Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily)

Quite spectacular plant Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily) is a representative of the Aroid family. This genus unites approximately 45 species. In nature, such a plant can be found in the tropical forests of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, as well as on the Philippine island. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words “spata” and “phillum”, which respectively translate as “veil” and “leaf”.

Features of spathiphyllum

The genus Spathiphyllum includes perennials that are stemless. Their leaf plates grow from the very root and can be oval or lanceolate. In springtime, flowering begins, an inflorescence appears on the bush, which is an ear covered with a blanket. When the bush has faded, cut the stem as low as possible.

Such a plant is very popular with flower growers because during cultivation in indoor conditions, it is distinguished by its undemanding care. It also has decorative leaf plates, which also contributed to its high popularity. Although this flower is considered unpretentious, in order for it to grow and develop normally, it must be watered abundantly, and also maintain high humidity in the room.

Brief description of cultivation

1. Blooming . It is observed in April – July.
2. Illumination . Needs lots of bright sunlight.
3. Temperature conditions . In the spring-summer period – about 22 degrees (not lower than 18 degrees), in winter – 16-18 degrees (not lower than 10 degrees).
4. Watering . During the growing season, watering is carried out immediately after the top layer of the substrate in the container dries out by 10-15 mm. In winter, watering should be more scarce and less frequent, but it is impossible to allow the clod of earth in the pot to dry out.
5. Air humidity . It should be tall. It is recommended to install a pot with a bush on wet expanded clay, which is poured into a pallet, and spathiphyllum must be systematically moistened from a sprayer. When buds form on it, spraying will need to be carried out extremely carefully so that drops of water do not fall on them.
6. Fertilizer . During the growing season, feeding is carried out 1 time in 7 days, using for this a complex mineral fertilizer (1/2 dosage indicated on the package) or mullein solution. In winter, the amount of dressing is reduced to 1 time in 30 days.
7. Rest period . It starts in October and ends in January.
8. Transplant . In springtime, but only if necessary, or rather, when the roots become too crowded in the pot.
9. Soil mixture . Humus, peat, river sand, and sod and deciduous soil. All components are taken in equal proportions.
10. Reproduction . Dividing the bush and cuttings.
11. Harmful insects . Spider mites, mealybugs and aphids.
12. Diseases . If water stagnates in the substrate, then brownish-yellow spots form on the foliage. And if there is excessively dry air in the room, then the foliage will lose its decorative effect. Another flower reacts negatively to excess or lack of nutrients.

Spathiphyllum care at home

Illumination

When growing spathiphyllum at home, it is recommended to choose a south-facing window for it. Experts advise protecting it from direct sunlight. The fact is that if the flower grows in diffused light, then it will bloom much longer, and the bush itself will be larger. If you grow it in shade, then its foliage will become elongated and turn dark green. It also has a detrimental effect on flowering, which may not come at all.

Temperature regime

In the spring-summer period, the air temperature in the room should not be lower than 18 degrees, but it is best if it stays around 22 degrees. In the cold season, make sure that the room is not colder than 16 degrees, otherwise, the development of the bush will slow down. When the air temperature drops to 10 degrees and below, rot may appear on the flower, which leads to its death. Drafts can also destroy the plant.

Watering

Throughout the year, only well-settled water is used for irrigation (should stand at least 24 hours). In spring and summer, and throughout the entire flowering period, watering should be abundant, and it is carried out two days after the top layer of the soil dries out. In winter, watering is reduced, but the substrate in the pot should not dry out. Due to the stagnation of liquid in the soil mixture, the plant may die. If a flower needs water, then its foliage wilts, and when watering is excessively abundant, spots of a dark color appear on their surface.

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Moisturizing

When grown in indoor conditions, the culture needs systematic spraying. To maintain high air humidity, it is recommended to pour wet pebbles or expanded clay into the pallet, and install a container with a flower on top. In the summertime, you can arrange a warm shower. Please note that even if the flower is systematically moistened with a sprayer twice a day, the tips of its leaf plates can still dry out. When the bush is in bloom, while it is wetting, make sure that moisture does not get on the bedspread and the cob.

If you maintain optimal humidity in the room, then in the period from the second half of autumn to mid-winter, flowers appear on the bush, despite the dormant period.

Top dressing

From early spring to September, the plant will need regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. In this case, the nutrient solution should be of low concentration (per liter of water from 1 to 1.5 grams of fertilizer). Spathiphyllum responds well to the alternation of fertilizing with mineral fertilizers and mullein solution (4–6%). Before and after fertilization, the bush will need abundant watering.

In winter, feeding is carried out only if there are flowers on the bush, while they should be rare (1 time in 4 weeks). Remember that if there are too many nutrients in the substrate, then brown specks may form on the foliage.

