Flower of female happiness (spathiphyllum): home care, photos, types, varieties, replanting, diseases and flower pests

It is believed that spathiphyllum or “female happiness” is a real vacuum cleaner; it perfectly cleans the air of dust and harmful fumes, and reduces the harm from radiation from office equipment. Therefore, it is recommended to start it in offices, and at home to place it in the living room or office, where there is a computer and TV. In addition, there is evidence that this plant absorbs formaldehyde from the air. (1) Considering the unpretentiousness of the flower and the ability to bloom almost continuously, the popular love for this native of South America becomes understandable.

if a single woman plants a flower, she will soon find her feminine happiness (that’s why spathiphyllum is called that);
spathiphyllum improves the energy of the house and is able to give the owners well-being and happiness;
a flower is a kind of barometer of mood - if there are frequent scandals and quarrels in the house, there is no mutual understanding, then the flower begins to dry out, stops blooming and may die;
if spathiphyllum blooms in your house, then very soon you may have a long-awaited baby - it is believed that this flower helps even those women who have already despaired of becoming a mother.

Of course, these are all nothing more than myths, but we’ll tell you only the truth about how to care for them.

Types of flower female happiness (spathiphyllum)

The genus Spathiphyllum from the Araceae family includes about 50 species. (2) Only a few of the most unpretentious ones are grown at home.

Spathiphyllum wallisii. This species was discovered in Colombia at the end of the 19th century. The species is named after Gustov Willis, a German plant collector. The plant reaches a height of 60 cm, its leaves are large, up to 25 cm (and the petiole is the same length), glossy, with spectacular wavy edges. Blooms in late autumn or winter. The flower is a yellow spadix with a white spathe, which over time acquires a pale green hue.

Within this species, about 40 varieties have been bred, which differ in size, shape of leaves and inflorescences.

Domino (Domino) - about 50 cm high with variegated leaves: numerous white spots and specks are scattered on a dark green background, a white blanket, a flower with a faint pleasant aroma;
Gemini . This variety is a variegated mutation of the Domina variety. Its leaves are dark green with numerous light spots;
Picasso - with numerous large white strokes on a green background, some leaves are almost completely white, the spathe is white;
Chopin is one of the most popular varieties, about 35 cm high, with elongated green glossy leaves, a flower with a white cover and a pleasant aroma;
Mauna Loa - with large dark green leaves up to 20 cm long and a large white blanket.

View of Picasso. Photo: pexels.com

View of Chopin. Photo: pexels.com

Another popular species comes from Colombia. The plant is up to 50 cm high with large leaves up to 25 cm long. They have a beautiful velvety dark green color. Up to 40 leaves are formed on one plant. The cob is creamy, the spathe is first white and then turns green. It blooms profusely - with good care, a flower bud is formed in the axil of each leaf, therefore, there can be up to 40 flowers.

Spathiphyllum heliconiifolium. This species is native to the tropical forests of Brazil. The plant is very large, up to 1 m high with leaves up to 50 cm long. They are dark green, glossy, wavy at the edges. The cob is up to 10 cm long, at first white, and then darkens almost to black. The spathe is white, oval, almost twice as long as the cob.

Spathiphyllum cannifolium. Originally from Venezuela. Its leaves are similar to those of popular garden flowers - cannas. They reach a length of 80 cm, velvety, bright green. The cob is yellow-green, the spathe is white-green. The flowers are fragrant.

Spoon-shaped spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum). Native to the tropical forests of Brazil. The plant is large, about 1 m high. The leaves are up to 40 cm long, dark green, glossy, on long petioles. The cob is white, the spathe is also white, oval, shaped like a spoon - hence the name of the species.

Pleasant spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum blandum) . This species is native to the tropical forests of Africa. Its leaves are dark green, up to 30 cm long. The cob is large, up to 20 cm long, the spathe is white-green. It grows slowly, but blooms very profusely.

This species came to us from tropical Africa. The bushes are larger than those of the Abundantly flowering one. Its leaves are elongated-lanceolate, with a retracted tip, and dark green in color. Strong long petioles. The inflorescence has a spadix surrounded by a greenish-white spathe, similar in shape to a small flag. It is this variety of Female Happiness that is popularly called Flagolist. Flowering is abundant and lasts from April to June. With good care it can bloom twice a year. It is unpretentious in everyday life, grows well in shade, although the annual growth is small.

Varieties of the flower female happiness (spathiphyllum)

We have already mentioned 4 varieties that are traditionally classified as Spathiphyllum Wallis. However, there are others that are no less interesting. But it is difficult to classify them as any species - these are hybrids with the participation of many parents.

