Spatiphyllum is a popular, hardy houseplant that can live for several years with minimal care. It also has a fairly high ornamental value, especially when it is in bloom: the soft colors of its inflorescence stand out against the bright green of its leaves in a spectacular way.
So, whether you don’t have much experience taking care of green or what you want is a beautiful plant with which to decorate your home, then you will know what are the care of the spatifilo.
Spatiphyllus care
The spatifilo is a precious plant, which is grown mainly indoors. Its bright dark green leaves and that white inflorescence make it one of the most demanded by all those who seek to enjoy a plant that is quite easy to care for at home. Therefore, below we will tell you how to keep it healthy all year round:
Location
Interior
The spatifilo is a beautiful plant that can be grown without problems indoors in low light. Even so, it is important that we know that to flourish it will be necessary to take it to a very bright room and that we place it in a corner where sunlight does not reach it directly or through a window. In this way, we will prevent it from burning.
Likewise, we must know that drafts and sudden changes in temperature can harm you seriously.
Outdoor
If you want to have it abroad, you have to know that grows well in places where the sun does not reach it directlyfor example under tree branches or on shady balconies. Its roots are not invasive, so it is perfect to have it together with other plants of more or less the same height, either in the ground or in planters (in pots it is better to plant individually so that it can develop normally) .
It is important that you keep in mind that does not resist frost. In those regions where there are very weak and occasional frosts of up to -2ºC, they are seen a lot at the entrances of houses, and they are fine, but if those same plants were unprotected they would surely die. Therefore, if the weather is cool or cold at some point, it is highly advisable to keep it indoors until spring returns.
Irrigation and fertilizer
The frequency of irrigation will depend on the season in which we are. For instance, if it is summer it is advisable to water twice a week; instead, the rest of the year will be watered once a week or every ten days. When in doubt, check the moisture of the soil or substrate, inserting a thin wooden stick, or with a digital moisture meter.
Always use soft water (without lime) and remove the excess water from the dish ten minutes after watering to prevent the roots from rotting. Likewise, it is necessary to avoid putting it in a container without holes, as any stagnant water would also damage its root system.
We can take advantage of in spring and summer to pay it with a liquid universal fertilizerfollowing the indications specified on the product packaging. Another more natural option is to fertilize it with guano (liquid), or with mulch or compost if it is in the garden.
Planting or transplanting time
In order for the spatifilo to continue growing, it will normally be advisable to change the pot. every two or three yearsduring spring. The new container has to be about three or maximum four centimeters wider and deeper than the old one.
If you want to plant in the garden, it must also be done in spring, when the minimum temperature is minus 15 degrees Celsius. Make a planting hole of about 50 x 50cm, fill it with universal substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts, and plant your spatiphyllum in the center, ensuring that it is neither too high nor too low; his thing is that the soil or root ball bread is just 1-2 centimeters below the ground level.
Pests
The spatifilo can have basically three pests:
- Mites: they are tiny parasites, less than 0,5 cm long, that feed on the cells of the leaves. Some, like the Red spider, they weave cobwebs, which is why they can be quickly identified.
They are fought with acaricides. - Aphids: they are very small parasites too, which feed on the sap of leaves and flowers. They can be yellow, greenish, brown or blackish.
They are fought with chlorpyrifos, or with natural insecticides such as neem oil (for sale here) or potassium soap (for sale here). - White fly: it is a small white winged insect that feeds on the sap of the leaves.
You can fight it with the same insecticides that you use for aphids.
Diseases
When overwatered, the spatyphyll becomes vulnerable to fungi, such as Phytopthora, Cylindrocladium, Cercospora, or Colleotricum. The most common symptoms are:
- Brown spots on leaves
- Chlorotic spots on the leaves
- Leaf and root rot
- Growth slowdown
- ‘Sad’ appearance
They are fought with fungicides such as Aliette, whose active material is Fosetil-Al, and by cutting the affected parts. Likewise, there is reduce the risks.
Rusticity
The spatifilo is a tropical plant, very sensitive to cold and frost. The minimum temperature that it supports is 0 degrees, as long as it rises again quickly.
Problems that Spatiphyllum can have
It is a fairly easy plant to care for, but sometimes, and especially if it is kept indoors, problems can arise:
Does not bloom
When it does not bloom, it is common to worry. The reasons are various:
- The pot has become too small: remember to transplant it to a larger one every 2 years.
- Lack of light: to be able to flourish it needs to be in a bright place.
- Lack of nutrients: it is important to pay it from spring to summer.
Related article:
Why doesn’t the flower of peace bloom?
Leaves that lose color
It may be or because it is in an area where the light hits it directlyin which case you will have burns on the leaves, or that it is in a too dark. In the latter case, they could be whiter.
Move it to a bright place, but without direct sun.
The plant is withered, ‘sad’
It is usually because lack of water. Do not hesitate to take the pot and immerse it in a basin of water for half an hour, until the soil has been completely moistened.
If it is in the garden, make a tree around it so that when watering does not drain the water, and add at least 2-4 liters depending on the size of the plant.
Dry leaf tips
It can be excess compost or fertilizer, or drafts. You must follow the directions specified on the fertilizer or fertilizer packaging to avoid causing an overdose, and you should also keep away from air conditioning and any draft.
Characteristics of the spatifilo
The plant that we know as the spatifilo, the peace flower, the candle of the wind or the cradle of Moses, is a herb native to the tropical jungles of America. Its leaves are dark green, smooth, with a length of about 40 centimeters.
During spring and summer they produce very beautiful and elegant flowers formed by a modified white leaf (bract).
Where to buy?
You can get it from here:
I hope that with these tips, your plant looks and is beautiful 🙂.
