Description of spathiphyllum
Lily of the world, what kind of flower? Peace Lily is native to Central and South America, its natural habitat is shady areas of tropical forests. The genus Spathiphyllum of the Aroid family has about 40 species. In home cultivation, there are mainly two types.
Spathiphyllum indoor flowers live from 3 to 5 years, but sometimes exceed 10 years. The bush can reach a height of up to 90 cm. Large leaves grow directly from the rhizome. Attractive foliage on long stems (from 14 to 15 cm) are oval or ellipsoidal in shape, with a sharp tip.
Flowering occurs in spring and summer. The flowers are cob inflorescences, which are characteristic of the Aroid family. The core is erect, cream-colored, 5 to 7 cm long. It is surrounded by a veil that looks like a large “petal” of a flower. It has an oval shape and ends with a point.
Spathiphyllum care
When growing a houseplant, you should choose bright places. In this case, direct exposure to sunlight should be avoided, as they can cause leaf burns.
What can harm the plant:
- low air temperature;
- insufficient lighting;
- excessive watering and fertilization.
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal temperature for spathiphyllum is around 21-24°C, constant day and night. Big swings hurt him. If the temperature is lower, the leaves will begin to lose their bright color and become dull. Below 12 degrees, the plant is under severe stress and may die.
Often the flowers begin to wither with the onset of the heating season. The air in the apartments dries up and the plant does not stand up. It is enough to raise the humidity level, for example, by placing a humidifier or a bowl of water nearby.
The soil
He needs soil that provides the necessary drainage. .Spathiphyllum grows on various types of soil, except for heavy clay, provided that they are well drained, but at the same time retain the necessary moisture.
Watering
He loves water very much, but you also need to make sure that the soil is well drained. Pots must have drainage holes. Water once a week in autumn-winter and 2-3 times in spring-summer.
From time to time, its leaves are sprayed with water to maintain a high level of humidity in them. In winter, watering is halved, but be sure to moisten the soil. To do this, press your finger into the soil. If it remains wet, do not water the plant.
Note! If the soil of the plant is very dry, pour water until it runs out of the bottom of the pot. Let it drain, and make sure that no water remains on the saucer. Flowers are sensitive to excess water, so care must be taken when watering.
It is worth knowing that flowers love clean leaves, so you should regularly dust them with a damp, soft cloth or sponge.
Spathiphyllum fertilizer
The soil mixture gradually loses nutrients, which leads to the need to add fertilizer. One way to get this plant to flower is to apply fertilizer properly. It’s best not to wait until the peace lily shows signs of nutrient deficiencies.
Fertilizer for Aroid
fertilizer
From time to time make small top dressing. Too much fertilizer is a problem for them, more than not enough. Because the plants produce mostly leaves, they need fertilizers with a slightly higher nitrogen content, but too much nitrogen can prevent flowering.
Plants only need to be fertilized during the active growing season. In winter, feeding is stopped. Apply a small amount of liquid fertilizer every six weeks or use a slow-acting fertilizer once every three months. A large dose of fertilizer can damage the plant, and can lead to its death.
Spathiphyllum transplant
It should be transplanted in the spring, but only when the pot is very tight. The easiest sign that a peace lily needs a bigger pot is if the roots begin to show through a hole in the bottom. This means that the root system outgrows its container.
Transplanting a “peace lily” after purchase is recommended after about 15-20 days. In a container slightly larger than the previous one, fertile, humus soil with the addition of peat is placed.
Additional Information! It happens that with excellent care, the spathiphyllum refuses to please with its white flowers. The only reason for this is that the pot is too big. Until the root system fills the entire volume of the pot, there will be no flowering.
Reproduction of spathiphyllum
When transplanting, you can also propagate an indoor flower. Divide the root into several bundles.
When transplanting, they share the root
Each must have at least 4 leaves and a rhizome. Seedlings are placed in new pots with soil mixture and placed in a shaded place. This procedure is also recommended for plant rejuvenation and should be applied every 3-4 years.
Spathiphyllum diseases and their treatment
“Peace lily” in favorable conditions is resistant to various types of diseases. If the plant is kept in a dry room in full sun, and with irregular watering, it will begin to hurt.
Leaves turn yellow
In this case, it is enough to place in a shaded place and water the plant more often.
- If the leaves begin to wilt or wilt, water immediately.
- Spathiphyllum leaves turn yellow – this is due to excessive watering,
- Dried brown tips – the plant needs more water.
- The plant does not flower. Move it to a lighter spot and check the roots to see if it needs to be transplanted into a larger pot.
- If the “peace lily” does not flourish, the room is cold.
- Do not place them near heat sources, such as radiators, air conditioners.
- Withered inflorescences should be removed. This will allow the plant to produce more flowers.
The spider mite infects the plant with an acute lack of moisture. Tiny insects can quickly destroy a large bush. Remove the cobwebs, and wipe the leaves and stems with soapy water. The same solution will help rid the flower of all types of aphids. Downy mildew is the most common spathiphyllum disease.
If the leaves turn black, this is a sure sign of decay and death of the root system. At the same time, damaged roots are removed and transplanted into a new pot.
Toxicity
The spathiphyllum plant contains calcium oxalate in its tissues, which is toxic to humans and domestic animals, and its juice irritates the skin. It is recommended to avoid contact with the plant, especially for children and pets.
A houseplant is purchased to decorate the interior of a home or office. In addition to its decorative ability, it purifies indoor air of toxins.
