Flower female happiness (spathiphyllum)

It is believed that spathiphyllum or “female happiness” is a real vacuum cleaner, it perfectly cleans the air from dust, harmful fumes, and reduces the harm from radiation from office equipment. Therefore, it is recommended to start it in offices, and put it at home in the living room or office, where there is a computer and a 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 starts a flower, then soon she will find her female happiness (that’s why the spathiphyllum was called that);
• spathiphyllum improves the energy of the house and is able to give the owners well-being and happiness;
• the flower is a kind of mood barometer – if there are frequent scandals and quarrels in the house, there is no mutual understanding, then the flower begins to dry, stops blooming and may die;
• if a spathiphyllum has blossomed in your house, then very soon you may have a long-awaited baby – it is believed that this flower helps even those women who are already desperate to become a mother.

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

Types of flower female happiness (spathiphyllum)

The genus Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum) from the Aroid family (Araceae) includes about 50 species. (2) At home, only a few of the most unpretentious are grown.

Spathiphyllum Wallis (Spathiphyllum wallisii). This species was discovered in Colombia at the end of the 60th century. The species is named after Gustow Willis, a German plant collector. The plant reaches a height of 25 cm, its leaves are large, up to XNUMX cm (and the petiole of the same length), glossy, with spectacular wavy edges. Blooms in late autumn or winter. The flower is a yellow cob with a white veil, which eventually 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 a variegated color of the leaves: numerous white spots and specks are scattered on a dark green background, a white bedspread, a flower with a weak pleasant aroma;
• Gemini. This variety is a variegated mutation of the variety Domina. 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 bedspread is white;
• Chopin – one of the most popular varieties, about 35 cm high, with elongated green glossy leaves, a flower with a white veil and a pleasant aroma;
• Mauna Loa – with large dark green leaves up to 20 cm long and a large white veil.

Another popular species comes from Colombia. A plant up to 50 cm high with large leaves up to 25 cm long. They have a beautiful velvety dark green color. One plant produces up to 40 leaves. The cob is cream, the spathe is first white, and then turns green. It blooms profusely – with good care, a flower bud is laid in the bosom of each leaf, therefore, there can be up to 40 flowers.

Spathiphyllum heliconieletny (Spathiphyllum heliconiifolium). This species is native to the rainforests 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 ear is up to 10 cm long, at first white, and then darkens almost to black. The spathe is white, oval, almost 2 times longer than the cob.

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

Spathiphyllum spoon-shaped (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum). Brazilian rainforest native. The plant is large, about 1 m high. Leaves up to 40 cm long, dark green, glossy, on long petioles. The cob is white, the cover is also white, oval, shaped like a spoon – hence the name of the species.

Spathiphyllum pleasant (Spathiphyllum). 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 coverlet 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 profusely flowering. Its leaves are oblong-lanceolate, with a retracted tip, dark green in color. Strong long petioles. The inflorescence has an ear surrounded by a greenish-white veil, similar in shape to a small flag. It is this variety of Women’s Happiness that is popularly called the 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, it grows well in shading, however, the annual increase is small.

Flower varieties female happiness (spathiphyllum)

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

Alan (Alana). A hybrid 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 spathe is white, but turns green towards the end of flowering.

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

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

Sensation (Sensation). Very large variety, with leaves up to 75 cm long and about 40 cm wide, dark green, wavy.

Suite Silvio (Sweet Silvio). A large hybrid with a large number of dark green leaves, due to which the bush looks very lush. And his flower stalks are graceful.

Caring for a flower female happiness (spathiphyllum) at home

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

Spathiphyllum comes from South America, which means it loves warmth. The optimum temperature for it is 18 – 25 ° C. If lower, then the plant may get sick. And this plant does not like drafts.

Ground

In nature, spathiphyllums live in tropical forests, and the soil there is rich in organic matter. Therefore, they need 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 the spathiphyllum grows in the jungle, it does not tolerate direct sunlight well. If bright light falls directly on the plant, it can get burned, so it is better to transfer the plant to the shade or cover during the sunniest hours.

The spathiphyllum tolerates shade and partial shade much easier, 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 him is the east window.

Humidity

As a native of the humid jungle, he prefers the ground to be moist, but not too damp. 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. So there will be no overflow harmful to the flower, but the moderate humidity of the earth will remain.

Spraying a flower is also very fond of, if you do this every day, it will thank you with bright leaves.

fertilizers

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

Feeding

You need to feed the “female happiness” flower, like all others, with complex fertilizer: 1 time in 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, then the flower will bloom all year round.

Trimming

Formative pruning spathiphyllum is not required. All you need is to remove yellowed and dried leaves, if they suddenly appeared.

Reproduction of a flower female happiness (spathiphyllum) at home

The easiest way to propagate spathiphyllum is by dividing the bush. It is best to do this during a plant transplant – 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. Divide the roots with a sharp knife. It is desirable that at the same time the earth remains on the roots – so the delenki will take root better.

Each part of the plant should be planted in small pots and watered very abundantly 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 thicken much.

Flower transplant female happiness (spathiphyllum) at home

Spathiphyllum loves tightness. It is even believed that the closer the roots 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 cramped, then it’s time to transplant.

It is best to transplant a flower in the spring. If the plant is transplanted as a whole, the pot should be 2 cm larger in diameter. If it is divided, then the size should be proportional to the divisions – they should not be planted in too large containers, you can fill the plant.

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

Diseases of the flower female happiness (spathiphyllum)

Most often, spathiphyllum has 2 diseases.

Root rot. You can determine the disease by the state of the leaves – at first they turn pale, why they begin to turn yellow and fade. The cause of the disease is most often excessive soil moisture.

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

Phytophthora. The first signs of the disease are rot, which appears at the base of the shoots. Then the fungus rises up the leaves, hitting the plant more and more. Diseases provoke too frequent and abundant watering and low air temperature.

For the treatment of phytophthora, drugs Consento, Revus, Ordan are used. (3)

Flower pests female happiness (spathiphyllum)

Most often, spathiphyllums are affected by spider mites. You can find them by numerous whitish dots on the leaves. And with a strong infection, the leaves are covered with cobwebs. Spider mites reproduce especially quickly in dry air.

The preparations Akarin, Kleschevit or Fitoverm will help to cope with the pest. (3) It is necessary to carry out 2 treatments with an interval of 14 days.

Popular questions and answers

About what other difficulties may await the owners of spathiphyllums, we talked with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

Sources of

1. Dorozhkina E.A. Influence of plants on the microclimate of premises 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/
2. Systematics of plants. Spathiphyllum // The Plant List http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Araceae/Spathiphyllum/
3. State catalog of pesticides and agrochemicals approved for use on the territory of the Federation as of July 6, 2021 // Ministry of Agriculture of the 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/