Spathiphyllum: home care. Spathiphyllum (female happiness): transplant

Among the variety of indoor flowers, the evergreen plant of the genus Perennialum called spathiphyllum stands out as its unusual species. Care at home is not complicated at all and is available to any budding florist. Spathiphyllum comes from Central America, he 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 more known under the name "female happiness".

Appearance of the plant

This elegant flower wins its aristocracy and restrained beauty. The peculiarity of the plant is that it lacks a stalk, and the pointed oblong leaves grow directly from the rhizome, forming a lush bunch. Depending on the type of spathiphyllum can reach a height of 15 centimeters to 1 meter.

The flowering period lasts several weeks and usually falls on the spring, but with good care the plant can please its flowers even more than once a year. Inflorescence in the form of an ear, surrounded by a white drop-shaped leaf, like a veil, is located on a high stalk. Gradually this leaf acquires a green color, and when the decorative appearance of the flower is completely lost, it is recommended to cut it straight at the base. This contributes to the formation of new inflorescences and longer flowering.

Features of care

This flower is unpretentious and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, home care for spathiphyll means creation of an environment close to the tropical climate, which is for him native. This will promote faster development of the plant and abundant long flowering. Therefore, it is required to maintain the temperature in the room within 23-25 ° C. Cold air, drafts can ruin a plant. The tropical climate is characterized by high humidity. To spathiphyllum did not suffer from its lack, it is necessary to make a small pallet with poured moistened sand, and also arrange once a week water procedures in the form of spraying the leaves. And, of course, regularly water it.

The first days after the purchase, held in the house, are stress for the plant. Do not hurry to replant the flower, until it finally adapts. For this period it is better to place it in a semi-shadowed place, away from direct sunlight. The transplant can be done in 2-3 weeks. The flowering plant is not recommended to disturb before the end of flowering.

The root system of the plant Spathiphyllum, care at home for which involves abundant watering, should always be wet. Signs of lack of moisture are drooping and fading leaves.

How to water spathiphyllum

This flower adores high humidity. Therefore, it must be maintained not only in the 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 the humidity of the air, wet sand or moss is poured into the pallet. You can put a jar of water next to it. A great pleasure is the flower spraying of 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 after that become glossy and more elastic.

Temperature and lighting

Spathiphyllum refers to photophilous plants, however, 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 can deform in the plant, growing narrow and long, and also missing flowering.

The air temperature in the room within 20-25 ° C is what the flower spathiphyllum requires. Care at home must ensure that there are no drafts that can be harmful to him. It is advisable in winter to keep the flower away from heating batteries to avoid overdrying. If this is not possible, you can throw a damp cloth on the battery.

Top dressing

A beautiful bright color of the leaves and their glossy gloss can be preserved only if the plant receives sufficient nutrients. To do this, every week you need to make mineral fertilizers during flowering and once a month during rest. Their concentration should be low. Dilute at the rate of 1.5 g per 1 liter of water.

The lack of fertilizers can affect the flowering and make the flower of spathiphyllum less attractive. Care at home (advice of specialists and amateurs note this) involves mandatory supplementation to prolong the flowering period of the plant.

Requirements for soil

Substrate for spathiphyll requires fertile, rich in nutrients. In natural conditions, the soil, as a rule, consists of charcoal, fallen leaves and branches, compost. Such a mixture is recommended to prepare, carrying out care at home for the spathiphyllum. The optimal composition is from humus, coniferous soil, sand in equal parts, two parts of garden soil and four parts of peat.

It is possible, when creating a substrate, to experiment a little and prepare another composition by adding bark, gravel or a substrate for orchids. The main thing is that the mixture turns loose and light. Too heavy soil will contribute to stagnation of water, which can cause rotting of the roots. To better provide drainage, some growers add to the ground a brick crumb.

Reproduction spathiphyllum

Gardeners prefer to propagate this flower in a vegetative way, because the process of reproduction by seeds is too time-consuming. The seed germination rate is very low, and even if young plants can be obtained, there is no guarantee that they will show signs of the variety that was sown.

Usually reproduction is carried out by dividing the rhizome during transplantation or by apical cuttings. Do this in the spring, until the flowering period. The bush is very carefully removed from the pot, so as not to damage the root system, and divide the roots into several parts. For planting, roots of larger size are taken, they are more likely to strengthen well. Roots are planted in separate pots with a moist and warm soil mixture.

For rooting to take place more quickly, 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 pose any particular difficulties.

Transfer

To transplant this plant is often not recommended, since the roots and stem of it are quite fragile. Do it best once a year. A plant that has reached the age of five, transplanted only when the roots are already germinating through the drainage hole. When starting the transplant, you need to prepare the soil in advance and do not forget about the drainage (as it can be used as expanded clay).

The real stress is for a plant like spathiphyllum, transplant. A master class from experienced florists, demonstrating how to perform this operation is least painless, should be thoroughly studied before proceeding with the process. In extreme cases, it is worth using some of the transplant recommendations described below.

Before you remove the flower from the pot, it must be thoroughly poured. All lateral processes should be removed. This is necessary so that the plant does not spend its energy on them, which contributes to the formation of large and beautiful leaves.

In the pot, intended for transplant, pour the drainage, from above a small layer of substrate. Then spathiphyllum together with an earthen lump to put in a pot, adding a soil mix in emptiness and slightly ramming. You need to pour the soil after the transplant only slightly. In the next 3-4 days, the plant is only sprayed twice a day, it is not necessary to water it. Until it takes root completely (this usually takes about two to two weeks), abundant watering should be avoided. Flower spathiphyllum, home care for which is specific, requires very careful treatment during transplant.

The reasons for the absence of flowering

Sometimes florists when growing spathiphyllium are faced with the fact that the plant does not bloom. There may be several reasons for this. First of all, it's too spacious capacity. It is known that blooms spathiphyllum when the roots are braided completely. Insufficient moisture, low air temperature or lack of additional fertilizing can also be the reason for the absence of flowering.

The remaining wilting inflorescences of the Spathiphyllum plant can inhibit the process. Care at home is also 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 transplantation and reproduction, it starts to bloom again.

Diseases and pests

Among the insects of enemies in the spathiphyllum a little. Basically he is worried about a spider mite and aphid. In the fight against them, rubbing the leaves with a soap solution helps to add nicotine sulfate. To prevent the product from getting into the soil, it is necessary first to cover the ground with a film. The next day the solution must be washed off. You can avoid pest damage, if by all rules provide the plant spathiphyllum care.

The disease types of this flower are different. The leaves can start to turn yellow. This is mainly a consequence of inadequate watering. It is necessary to gradually dilute 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. For such a heat-loving plant, as Spathiphyllum, home care should be carried out in accordance with the necessary temperature conditions.

Blackening of leaves can be caused by an excess of moisture in the soil. In this case, the plant will have to be transplanted, replacing the substrate. Sometimes blackness can be caused by a lack of top dressing or, conversely, by its excessive amount.

Spathiphyllum, or flower "female happiness", care for which can provide even a budding florist, can be attributed to the most grateful plants. In response to caring, he will be delighted with his wonderful flowers for a long time, attracting love to the house.