Because it is relatively easy to care for and its candid white flowers are truly beautiful to look at, the spatifillo, sometimes also called "peace lily," is one of the most common evergreen houseplants. Recently, it was also recognized by NASA for its ability to purify the air. If you take care of this plant taking into account its needs for water, type of soil and exposure to the sun, you will keep it in good health and you will be able to enjoy the beauty and beneficial properties of the spatifillo to the fullest.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Caring for the Spathiphyllum
Step 1. Choose a suitable location for your plant
Spatiphyllum is native to warm, humid and shady tropical forests. Therefore, in more temperate climates, it cannot stay outdoors all year round. For this reason, it is advisable to keep it indoors, which is relatively warm and humid than outdoors, where the plant can grow healthy. It should be near, but not directly below, a window in a warm room so it can benefit from indirect sunlight. The windows facing the north or west sides are the most suitable, as they do not allow exposure to direct sunlight throughout the day. If you can, avoid placing the plant in a spot that is particularly exposed to cold air or excessive sun, as both of these factors could cause it to suffer to the point of developing brown, wilted leaves.
Depending on the climate, you may decide to leave the Spatiphyllus outdoors for a time of year on a shady terrace or similar location when the weather is hot and humid. If you live in a tropical location, however, you can happily leave the plant outdoors all year round
Step 2. Water the peace lily properly
The most important attention to be given to this plant concerns irrigation. When (and only when) the pot soil is dry, add enough water to make it moist, but not too much water to cause waterlogging. If you water too little, the plant will wither and die - although, if you neglect this important step, you should still be able to clearly see that it begins to suffer. However, if you give it too much water, you can cause a condition called root rot, which can be fatal. The right balance is to provide it with water about once a week when the soil is dry. Sometimes it would also be wise to wait until the spatifillo begins to show the first signs of wilting and then proceed with watering.
Step 3. Use a spray bottle to spray water on the leaves several times a week
The peace lily thrives in the particularly humid environments of the tropics, so, in addition to irrigating the soil, it regularly mists the leaves with a spray bottle to simulate the humid air of the rainforest. Spray the plant more often during the summer growing season - the more you wet it, the more flowers it will bloom and the healthier it will grow.
This plant is sensitive to chlorine, so use dechlorinated water. To dechlorinate tap water, leave it outside at room temperature for 24 hours
Step 4. Cut the diseased leaves
Unlike other plants, the spatifillo does not need to be pruned very frequently. However, if, for any reason, one or more branches turn brown or show signs of wilting, you should prune the leaves to prevent the plant from wasting energy in already dying areas. Use sharp scissors to remove any diseased or dead areas; try to make clean cuts, very close to the ground, while avoiding eliminating an excessive amount of healthy plant.
Wilted or brown leaves may simply indicate that you forgot to water the plant, but they can also be a symptom of a more serious problem. If you find that you need to prune it often, even if you regularly take care of it, pay attention to any signs that may be hiding a more serious problem (read the third part of the article "Treating Spathiphyll Diseases") and try to cure the cause. principal
Step 5. Proceed with caution if you want to fertilize
In addition to an adequate amount of water and indirect sunlight, the plant does not require a lot of special care. It shouldn't be necessary to add fertilizers and nutritional supplements for it to grow healthy and lush. However, if you still want to fertilize it (for example, because you want incredibly large, brightly colored flowers to develop), be careful not to overdo it, as peace lily is a somewhat sensitive plant. Apply a standard 20-20-20 fertilizer for houseplants at a dosage equal to half or a quarter of what is recommended on the package, about once a month in spring and summer, when the spatifillo is in its full phase. of growth.
If the flowers are green, it means you have fertilized too much. If your plant has this sign, stop adding fertilizer and cut the dose by half next growing season
Part 2 of 3: Repot the Spathiphyllum
Step 1. Recognize the signs that you need to repot the plant
As with most potted plants, if you let it grow, the peace lily will also outgrow it to thrive in its original container. When it gets too big, you will realize that it continually needs more water and / or that the leaves turn yellow for no apparent reason. Sometimes it is also possible to see the roots gathering on the surface of the soil. Typically, the peace lily should be repotted every 1-2 years, so if this period of time has passed and you notice some of the signs described so far, it's probably time to move it to a larger container.
Step 2. Use a suitable sized pot
For this procedure, of course, you need a larger pot than the old one, so that the plant has more space to allow the roots to grow. Use a pot that is at least 5 cm in diameter larger than the previous one; While it seems like a relatively small increase, it's actually enough to leave enough room for the plant to develop over the next few years. Usually, the peace lily never needs pots larger than about 10 '' in diameter, so if your container is larger and the plant is still showing signs of distress, another problem may be to blame.
- In general, vases of almost any material are suitable: ceramic, plastic and clay.
- Make sure the pot has one or more drainage holes in the bottom. It is essential that the water can drain from the soil, otherwise the spatifillo risks suffering from root rot.
Step 3. Use an appropriate soil mix
As mentioned earlier, the peace lily is native to tropical rainforests. Typically, it grows under the protection of a thick, multi-layered forest cover and is therefore almost constantly surrounded by decaying plant material. When choosing soil, get one that respects these characteristics. Use a peat-based one that also contains composted bark, as well as sand or perlite. The best soil should be light and springy (to allow for proper drainage) and have little or no odor.
