Evergreens have long attracted the attention of gardeners, both experienced and amateur. One of these specimens is Cupid's spathiphyllum. Its cultivation will be discussed in today's

Characteristics and description of the plant

The spathiphyllum plant was discovered by Gustav Wallis during an expedition to Colombia in the mid-19th century, and the Cupido variety was bred from the Netherlands several decades later. The variety is intended for growing at home. Compact and magnificent from greens, the bush grows up to half a meter in height.

Spathiphyllum does not have pronounced stems; in their role are long leaf petioles growing directly from the soil. The leaves are large, glossy, oval, with a pointed end, a pronounced central vein and parallel side veins extending from it. The color of the foliage is bright, dark green.

The plant blooms in adults, in the second year of life, having passed the full stage of development. In March, spathiphyllum throws up to 10 peduncles, of which up to 3 inflorescences bloom simultaneously. Flowering in the plant is long, including through May. Often there is repeated flowering after some rest in the autumn-winter season.

Cupido has an unusual flower: cream-colored or pale yellow ears, protected by a snow-white coverlet of a single petal, the edges of which are slightly tucked in the middle. The shape of the petal is elongated, oval, with a sharp tip, like in leaf plates, veins pass along its entire surface.

Did you know? Spathiphyllum is able to absorb toxic impurities in the air, in particular, formaldehyde vapors used in the manufacture of furniture.

The following subspecies of the variety are popular:

1. Pronto cupido - It has a light green foliage. When flowering, it forms a white veil with a green tip and a clear central vein of green color.
2. Silver Cupid - different foliage unusual color, green plates between the veins are painted silver-gray. The flower is white, the cover is slightly wavy.
3. Pearl Cupido - grows up to 30 cm tall, when flowering, forms a shortened rounded ear, which protrudes forward, moving away from the bedspread. The bedspread is elongated, narrow, white with green veins.

Adaptation after purchase

After buying a plant, it must be left in its native container for 2 weeks to give it the opportunity to get used to the change of scenery. A new microclimate, capacity, new soil when transplanting a flower is stress for him. It is advisable to inquire with the seller about the conditions of Cupido's maintenance in the store and change them gradually.

House growing conditions

When creating conditions for a flower, you need to consider that its natural habitat is hot and humid tropical forests.

Location and Lighting

For normal development and abundant flowering, the plant needs bright lighting, but without direct sunlight. The best place to keep the flower will be the east and west directions of the windows. In the south, there is a danger of burns of succulent foliage, and in the north, light will not be enough.

Temperature mode

During the growing season and flowering (spring-summer), the temperature range of the contents ranges from + 21 ... + 24 ° C. In late autumn, if the grower decides to give the flower a rest, the temperature is lowered to + 18 ° C.

Important! At a temperature of + 10 ° С the plant will begin to weaken, its root system may rot. Allowing such a decrease, as well as sudden changes in temperature, is highly not recommended.

Air humidity

Large leaves need a lot of moisture in the air. If it is dry, the tips of the leaves begin to dry. To maintain the proper moisture level (70–75%), a humidifier (for example, a tray with wet expanded clay) should be placed next to the plant. Regularly need to spray the flower. Do not worry about the accumulation of drops of water on the leaves, their shape, drooping down, does not allow the fluid to linger.

Features of plant care at home

Care for a decorative plant is simple, the main thing is to observe the dosage of watering and top dressing, their frequency. It is also important to familiarize yourself with the rules for pruning and replanting a flowering plant.

Watering

The plant needs moisture all year round. Watering is carried out through a pan or by irrigation of the soil. Water is maintained for at least 20 hours, its temperature must correspond to the temperature of the air in the room.

The frequency of watering is determined by the drying rate of the soil coma. If the grower has chosen a lower watering, the upper soil layer should be checked. If irrigation is carried out by irrigation, you need to check the dryness to a depth of the pot up to 5 cm. The foliage is regularly wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust.

