Maintenance, flowering and varieties
With its long lanceolate leaves and its white flowers which lightly perfume the rooms, the spathiphyllum never ceases to seduce.
Fairly easy to care for and one of the most depolluting plants, it’s hard not to fall in love with the peace lily .
Spathiphyllum: names, family and types
Names: Spathiphyllum, Peace Lily, Moonflower
Spathiphyllum is a plant found in tropical rainforests, mainly in Central and South America, where it grows in the shade of trees.
It is a plant that stands out for its long lanceolate leaves and white inflorescences. It is sometimes confused with the anthurium, a plant that looks a lot like it except for its inflorescences which are red.
Belonging to the Araceae family , there are nearly thirty species of spathiphyllum . The species we find most often in our homes is spathiphyllum wallisii .
Care of spathiphyllum
Height and space required
The size of spathiphyllum varies greatly from one variety to another, from 30 cm for spathiphyllum wallisii to 1 meter in the case of certain varieties, such as Mauna Loa.
Soil type
A soil for tropical plant is enough for the culture of the spathiphyllum inside our houses.
Exposure
The spathiphyllum needs strong light , although it also adapts to weaker light. On the other hand, it must be avoided the direct sun which can cause burns on its leaves.
Size and maintenance
It is recommended to remove damaged leaves and faded flowers as they appear. Dust can also accumulate on the leaves, which are removed with a damp cloth.
Watering spathiphyllum
Spathiphyllum needs regular watering, about once a week. It is important that the soil has time to dry out on the surface between waterings . During the flowering period, it is recommended to fertilize the plant regularly.
Native to a tropical climate, the spathiphyllum needs a fairly high level of ambient humidity. To provide it with sufficient humidity, the pot of the plant can be placed on a saucer filled with gravel and water. Also, you can spray non-calcareous water on the leaves.
Flowering spathiphyllum
The spathiphyllum produces beautiful white flowers. Under optimal conditions, spathiphyllum can flower all year round, with flowering periods lasting between 4 and 10 weeks followed by resting periods.
Repotting spathiphyllum
The spathiphyllum is a plant that does not appreciate the shock suffered during repotting . It is therefore repotted approximately every 2 years, using a container barely larger than the diameter of its roots.
Varieties of spathiphyllum
There are nearly thirty species of spathiphyllum.
Spathiphyllum wallisii is the variety most often found in our homes . It is about 30 cm high:
Spathiphyllum wallisii Mauna Loa is a hybrid variety that can reach almost a meter in height:
Spathiphyllum wallisii Domino has leaves with a little white that contrasts with the dark green:
Sweet Lauretta spathiphyllum has yellow-green spikes and larger leaves:
theSpathiphyllum Floribundum :
Diseases and parasites attacking spathiphyllum
The spathiphyllum is little affected by diseases. It is more the errors and negligence of maintenance which cause problems in this plant.
If the tips of the leaves turn brown or if the foliage turns yellow, it is likely caused by overwatering.
If brown spots appear on the leaves, the plant may have received too much fertilizer, or it may be direct sun burn.
Limp , drooping leaves usually indicate that the plant lacks water.
A lack of flowering can be caused by a lack of light, unless the fertilization is insufficient or the pot of the plant is too large.
Among the insects and parasites that attack the spathiphyllum, we find the greenhouse mealybug, the red spider mite and the aphid.
Favorable associations with spathiphyllum
The spathiphyllum, especially when it is small, accompanies very well in arrangements different plants with the same water needs, such as ferns, dieffenbachia or ficus .
Otherwise, the spathiphyllum also grows very well on its own in a pot.
Spathiphyllum toxicity
Spathiphyllum contains substances that irritate the skin and mucous membranes. It is therefore best to place this plant out of the reach of young children and animals.