in conflict with each other.
The plant has no stem, the stem of the flower and the leaves grow directly from the ground. The cob of the plant can be white-green or white, it is surrounded by the so-called veil, which changes color duringflowering. The leaves are lanceolate or oval in shape, rich green in color. The median vein is very distinct.
How to care for spathiphyllum correctly
The plant is famous not only for its beauty, but also for its unpretentiousness, but still needs care spathiphyllum. How to care for him so that he harmoniously develops, turns green and blooms magnificently? Factors to consider are discussed below.
Lighting
The best place for a flower is close to the window. It is important that direct sunlight does not fall on the spathiphyllum. A shade-loving plant can be placed on a western or eastern window, where diffused light is observed.
In summer, the flower is allowed to be taken out into the fresh air, but it must be in the shade. Do not leave the spathiphyllum in the back of the room or in a dark room for a long time. This will lead to the fact that the leaves of the plant are deformed, become narrow and long. It is unlikely that a flower will bloom in such conditions.
Temperature
What else does a spathiphyllum need, how to care for it so that it pleases with its beauty for a long time? We must not forget that the plant was brought to us from the tropical regions of Central America. The flower prefers a warm atmosphere.
How will the indoor air temperature be optimal for him? During flowering and growth, this figure is about 20 degrees. During the rest period - 16-18 degrees. Cold is a great danger for spathiphyllum, the plant may stop blooming. Also, we must not forget that the flowerdoes not tolerate drafts.
Humidity
How to care for spathiphyllum at home competently? We must not forget that the flower needs high humidity, like other tropical plants. How can this need be met?
- Creating a microclimate. A wide pallet of a flower pot is filled with sand, expanded clay, moss and small pebbles. Water is also poured into it, increasing the level of humidity during evaporation.
- Regular spraying. In summer, this procedure must be done two to four times a day. In the cold season, you must put a wet towel on the battery, which is located next to the flower.
- Wipe with a damp sponge. This procedure is of great benefit to the spathiphyllum.
We must also not forget that during the growing season the plant should be washed with warm water in the shower once a week.
Irrigation
How to properly care for spathiphyllum? How often to water it? The fact that the flower needs moisture is signaled by dried soil, as well as drooping leaves. The secrets of proper watering are simple.
- It is necessary to use water at room temperature. It is important that it stand for a day before use.
- In winter, the flower needs to be watered moderately, in summer it needs abundant watering.
- Be sure to pour water into the pan. This will have a beneficial effect on the root system of the plant.
- It is impossible to fill the plant with water. Often it is excessive watering that leads to the fact that the flowering of the spathiphyllum stops.
This flower will not die if the owners are forced to leave their homes for a week. However, before leaving, be sure to water the plant abundantly.
Ground
Soil for spathiphyllum is made up of humus, peat, leaf soil and turf. Also add hydrogel granules, crushed sphagnum, sand. It is important that the turf prevails, it should be used approximately twice as much as the rest of the components.
Feeding
Full development and growth of spathiphyllum is not possible without top dressing. You should be guided by the tips below.
- In the spring and summer, the plant needs to be fed once a week. As long as the flower is small, it can be fertilized once every two weeks during the summer months.
- In the autumn-winter period, it is enough to use top dressing once a month.
- Spathiphyllum must be watered before fertilizing.
- In the role of top dressing are complex mineral and organic fertilizers at the rate of 1.5 g per liter of water.
Flowering
How to care for spathiphyllum so that it blooms on time? This may require stimulation. The plant is placed in a cool, bright place for about 10-12 days, it is not necessary to water it during this period. Then the flower should be returned to its original place, fertilized and regular watering resumed. Flowering can be expected in about 20-30 days. Also provoke himspecial preparations will help, for example, "Zircon", "Epin". Such a tool must be sprayed on the foliage.
The reasons why the plant does not bloom may be different. For example, the source of the problem could be:
- wrong location;
- pot too big;
- overwatering or underwatering;
- too frequent transfers.
How to transplant
What other information is useful for people who have a spathiphyllum home flower? How to care for him? Plant care includes an annual transplant. This procedure should be carried out in the spring, before flowering. First you need to choose the right container. The flowerpot should be slightly larger than the previous one, the roots in it should be slightly cramped. It must be remembered that the roots of the plant grow in a horizontal plane. Therefore, a low and wide pot is needed. If the flowerpot is too spacious, the spathiphyllum will not bloom.
The plant grows well in nutritious and light soil. You can stop at a ready-made universal mixture, or mix equal parts garden soil, soddy soil, sand, humus and peat, and then add 100 g of bark, gravel and charcoal. When preparing the soil, be sure to make a layer of drainage at the bottom of the tank, this will prevent the root system from rotting.
Leaves turn black or turn yellow
How to care for spathiphyllum at home? What problems might be encounteredflorist?
The leaves of the plant turn black - what to do in this case? The problem may be excessive watering, lack of nutrients, insufficiently moist air. If at the same time brown spots appear on the leaves, this may be a manifestation of a disease caused by pests. Also, excessive lighting cannot be ruled out.
Spathiphyllum leaves can turn yellow for a number of reasons. The following options are available:
- exuberant bloom causing weakening of the flower;
- faded, but not cut peduncle, depriving the plant of strength;
- poor lighting;
- too much moisture.
Also, the leaves may turn yellow in a spathiphyllum that is many years old. If it is a young plant, the problem may be a lack of nutrients and fluids.
Pests
In the article you can see a photo of a spathiphyllum. How to care for a flower so that it looks just as luxurious? What other information would be useful? A variety of pests pose a threat to the plant. Protecting a green pet from them is one of the important tasks.
- Aphids, spider mites. They are most dangerous for a flower that suffers from a lack of moisture. You can get rid of pests by treating with nicotine sulfate with a soapy solution. Before carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to cover the soil with a film to prevent the ingress of a toxic agent. The drug from the leaves should be washed off a day later.
- Mealybug. In most cases, the appearance of this pest is due toexcess moisture. If there are few insects, they can be removed with a rag soaked in alcohol. With a large number of pests, it is worth fighting them through the processing of Actellik.
- Home shield. Treatment with a solution of nicotine sulfate also helps to cope with this pest. Be sure to remove the drug from the leaves a day later with a soapy solution. After completing the procedure, you need to water the soil with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Varieties
The answer to the question of how to care directly depends on the variety. The spathiphyllum flower, the photo of which can be seen in the article, has gained great popularity in many countries of the world. What plant varieties are most in demand because of their unpretentiousness and attractive appearance, if we talk about growing at home?
- Spatiphyllum profusely blooming. This variety is famous for its long flowering period, which attracts many. Oval leaves that darken as they mature, medium-sized inflorescences are its characteristic features.
- Spathiphyllum Strauss. A variety that has gained popularity due to its unusual appearance. The height of the flower, as a rule, does not go beyond 30 cm. This plant has elongated and leathery leaves.
- Spathiphyllum Sensation. If you properly care for this flower, its length can reach one and a half meters. There is another interesting feature - expressive and large inflorescences.
- Spathiphyllum Chopin. This variety is bred by breeders, has a pleasant and unobtrusivearoma. Oblong, neat, with pronounced veins - such are his leaves. Plant height does not exceed 40 cm.
- Spathiphyllum Wallis. This flower is an ideal choice for those plant lovers who put unpretentiousness in care above all. It was he who became the basis for the creation of many modern varieties. Its height does not exceed 45 cm.
