The peace lily is one of the most unique plants out there.
Its leafy green leaves and delicate white flowers are not only beautiful, but they will hardly need your care and will be just as radiant whether you forget about watering or if they barely get light.
You can even enjoy it as an aquatic plant if you decide to set up an indoor pond or take advantage of its properties to purify the environment!
Let's talk about spathiphyllum care, which is not many or complicated:
Peace lily
: description, cultivation and care
The peace lily, whose technical name is spathiphyllum, is part of the family Araceae. This magnificent plant with permanently green leaves comes from certain tropical areas of the American continent. Its presence in homes as a houseplant is more than justified by the beauty of its abundant and bright foliage and its beautiful white flowers.
One of the
main characteristics of the spathiphyllum or peace lily is its absence of stems. The leaves sprout directly from a rhizome. This rhizome has buds at the upper end, and roots at the bottom, which would be like the root of the plant and at the same time its reproductive organ. The leaves also sprout directly from it.
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The white part, that is, what for us would be the flower, is actually a bract (mutated leaf to protect and envelop the flowers), called a spathe. It acquires its characteristic white hue when it reaches maturity. As it ages, the white color turns pale green. The male and female inflowers are attached to a kind of rigid stem, called a spadix, with a distinctive yellow color.
How to grow the Peace Lily
There are currently 60 known species of spathiphylls. The most widespread and cultivated variety is the spathyphyllum wallisii, which comes from the tropical areas of Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama. It has a great ornamental value, thanks above all to its flowers, which bloom continuously throughout the season from spring to autumn. This variety, with its deep green leaves and white inflorescences, attached to an elongated petiole, lives for many years and is very easy to care for.
- Location: There are two elements that peace lilies are really "allergic" to: drafts and loaded/smoky environments. Therefore, it is advisable to place them in places sheltered from drafts and ventilate them regularly to renew the air. During the hot months, you can take it outside, as long as the place where you place it is shaded and protected from currents.
- Soil: The ideal substrate for peace lily will be a mixture of peat moss with a part bark shavings and coarse-grained sand, so that it is slightly acidic.
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- Light: Spathiphylls like light in both summer and winter, as long as the sun's rays don't fall directly on them. A corner with moderate light will be ideal.
- Temperature: the ideal temperature will be around 18-25º. If temperatures stay within this range, the plant will be in constant bloom from spring through fall. Sporadically, it can withstand temperatures of up to 30º, as long as it maintains its degree of humidity. On the other hand, they do not cope well with the cold or temperatures below 15º.
Watering
- : during the summer months, watering should be abundant so that the compost always has some moisture, although avoiding waterlogging. In the colder months, moderate hydration will suffice, simply to keep the substrate moist.
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This plant is very grateful when you spray its leaves with water to preserve its degree of humidity and freshness. The water should be at room temperature and not contain too much limescale. If the water in the area is too calcareous, it is best to use a type of distilled water, or even better, rainwater.
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To maintain the degree of humidity, it is very practical to place a layer of pebbles or clay balls between the pot and the saucer. This will ensure a good evacuation of excess liquid and prevent the plant from being in direct contact with water.
- Fertilizers and fertilizers: From early spring until well into autumn, it's a good idea to fertilize the plant a couple of times a month. In winter it is not necessary to fertilize.
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The most recommended type of fertilizer is a mixture rich in potassium and containing nutrients and minerals such as iron, molbidene, potassium, copper, zinc and phosphorus, among others.
By ensuring the right doses of watering, substrate and fertilizers, the peace lily will produce flowers consistently, from early spring until well into fall.
- Transplanting: transplanting should be done every year at the beginning of spring, once we see that the plant is too small for the 20 cm diameter pot. If necessary, the plant is removed from it and replanted in a larger pot, adding fresh substrate in the same proportions of soil, sand and bark as indicated above.
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Here's
how you'll be able to spot the most common peace lily pests and diseases:
- Wilted leaves: This is a symptom of water scarcity. In this case, immerse the pot in a bowl of water until the plant regains its vigor. Then, let the excess water drain off and your plant will be radiant again.
- Spots on the back of the leaves: This could be a symptom of the presence of mealybug. Its hazy shape and white color are unmistakable. They can be removed with methyl alcohol soaked in a cloth, or with soap and water. In the case of large plants or large infections, use specific insecticide products.
- Yellowish spots: the appearance of these brownish/yellowish spots, together with the presence of a kind of spider web on the underside of the leaf, is usually evidence of the attack of the annoying and harmful spider mite. To eradicate it, it is necessary to increase the degree of humidity and increase the frequency of watering, since this type of mite makes its appearance due to dryness. If you prefer, you can use a specific chemical.
Pruning and multiplication
- Pruning: Peace lily is not usually pruned. Simply remove the leaves as they wilt or dry out, to prevent them from becoming a source of pests and diseases.
- Multiplication: Spatyphilium is very easy to multiply by division of rhizomes. Here's how: During the spring, cut the rhizomes with the help of a sharp, disinfected knife. Each of the cut pieces should maintain several leaves and good roots. To prevent the cut pieces from being invaded by fungi, use a sulphur-based product, sold in gardening and DIY establishments.
Next, plant each of the portions in used pots using the same type of substrate we explained above. Place the pots in a shady place, at a temperature of about 21º. When new shoots begin to emerge, it will be the unmistakable sign that the plant has rooted well. In that case, you can give them the same treatments as any other adult plant of their species.
The peace lily will not only add a touch of beauty and serenity to your home. It will also cleanse the air you breathe of impurities. In addition, it will not require much care or time to maintain its beauty and freshness.
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