Spathiphyllum flower ("female happiness"): types, care and reproduction

Spathiphyllum is often used to decorate apartments and houses. This plant, delighting the owners with amazing snow-white flowers of an unusual shape, does not yet have any special requirements for care.

The spathiphyllum plant, which is popularly called "female happiness", belongs to the aroid family. The scientific name is a combination of two Greek words: spata and phillum. The first word means "veil" and the second means "leaf." This explains the fact that himself the flower looks pretty original, like an ordinary leaf, but white. A characteristic feature of spathiphyllum is no stem, as a result of which the leaves form a bundle that grows directly from the soil.

The root system of an indoor flower does not differ in length. The leaves have the shape of an oval, in the middle of which a vein is clearly visible. They are painted in dark shades of green and look elongated.

The inflorescence resembles an ear, is located on a long stalk and has a white blanket at the base, which turns green over time. The inflorescence itself is usually colored cream or light pink.... On average, the height of a house bush reaches 30 centimeters, although both tall and short specimens are found.

Spathiphyllum blooms from spring to July, but re-opening of buds in autumn is also possible. It is important to mention that the flower is poisonous to pets. Its leaves produce specific inedible fibers that harm dogs and cats, leading to indigestion, diarrhea, or even death.

Spathiphyllum, aka the flower of "female happiness", is sometimes confused with anthurium, which is popularly called "male happiness". However, you can distinguish one plant from another if you carefully study the color and shape of the bedspread and leaves.

• Spathiphyllum cover It is colored white and varies in shape from oval to lanceolate.
• Anthurium has a veilwhich ranges in color from red to white, including shades such as pink and orange. The shape of the bedspread is considered, rather, heart-shaped.

In addition, “female happiness” has no stem at all, while “male happiness” still has a short stem.

Spathiphyllum has a dozen varieties, which form both several large buds and a much larger number of small flowers.

• Spathiphyllum is especially popular among flower growers. "Domino", the height of which does not exceed 30 centimeters. The bedspread of the flowers is colored either white or yellow, but during the flowering period the hue changes to bright green. The name of the flower is determined by the unusual color of its leaves.

• Spathiphyllum "Sensation" is a hybrid. Plant height can be 150 centimeters. The leaves are up to 100 centimeters long and 40 centimeters wide. Since the dimensions of this variety are quite large, it is more convenient to grow it either in the garden or in the country. In the conditions of the apartment, you will have to regularly prune.

In addition, you can limit the development of "female happiness" by choosing a smaller pot. Since "Sensation" reacts positively to the shadow, it will develop well in almost any part of the apartment.

• Spathiphyllum "Picasso" practically does not differ from other varieties. However, it has special requirements for lighting, therefore it develops well only in rooms whose windows face south. The leaves are covered with green skin with white gaps and have a border of the same color.

• Spathiphyllum Wallissa demonstrates a snow-white bedspread, gradually turning green. The length of the leaves is 30 centimeters. The variety is unpretentious and develops well in shady rooms.

Home care for spathiphyllum begins with a series of activities carried out immediately after the plant is delivered home. Most often, the plant is bought in a technical pot, unsuitable for permanent habitation. After about a couple of weeks, after adaptation, the flower must transplant into a larger containerfilled with fresh soil mixture. Since the plant thrives on moist soil, it should be watered when it arrives home.

In addition, immediately after purchase, the plant costs put away in a dark place in order to simplify the process of adaptation to new conditions. If at the time of purchase, "female happiness" is in the process of flowering, then you should wait until it ends, and then proceed with the transplant.

The flower does not react well to dry air, so you should immediately consider the spraying system. This will have to be done not only in summer, but also in winter. In warm months, the procedure is carried out twice a day, in cold weather the frequency of spraying should be reduced... An alternative could be placing containers with wet expanded clay next to flowerpots.

The liquid should be taken settled and sprayed with a spray bottle. It is important to ensure that the drops do not end up on the cob, especially on the coverlet, otherwise the plant may even get sick.

As for lighting, spathiphyllum does not impose any special requirements. It will be possible to grow it even in the shade or partial shade., but you should not be zealous, as in a poorly lit room, the size of the leaves decreases. Of course, you shouldn't place it in direct sunlight either.

Excess ultraviolet radiation often leads to the death of spathiphyllum, in contrast to shading, contributing only to the deformation of the leaves, which become long and narrow. If "female happiness" was placed on the sill of a window facing south, then you should take care of protection from direct sunlight.

Spathiphyllum required need to be protected from drafts... It is important to maintain the temperature in the range from 22 to 23 degrees Celsius. In principle, subject to favorable conditions, flowering will take place at a temperature of 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Transplant of "female happiness" usually held once a year in the spring... The pot in this situation is necessarily taken larger than the previous one, but not too large in size and volume. Until the spathiphyllum has reached the age of five, it must be transplanted, and then it can be based on the state of the root system. As soon as the processes begin to crawl through the drainage holes, the flower must be transplanted.

Immediately before moving, "female happiness" should be moistened.If you additionally cut off the side shoots, then all the forces will go to the development of the leaves, and they will grow large and beautiful.

When transplanted into a new container, a drainage layer is poured onto the bottom of the pot, the thickness of which reaches a couple of centimeters, and then a few more centimeters of fresh soil mixture is laid out. Spathiphyllum should be transplanted transshipment method, that is, the bush is transferred directly with an earthen lump. Since the plant is planted in moist soil, it will not have to be watered for the first 3-4 days, spraying will be enough.

