Spathiphyllum "female happiness" in a flower pot
Gustav Wallis, who discovered spathiphyllum in the jungles of Colombia, probably did not realize that a century later the plant would become one of the most popular indoor crops, and in Russia it would receive a very unusual nickname.
Spathiphyllum first appeared in Europe in 1824, where it got its name due to the shape of the white perianth. Spathe is a bedspread, phyllon is a leaf.
Indeed, the lanceolate perianth, gracefully wrapped around the cob and rising above the green foliage, is very similar to the bride's veil, flag or veil.
Talisman of female happiness - spathiphyllum
So why does spathiphyllum, as a houseplant, in the opinion of Russians, bring happiness to female representatives?
It's no secret that most women believe in good omens and tend to expect miracles even in adulthood. So why not an unpretentious, viable and extremely graceful plant become a lucky talisman?
Plus, if you believe photo of spathiphyllum, female happiness symbolizes not only a white veil-veil, but also an unusual way of the appearance of a peduncle, as if born from a growing leaf stalk. According to legend, this is why a flower can radically change the life of a single woman and support the family well-being of a married woman.
As a houseplant, spathiphyllum is unpretentious and very attractive, the plant does not need to create artificial conditions, it does not need pruning and willingly pleases the owner with proud white candles of inflorescences. Probably, family life should be so natural, easy and happy!
The better the spathiphyllum, symbolizing female happiness, feels, the better the atmosphere in the house will be, and the easier the relationship of the couple will develop. And it doesn't matter what kind of spathiphyllum flaunts on the windowsill, the main thing is that its owner observes all the rules for caring for the plant.
Care and maintenance of the indoor plant spathiphyllum
Known as female happiness, spathiphyllum is an inhabitant of the tropical rainforests of South America, so for complete comfort in a city apartment, the plant needs conditions as close to natural as possible.
The most important requirement is warmth, absence of drafts and rather high humidity of the soil and air.
The optimum temperature for a houseplant such as spathiphyllum is 20–25 ° C.
In the cold season, the culture can grow in cooler air, the main thing is that the temperature does not fall below 15 ° C.
Spathiphyllum, like women's happiness, requires simple but regular care. It is useful to spray plants that love moisture with warm, settled water, and sometimes wipe the foliage with a damp cloth. But to achieve the most important thing, the flowering of spathiphyllum, is possible only by adhering to the watering schedule and careful attention to the plant
Like other inhabitants of the humid tropics, spathiphyllum reacts very badly to a lack of water. Dry soil becomes the reason for the wilting of foliage and the refusal of the bushes to form flower stalks. But soil oversaturated with moisture will not strengthen women's happiness, and spathiphyllum can respond with rotting of the root system and blackened leaves.
For good growth and the formation of bright lush foliage, the spathiphyllum needs sufficient lighting:
- In summer, the pots are placed on the lightest windows.
- In winter, additional lighting is organized for the indoor plant.
- If the flower is under the scorching rays of the sun, the plant is shaded.
In good conditions, spathiphyllum, known as female happiness, also purifies the air.
No wonder it was this plant that participated in NASA's experiments and showed an excellent ability to clean the atmosphere not only from carbon dioxide, but also from traces of benzene and formaldehyde.
As it grows, the spathiphyllum is transplanted, but you should not choose a pot that is too spacious. In a bulky dish it gives more foliage, but completely "forgets" about the formation of inflorescences. Therefore, the best choice is a pot a couple of centimeters wider than the previous one.
It is better to transplant spathiphyllum, like indoor plants of other species, in spring. For a nutrient-demanding culture, a mixture is prepared from:
- pieces of sand;
- two parts of turf land;
- parts peat;
- parts of humus.
You can also use ready-made mixtures, adding organic fertilizers and a little sand to them.
If you want to propagate a large plant, the spathiphyllum bush can be easily divided during transplantation.
Spathiphyllum: poisonous or not?
Like all the closest related species, spathiphyllum "female happiness» considered a moderately toxic plant. The reason for this is the content of oxalic acid in the green part of the bush, as well as some other substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and the digestive tract.
Plants may contain different concentrations of hazardous compounds depending on the variety. To the question: "Is spathiphyllum poisonous or not?", It is reasonable to give a detailed answer. Spathiphyllum varieties grown indoors do not pose a serious danger.
To avoid unpleasant incidents, it is better to move the pots with lush bushes away from small children and pets.
If the precautions did not help, and one of the family members nevertheless tried the spathiphyllum "female happiness" on the tooth, the most unpleasant symptoms are possible, ranging from burning on the lips, tongue and throat, ending with shortness of breath and shortness of breath.
The first manifestations of poisoning become noticeable almost immediately after swallowing, then they increase intensively and can be noted up to two weeks after the accident.
If a lot of spathiphyllum greens enter the body, female happiness can turn into serious troubles, up to seizures and kidney failure. However, such cases are incredibly rare, because the foliage of a houseplant is bitter and usually does not interest even pets.
If caustic foliage enters the oral cavity, the mouth is thoroughly washed with water, the throat is rinsed, and then any dairy products, such as yogurt, a slice of cheese or kefir, can be offered to the patient to reduce pain and neutralize the acid.
In most cases, within a day after taking such measures, after spathiphyllum leaves enter the mouth, female happiness returns, and peace and tranquility reign in the family again.