Spathiphyllum transplant

The transplant is carried out only when the root system of the plant becomes very crowded in the container. Spring is ideal for this. This procedure must be carried out very carefully so as not to injure the roots. A soil mixture suitable for transplantation consists of deciduous and sod soil, as well as humus, peat and river sand, which are taken in equal parts. And for this purpose, a substrate consisting of humus and a small amount of small pieces of brick and charcoal is suitable. The new container should be very slightly larger than the old one, and do not forget to make a good drainage layer on its bottom before planting. In order for the plant to adapt and take root much faster after transplantation, it is necessary to increase the frequency of humidification from the sprayer, as well as provide it with warmth and moderate watering. It is best to cover the flower with foil for this time, while remembering to air it twice a day.

Reproduction methods

Reproduction of spathiphyllum by cuttings

It is recommended to use moistened sand for rooting cuttings of spathiphyllum. They need warmth (at least 22 degrees). After the cuttings grow roots, they are planted in individual pots filled with a soil mixture consisting of leafy, peat and turf soil, and also sand (2: 2: 1: 1).

Reproduction of spathiphyllum by division

During transplantation in spring, if desired, the flower is propagated by dividing the root. Young points of growth are formed at the shortened stem, and new leaf plates appear from them. If necessary, divide the root into several parts, while each division should have 2 or 3 leaf plates and one growth point. The division is carried out in warmth (approximately 21 degrees). For planting shoots, pots are used, reaching 15 centimeters in diameter, as well as a soil mixture consisting of peat, sand, humus, and leafy soil (2: 1: 2: 2), and you also need to add a few pieces of brick, charcoal, and bark to it … You can also use a substrate of coniferous and leafy soil, peat, sand, and humus (2: 2: 2: 1: 2). And a soil mixture of leaf, peat, coniferous, and humus soil, as well as sand (2: 4: 1: 1: 1) is also suitable. It is recommended to add a small amount of charcoal to it.

Possible problems

Spathiphyllum does not bloom

There are several reasons for this. Flowering problems are usually associated with low maintenance temperatures and insufficient humidity. Spathiphyllum will not bloom if it is not fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. In addition, old spathiphyllum rarely bloom.

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Leaves turn black

Blackness on the leaves indicates the death of the root system. Most often, this problem is associated with improper watering. Leaves can turn black both with underfilling and overflow. Black leaves can also appear with a lack of phosphorus and nitrogen. Remember not to spray the plant in a cold room. To save the life of a flower, it should be removed from the pot and new roots removed and then transplanted into a container with a new earthen substrate.

Leaves turned yellow

Dried and yellowed leaf tips indicate underfilling. To fix this problem, the plant needs to have a weekly bath. This procedure will help to cope not only with yellowness on the leaves but also protect the flower from pests. If you haven’t watered the plant for a long time, you can save it. But you should not immediately pour water on the flower. After soaking dry soil, the amount of water is gradually increased. Spathiphyllum can wilt even with insufficient moisture. In this case, spraying and wiping the leaves will help. The plant can be placed in a pallet with damp expanded clay. Also, yellowness can appear if the flower is attacked by pests.

Pests

The main pest for spathiphyllum is spider mites and aphids. To get rid of them, the plant should be wiped with a soapy solution with nicotine sulfate. Only when treating against parasites should the earthen cover be covered with a film, the liquid should not get into the soil. If you regularly wash and wipe the leaves of the plant with a damp sponge, you can forget about pests forever.

Types of spathiphyllum with photos and names

Spathiphyllum cannifolium

The birthplace of the flower is Venezuela and Thailand. The color of the ovoid leaves is deep green. A fragrant yellow-green ear is covered with a blanket of greenish-white color.

Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum

In nature, the species is found in Brazil. The height of the bush is about 100 cm. Shiny elongated lanceolate leaf plates of a dark green color are up to 0.4 m long and up to 0.2 m wide, their edge is wavy. The petiole is about 0.7 m long. The inflorescence is a white cob, which is covered with a long oval blanket.

Spathiphyllum floribundum

Originally view from Colombia. The height of the bush is about half a meter. The foliage is oval-lanceolate, about 12 centimeters wide and up to 25 centimeters long. The ear covers a white blanket.

Spathiphyllum blandum

In nature, the species is found in tropical regions of America. Dark green leaf plates have an elongated lanceolate shape and a bent tip. The ear covers a white-greenish veil. Since the veil of the flower is outwardly similar to the flag, the plant is also called flagolite. A flowering bush forms several inflorescences. Flowering is observed from the second half of April to early June.

Spathiphyllum wallisii

The native land of the species is the rainforests of Colombia. The height of the bush is about 0.3 m. The shape of the dark green foliage is oblong-lanceolate. The white ear is covered with a veil that is longer than it. The color of the bedspread changes from white to green. Perfect for indoor cultivation, it has lush and long flowering.

Spathiphyllum heliconiifolium

In the wild, it is found in the tropical rainforests of Brazil. The height of the bush is about 100 cm. Dark green shiny leaf plates are up to 25 cm wide and up to 50 cm long, their shape is elongated-elliptical, slightly pointed at the top, the edge is wavy. The length of the petiole is slightly less than 100 cm. The inflorescence reaches a length of 10 centimeters, it is pochata, the color of which turns from white to almost black. The width of the oval bedspread is about 10 centimeters, and the length is up to 15 centimeters. Grows quite well in indoor conditions.