Top dressing

In the period from March to October, the flower is fertilized once every 10 days. In the autumn-winter period, the interval is increased to once a month. Spathiphyllum responds equally well to organics and mineral compounds.

If the florist has the opportunity, then during the growing season, you can use the mullein infusion, diluted in a ratio of 1:20.

Of the mineral complexes, fertilizers are used for flowering plants without lime, for example, "Azalea". The concentration of the solution is not more than 1.5 g / 10 l of water.

Pruning

The only type of pruning that spathiphyllum is performed is the sanitary procedure. Dry or diseased leaves are removed, it is necessary to remove wilted peduncles. The remaining peduncles weaken the bush, drawing off the lion's share of moisture and nutrients.

Transfer

After waiting a period of 2 weeks after purchase, it is advisable to transplant the plant. At home, it is possible to create a more nutritious mixture for the flower than the one in which it was exported.

A standard transplant is carried out annually in the spring, before flowering. In adult specimens, roots looking out of the soil signal the need for the procedure.

The following components are used for a nutritious soil mixture (in a ratio of 2: 2: 0.5: 0.5: 1):

• soddy soil;
• sheet soil;
• humus;
• peat;
• coarse sand.

Important! The soil must be decontaminated: calcine in the oven at a temperature of + 100 ° C.

The pot can be made of any material, but always with a hole for draining water. Its size should be several centimeters larger than the previous capacity.

Transplant Technology:

1. Before the process, the flower needs to be watered: so the soil is easier to move away from the walls of the pot. Given the fragile root system, the flower is extracted by transshipment.
2. At the bottom of the new tank lay 2-3 cm of drainage, a hill of earth is poured on top of half the tank.
3. The purified plant is placed on a hill of soil, the roots are straightened.
4. Evenly at the edges they add soil and tamp.
5. Complete the procedure watering and spraying foliage.

How to propagate a flower

An ideal method for the propagation of spathiphyllum in home floriculture is the division of rhizomes. Perform the procedure simultaneously with the transplant. It is advisable to conduct it in a warm room at a temperature of + 20 ... + 23 ° C.

Process technology:

1. An adult plant is divided into several parts, each of which contains a part of the root and a minimum of 3 leaves.
2. All available sections are treated with powdered activated carbon. Leave for 15-20 minutes.
3. The substrate and capacity are disinfected (calcination, potassium permanganate solution).
4. At the bottom of a small tank lay drainage. If you take a large pot, the flower will put all its strength into building up the root system instead of developing green mass.
5. Dividers are seated in separate containers. Care for seedlings is the same as for an adult plant.
6. Spathiphyllum does not multiply with leafy cuttings: devoid of roots, they simply rot.

Possible growing difficulties

The undoubted advantage of the tropical guest is that he does not attract insects. A spider mite can occasionally attack a flower, but solely due to florist care errors. The spider is attracted to the over-dried air. To combat it, the Agarvertin acaricide is used at a rate of 2 ml / 1 liter of water (spraying).

Other development problems and their solutions:

1. Yellowing foliage tips - insufficiently humid air. Apply spraying, place a humidifier near the flowerpot.
2. Foliage twisting - dry soil, low temperature. Correct temperature conditions and watering.
3. Leaves stretch - lack of lighting. Move the pot to a more lit place.
4. There are no peduncles - lack or excess of fertilizing. Adjust the dosage and frequency of fertilizers, carefully study the composition of the purchased complexes.
5. The appearance of black on the foliage - root rot. The cause of the disease is excess moisture in the soil. Watering should be brought back to normal. The treatment is carried out with Alirin-B fungicide, and the soil is watered with a solution prepared in the ratio of 1 tablet / 5 l of water.

Did you know? In esotericism, spathiphyllum is also called “female happiness,” since it is believed that such a flower brings personal happiness to a woman, helps to meet her soul mate, and contributes to the birth of a child.

Spathiphyllum Cupid is an unpretentious flower in care, so it does not present difficulties in growing. Especially appreciated by gardeners is the fact that it is resistant to pests and diseases.