The ideal soil for spathiphyllum is a mixture of two parts of turf, part of leafy soil, part of peat soil, part of humus and part of sand... A good supplement is sphagnum mossable to protect the earth from drying out. In principle, it is not forbidden to use a different kind of soil, but always fertile and loose. Too heavy soil will lead to stagnation of liquid and, as a result, root rot. Additionally, you should be puzzled by the drainage layer.

It is necessary to feed the flower regularly. This is especially important in order for it to bloom. In the period from spring to autumn, characterized by the active development of the plant, fertilization should be done once every couple of weeks. In winter, one top dressing per month is enough.

It is best to feed the "female happiness" with organics, for example, a solution of bird droppings or a talker mullein. Complex formulations purchased in specialized stores will also be a good choice.

Irrigation of "female happiness" should be year-round. During spring and summer, that is, during the flowering period, the amount of water used is significantly higher than that used in winter. The liquid should be settled for 12 hours and have a temperature ranging from 18 to 23 degrees Celsius. Any excess liquid trapped in the pan must be drained.

In general, irrigation should be carried out as needed, that is, when the topsoil dries up. Placing the pot in a bowl of water or pouring water directly into the pan is considered the most optimal.

Since stagnation is often formed due to poor-quality drainage, it is important to choose the right material for this. The layer is formed from expanded clay or brick piecespre-processed.

Spathiphyllum multiplies either by seeds, or by dividing the bush, or rather, rhizomes. The first method, as a rule, is used by specialists engaged in the selection of new varieties. In general, the seeds of "female happiness" have a weak and irregular germination, so there is no guarantee that the sprouts will appear.

If there is a need to use seeds, then they will have to be planted in a mixture of peat and sand immediately after collection or purchase. Crops must be covered with polyethylene, and also make sure that the ground remains moist.

It is better to propagate a flower by division during a planned transplant, or do it in the spring before flowering. The roots should be carefully cleaned of earth clods and cut with a disinfected sharp knife or scissors. As a result, several bushes should appear, each of which will have a couple of leaves and a growing point. It is important to divide it carefully so as not to damage parts of the plant.

Young plants are planted in small containers with moist soil. Watering in the early days is not necessary, it will be enough to spray the surface in moderation. If everything is done correctly, after 8 months the spathiphyllum will bloom.

The soil mixture should be a mixture of sand, turf, peat and leafy earth, and the first two ingredients are taken in one part, and the other two - in two parts. Additionally, it is worth adding charcoal to the soil.

Most often, "female happiness" is attacked mealybug and thrips, aphids and spider mites... In order to avoid negative consequences, you should regularly inspect the bushes and mechanically eliminate insects. If parasites are found on the surface of the flower, the plant is immediately washed under a warm shower and treated with insecticides.

To successfully solve the problem, it will help and leaf treatment with soapy water with the addition of nicotine sulfate... The soil should be additionally protected with polyethylene so as not to provoke the death of the spathiphyllum roots.

It is important for novice gardeners to understand what to do when common problems arise. One of the main ones is the lack of flowering culture. This factor can signal several reasons.

• If the flowering of spathiphyllum is delayed, then, perhaps, the room temperature is either too low and the flower is frozen, or the humidity is low. Most often, a combination of both factors occurs.
• Lack of flowering can also signal about insufficient feeding or about the natural old age of the plant.
• "Women's happiness" blooms only ifwhen the roots completely fill the pot. Therefore, excessive vessel volume can be a problem.

To stimulate the flowering of the plant, several important conditions must be met.

• Watering should be stopped for a while., limiting ourselves to spraying in order to prevent drought, and then remove the container for several days in a cool room.
• If it's warm outside, then the spathiphyllum should be temporarily moved to a balcony, loggia or veranda. When the flower returns to its usual habitat, care activities return to normal.
• You can also commit a rather unusual action is to lift the plant by the leaves and shake it slightly. Probably, “women's happiness” simply does not have enough air supply.

If juice disappears from the leaves, they begin to blacken and even dry out.then the problem is clearly the wrong irrigation system. Moreover, the bias can be in both directions: either excessive watering, or insufficient. Lack of phosphorus or nitrogen in the soil is also likely.

Leaves turn yellow also when there is a lack of irrigation or in the case of excessive watering. The exact problem can be determined by examining the sheet: for example, only a yellow border occurs when using unsettled liquid, and yellowness in the middle is the result of a lack of lighting.

Drying tips - the result of insufficient watering or dry air. The problem is quickly solved by affordable methods that increase the humidity in the room. The green color of the bedspread before the end of August or the beginning of September occurs when there is an excess of nitrogen in the soil. Another problem is the elevated air temperature.

• The main advantage spathiphyllum flower growers consider it to be absolute unpretentiousness.
• Even when the plant was left without irrigation for a long time or for a long time was in a stressful situation, his condition did not worsen at all.
• Appearance "Women's happiness" constantly pleases with its aesthetics.
• Amateur flower growers recommend do not expose the pots to the sun. When leaving somewhere for a long time, it is advised to put them in the bathroom to prevent overdrying of the soil.
• Transplant the bush enough once a year.As soon as the roots begin to show up from the drainage holes of the pot, the plant should be transplanted.
• The flower responds positively for the introduction of yeast - soon begins to bloom profusely.

How to care for spathiphyllum at home, see the video below.