Step 4. Transfer the spatifillo to its new container
Prepare the new pot by filling it with enough compacted soil so that the plant can easily fit into and on top of it. Ideally, you should simply add some more potting soil to the sides of the plant, rather than under or on top of it. Gently insert the potting soil into the bottom of the pot so that it can firmly support the plant without it sinking down. Gently pry or remove the peace lily from its original pot and place it on top of the soil in the new container. Add the soil from the previous pot and place it around the plant in its new pot; if the soil is familiar to it, it will be easier for the plant to acclimate to the new "home". Water and add more potting soil when the water stabilizes the soil. Once the transfer is complete, the soil in the new pot should be about 1.3 - 2.5 cm below the rim.
If you have trouble getting the plant out of its old pot without breaking or tearing it, wet it thoroughly and let it soak for an hour
Step 5. Be prepared to use a pole to support the spatifillo in the new container
When repotted, the roots need some time before they can get a strong hold on the new soil, the plant may have a hard time being able to sustain itself at this stage. If this is your case, use a solid wooden stake or stick to support it. Thread the pole into the soil (being careful not to damage the roots) and use a thread to tie the stem to the pole. You can remove it once the roots have stabilized and the plant will be able to stand on its own.
Step 6. If you want to create two separate plants, overrun a "crown" of the old plant
If, instead of transferring your peace lily to a new pot, you want to grow a completely new second in another container, remove a part of the plant just above ground level and overrun only this in the new container, rather than all of the spatifyll. The "crown" of the peace lily is made up of groups of two or more leaves which are separate and distinct from the main part of the plant and which sprout just above the ground level.
To separate the crown from the main plant, you first need to take the whole plant out of the pot. Start from the top of the crown and work your way up to the roots, untangling the roots of the crown from those of the main plant. This step can take some time and you may even risk accidentally breaking some roots. Know that this is quite common, but move with caution to prevent this from happening. Once the crown is completely separated from the main plant, bury it in the new small pot (no more than about 15 cm in diameter), as you would with a normal spatifillo
Part 3 of 3: Treating Spathiphyllus Diseases
Step 1. Recognize the signs of insufficient or excessive watering
One of the most common causes of problems in the cultivation of the peace lily is an inadequate irrigation regime. If it is wetted too much or too little, the plant can exhibit a variety of non-specific symptoms, which sometimes overlap with other diseases. However, since wrong irrigation is also one of the easiest problems to fix, try these remedies before moving on to a more drastic solution.
- If there is not enough water, the result should be obvious: the soil is dry, the leaves tend to wilt and turn yellow, while the stem is drooping. You can solve the problem by watering and misting more regularly - at least once a week. Keep in mind that if the plant is too big for the pot, it will have difficulty absorbing the water it needs from normal irrigation.
- It can be a little harder to tell when the plant is getting too much water, but you can often notice that the leaf tips are brown. Remember that overwatering can cause root rot, a much more serious problem to deal with.
Step 2. Repot the spatifyll if you are experiencing root rot
This is a serious disease that can affect any type of plant that has its roots below the surface and can easily kill the plant. Typically, root rot is a consequence of over-watering or poor drainage. If the roots remain in contact with standing water for an extended period of time, they cannot get the air they need to perform their function properly and, as a result, literally begin to rot. Some types of microorganisms are aquatic molds that promote the spread of decomposition thanks to the spores that transmit the root rot to another plant, when the humidity conditions are favorable. Often this problem leads to the death of the plant, but if you want to try to remedy it, you must immediately remove the spatifillo from its pot and cut off the dead, muddy or otherwise rotting parts of the roots. Plant the peace lily in a new container with dry soil that ensures proper drainage.
- Even if root rot infects the plant below the surface, you can begin to see signs of distress on the outside. If the peace lily seems to wither more and more, even with correct exposure to the sun and frequent watering, the cause is probably to be found in root rot.
- Alternatively, another possible solution is to repot the crown in another pot, as long as its roots have not been affected by the rot. At this point the original plant can die, but the second will be a genetic copy of the first.
Step 3. Use insecticidal soap to get rid of pests such as aphids or spider mites
Sometimes the spatifillus becomes infected with aphids, mites, or other small arthropods. If you notice that the leaves begin to wilt or die, especially if accompanied by the presence of small insects, slimy and sticky liquids or a streak of white color, it is likely that the plant is infested with parasites. Turn on a strong stream of water to get rid of the bugs, then, to make sure they don't come back, apply a plant-safe insecticide or prepare this homemade recipe to make an insecticidal soap yourself:
Combine 15ml of seed oil, 16g of cayenne pepper and 12g of natural animal soap (not liquid dish detergent) in 1 liter of warm water. Use a spray bottle to completely mist the plant with a layer of this mixture, but not before testing it on a small area and letting it sit for a day to make sure it doesn't cause any harm
Step 4. Clean or properly dispose of the fungus-infected plant
Plant mycoses can range from harmless to life-threatening. If you see that a layer of white or gray with a dusty or "hairy" appearance grows on the surface of the soil, you do not need to worry too much, as this fungus does not compromise the health of the plant (although it can create some problems for some humans., especially those allergic). To get rid of this minor fungal growth, you should try sprinkling cinnamon (which has antifungal properties) on the fungus. However, if a dark or black coating builds up on the stem or leaves of the spatifillus and there are no other apparent reasons to justify its formation (such as frost damage, etc.), it is likely a serious fungal infection.