Alana . _ The hybrid is about 50 cm high. Its leaves do not droop, like many other varieties and hybrids, but stand almost vertically. Their color is rich green. The cover is white, but towards the end of flowering it turns green.

Verdi . _ A tall variety (up to 70 cm) with bright green leaves and a large pure white spathe. Whimsical, requires constant care.

Caiti . _ A very unusual cultivar, similar to the Domino variety, but on its leaves the blotches and streaks are not white, but yellow. Plant up to 60 cm high.

Sensation . _ A very large variety, with leaves up to 75 cm long and about 40 cm wide, dark green, wavy.

Sweet Silvio . A large hybrid with a large number of dark green leaves, making the bush look very lush. And its flower stalks are graceful.

Alan variety. Photo: pixabay.com

Caring for the flower of female happiness (spathiphyllum) at home

We talked about how to care for this flower with the chairman of the Moscow Flower Growers club, Tatyana Zhashkova.

Spathiphyllum is native to South America, which means it loves warmth. The optimal temperature for it is 18 - 25 °C. If it is lower, the plant may get sick. And this plant also does not like drafts.

Priming

In nature, spathiphyllums live in tropical forests, and the soil there is rich in organic matter. Therefore, they require fertile land to grow. The ideal composition is a mixture of turf and leaf soil, humus, peat and river sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:1:1.

Lighting

Since in nature spathiphyllum grows in the jungle, it does not tolerate direct sunlight. If bright light hits the plant directly, it can get burned, so during the sunniest hours it is better to move the plant to the shade or cover it.

Spathiphyllum tolerates shade and partial shade much more easily, but a long absence of light can affect the brightness and size of the leaves - they will be weak and small. The best option for it is an east window.

Humidity

As a native of the humid jungle, he prefers the ground to be moist, but not too wet. For spathiphyllums, special pots with built-in trays are even sold, into which water is poured and it is gradually absorbed into the lower layer of the earth. This way, harmful overflow for the flower will not occur, but moderate soil moisture will remain.

The flower also loves spraying; if you do it every day, it will reward you with bright leaves.

Fertilizers

It is best to fertilize spathiphyllums with liquid organic fertilizers with a complex of macro- and microelements.

Feeding

The “female happiness” flower needs to be fed, like all others, with complex fertilizer: once every 2 weeks in spring and summer (from April to September). And in autumn and winter it is better not to feed at all and even slightly reduce watering to give the plant a rest. If everything is done correctly, the flower will bloom all year round.

Trimming

Spathiphyllum does not require formative pruning. All you need to do is remove yellowed and dried leaves if they suddenly appear.

Substrate preparation

Spathiphyllum requires loose, light and fertile soil with a slightly acidic reaction (pH 6.5). You can purchase suitable soil at the store or prepare the substrate yourself.

To prepare the soil you will need:

forest soil taken from under oak or linden 4 parts;
mature humus or compost 2 parts;
peat 2-3 parts;
coarse river sand or vermiculite 2 parts.

It is necessary to prepare a handful of expanded clay or broken bricks for each pot as a drainage material.

You can purchase ready-made soil for Aroids or special one for spathiphyllum

Reproduction of the flower of female happiness (spathiphyllum) at home

The easiest way to propagate spathiphyllum is by dividing the bush. This is best done during plant transplantation - early in the spring.

You can even divide the bush into many parts, but it is important that each division has 2 - 3 leaves and a growth point - a bud from which young leaves grow. You need to divide the roots with a sharp knife. It is advisable that the soil remains on the roots - this way the divisions will take root better.

Each part of the plant should be planted in small pots and watered very generously at first.

It is advisable to separate young rosettes from the main bush about once every 2-3 years so that the plant does not become too thick.

How should this be done after purchase?

Choosing the right seedling in a garden store:

A “medical examination” is required - visually the leaves should be whole, bright green, the root system should be sufficiently developed.
Examination of the soil for the presence of pest larvae and cobwebs.
Black and yellow spotting of the rosette and leaves is a sign of infection with harmful infections and fungi.
Infected specimens practically do not take root or will “sit” in place for a long time.

The purchased copy of the house is sent to quarantine for at least a week:

Placed separately from house plants.
Next, 2 treatments of the bush are carried out with insecticides or fungicides to prevent bacterial and fungal diseases.
Observe the flower for a week.

Experts advise relocating spathiphyllums to a permanent place of residence from a temporary pot immediately after the trial period (7-10 days).

