Spathiphyllum or "Women's happiness" has long been popular among flower growers and common among numerous indoor flowers. A perennial evergreen plant is considered not capricious and not difficult to care for. With minimal effort, the flower will fully develop and often delight with its gorgeous flowering. When leaving, you just need to take into account the individual characteristics of a houseplant, as well as know the basic rules for watering, location, temperature, lighting and transplant time.
Spathiphyllum is a houseplant ideal for medium-light environments. The flower can create a cozy atmosphere in the apartment and a strict working atmosphere in the office, it can fit into any interior, thanks to its decorative qualities. With proper maintenance and care, the plant blooms twice a year.
Spathiphyllum is native to New Guinea and the rainforests of the United States of America. When kept in room conditions, it is necessary to take this circumstance into account and create a familiar level of humidity for the plant. Moisture plays an important role in the development and growth of spathiphyllum. It is very important to properly organize the care so that the flower receives a sufficient amount of water, light, heat and nutrition. Equally important is the location of the indoor plant in the room.
Basic rules for caring for spathiphyllum
Location and lighting
A tropical flower has a negative attitude towards direct sunlight, so you should not put a container with splatiphyllum on the windowsill on the south side of the house. On the east, west and north windows, the plant will be more favorable. If there is no room on the windowsills, then it is possible to grow a houseplant in the back of the room. True, with such a location, additional lighting will have to be used, especially in the autumn-winter period.
Temperature
The indoor temperature for plants usually needs to change with the seasons (summer and winter), but for this flower it remains almost the same throughout the year. In warm months it is from 20 to 22 degrees, and in cold months - from 16 to 20. The main thing is that in winter the thermometer in the room with the plant does not drop below 16 degrees Celsius.
Watering and humidity
Tropical spathiphyllum requires abundant, but rare watering from early spring and late October. All excess volume of irrigation water that will end up in the flower tray must be drained about 30-40 minutes after watering. Excess moisture in the soil should not be allowed, since the root part easily decays at a high level of moisture in the soil for a long time.If the earthen lump is constantly waterlogged, then the plant may gradually die.
Since moisture for spathiphyllum is very important for full development, it is worth spraying the plants every day in the morning and in the evening from a spray bottle with a fine mesh. Another way to moisturize is additional vessels with water, which will stand in the immediate vicinity of the flower. There can be several such containers, one near each plant.
During the dormant period of the plant (in winter), the frequency of watering is much reduced, and the number of sprays is halved.
The optimum indoor humidity level for tropical spathiphyllum is about 70%.
Fertilization
In the period from March to October, and especially during active development and flowering, it is recommended to make fertilizing for flowering indoor plants. Complex fertilizers with all the necessary nutrients should be applied only to moist soil, preferably immediately after watering. During the dormant period, the plant needs less nutrients, therefore, fertilizing is applied only once a month. In all other months, fertilization is carried out 3-4 times a month at regular intervals.
Details about caring for spathiphyllum
When and how to properly transplant spathiphyllum
Transplant timing
Usually, the time of the onset of transplantation can be determined by the appearance and volume of the flower. At this point, it takes up most of the flower container. A transplant is necessary even when the plant continues to grow and bloom, because the overgrown root part continues to give the flower its last strength. But it is still most favorable to replant plants in early spring and always during the break between flowering periods. It is not recommended to disturb the flowering plant, as all the beauty will quickly fade.
It is recommended to transplant the flower for the first time about 15-20 days after purchase. Spathiphyllum needs a spacious container. After each transplant, the size of the flower container should be selected one larger than the previous one.
Selection of soil mixture
Potting soil can be prepared at home. For cooking, you will need: coarse sand, leafy earth and peat - one part at a time, sod land - two parts, small chips of broken brick and wood ash - half a part.
Among the wide variety of commercial mixtures, it is better to opt for a soil mixture for plants of the Aroid family. These plants include spathiphyllum and light loose soil is ideal for it. It is worth paying attention to the level of acidity of the substrate, it should be slightly acidic. This soil mixture will make the living of tropical spathiphyllum at home comfortable and supportive.
Transplant rules
It is very important not to damage the root part of the plant during transplantation, since it is very fragile and vulnerable in spathiphyllum. That is why it is best to use the method of transshipment of the earthy coma along with the plant. Before the procedure, the flower must be watered abundantly so that the moist soil, along with the plant, can easily separate from the flower pot. If the overgrown root system has wrapped around the drainage, it must be removed from the plant. It is also necessary to carefully examine the condition of the root part and, if there are damaged and diseased parts, it is advisable to remove them. It is recommended for such plants to treat the root system with special preparations for prevention and full further development.
Before planting a plant in a new container, you need to free it from dried old leaves and cut off the children. Young shoots of a flower (babies) are an ideal planting material and an excellent way to propagate it. A mature plant will only benefit from such removal.
The container after transplantation should be one size larger, its bottom should be filled with a small layer of drainage.You can use for this large river or sea pebbles, broken brick or expanded clay. After the drainage layer, it is necessary to pour the substrate up to half the pot, place the plant, straighten all the roots and add soil to the top. The soil must be compacted a little and watered abundantly. If necessary, the soil can be filled up after settling so that the flower sits tightly in it.
Spathiphyllum care immediately after transplant
After transplanting, you must immediately go to "water procedures" - this is watering and spraying. After abundant watering, you will have to drain the water from the pan after a while. Spraying is carried out using a spray bottle or other spray. The moisture will ease the stressful transplant procedure for the houseplant and help it settle down in its new location.
Secrets of proper care in the first month after transplant
To shorten the process of acclimatization of spathiphyllum after transplantation, you will need a mini-greenhouse. It will provide the plant with the right amount of moisture in the first few weeks, which will significantly bring the onset of flowering. The entire aerial part of the indoor flower must be placed in an ordinary plastic bag, putting it on top of the spathiphyllum. Such a cover will only need to be removed for airing and watering and spraying. It is recommended to maintain such care for at least the first two weeks.
Lack of moisture can lead to yellowing and wilting of the leafy part. If negative signs appear, it is worth increasing the number of sprays up to 2-3 times a day, and watering should be carried out only after the top layer of the soil has dried by about 5-10 millimeters.
The decorative qualities and the unique flowering of spathiphyllum will be at the highest level only if all recommendations for the care and maintenance of the plant are followed, as well as if the timing and methods of transplantation are observed.