Firstly, purchased soil is usually of poor quality, low in nutrition, disposable shipping pots have no drainage and little space; after 3-4 weeks the bush begins to fade.
Secondly, the sooner a flower adapts to new conditions, the better it will grow; frequent repeated replantings are stressful for the plant.

Transplant procedure:

The planting container and acidified substrate are prepared and disinfected.
You can use ready-made mixtures for azaleas, hydrangeas, and violets.
The finished earthen mixture is slightly moistened.
The seedling is watered abundantly, removed from the temporary container, and superficially cleaned of soil (the lump is saved).
Drainage is laid at the bottom.
Pour a layer (2-3 cm) of substrate on top (lightly tamp).
Place the bush-sapling in the center.
Cover with the remaining substrate so that the root collar is not buried.
Lightly shed soil around the edge.
Watering is resumed after 3 days.

Important! To retain moisture, prevent stagnation of fluid in the roots and acidification, an important component in the mixture is a leavening agent - sphagnum moss.

Transplanting the flower of female happiness (spathiphyllum) at home

Spathiphyllum loves close quarters. It is even believed that the tighter the roots are in the pot, the more abundantly it blooms. But if you see that the roots have begun to crawl out of the pot, there are too many rosettes, and the leaves are simply crowded, then it’s time to replant.

It is best to replant the flower in the spring. If the plant is replanted as a whole, the pot should be 2 cm larger in diameter. If it is divided, then the size should be proportionate to the divisions - you should not plant them in containers that are too large, you can flood the plant.

After transplanting the flower, it is better not to water it for 5 - 6 days, wait until the soil dries completely. But you need to spray twice a day, not allowing the leaves to dry out.

Preparing for transplant

After completing the preparatory work, you can begin transplanting your pet. If spathiphyllum was purchased in a store, replanting with replacement of all soil is recommended. To preserve the attractive appearance of a flower for a long time when sold in a store, a special complex of nutrients is added to the soil, which helps the plant survive for a certain period. After this period, he has nothing to eat, which leads to death. It is better to carry out the next transplant using the “transshipment” method.

Diseases of the flower female happiness (spathiphyllum)

Most often, 2 diseases occur in spathiphyllum.

Root rot. The disease can be determined by the condition of the leaves - at first they turn pale, then begin to turn yellow and wither. The cause of the disease is most often excessive soil moisture.

At the first signs of root rot, the plants should be transplanted into a new pot and fresh soil as quickly as possible, cutting out the damaged areas and disinfecting the pot.

Late blight. The first signs of the disease are rot, which appears at the base of the shoots. Then the fungus rises up the leaves, affecting the plant more and more. Diseases are provoked by too frequent and abundant watering and low air temperatures.

To treat late blight, the drugs Consento, Revus, and Ordan are used. (3)

When is it better to replant: autumn or spring

The best time to transplant is spring. Before awakening, but before flowering, it can also be done in the fall. However, there are cases when it is possible to carry out unscheduled transplants, namely:

in case of damage;
disease is noticeable;
when purchasing in a store;
there are insects.

For example, if it withers, dries out, or yellowing of the lower leaves is noticeable. It is necessary to make a sanitary transplant. Such an unscheduled event will not harm your pet.

Important! If parasites are found or growth problems are observed, pay attention to the conditions under which the spathiphyllum is kept. The optimal air temperature is +20-24 degrees.

Is pine bark needed for soil?

It is advisable to add several small pieces of pine bark to the prepared substrate. You can use dried bark from trees for this or buy it. It provides additional soil drainage and helps maintain the required moisture.

The most important quality of the bark is its fungicidal effect, which has a detrimental effect on all kinds of parasites. Pine bark has the ability to retain soil heat in cold weather, and in hot weather it serves as a source of coolness. After the soil has been prepared, it is important to choose the right pot.

Sources

Dorozhkina E.A. The influence of plants on the indoor microclimate and the human body // International scientific journal “Symbol of Science”, No. 4, 2015 https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vliyanie-rasteniy-na-mikroklimat-pomescheniy-i-organim-cheloveka/
Plant taxonomy. Spathiphyllum // The Plant List https://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Araceae/Spathiphyllum/
State catalog of pesticides and agrochemicals approved for use on the territory of the Russian Federation as of July 6, 2022 // Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation https://mcx.gov.ru/ministry/departments/departament-rastenievodstva-mekhanizatsii-khimizatsii- i-zashchity-rasteniy/industry-information/info-gosudarstvennaya-usluga-po-gosudarstvennoy-registratsii-pestitsidov-i-agrokhimikatov/