Detailed characteristics and appearance
Spathiphyllum picasso is a perennial evergreen that belongs to the Aroid family. The native land of the species is Central and South America; the plant is also found in Brazil and the Philippines.
The most optimal habitat is the humid climate of swampy forests, near the banks of rivers and lakes.
What it looks like: description and photo
Picasso is a hybrid variety that was bred in the Netherlands. It reaches a height of 45-50 cm. The stem is completely absent, the leaf plates grow directly from the root, forming a basal rosette.
Leaves are fat, with a characteristic shine, reaching a width of 20-25 cm. The density of the plates is average, at the ends they taper. The color of the leaves is heterogeneous - rich green intertwined with white blotches. The cuttings are long, bend well. The color has a sail-like shape. The shade of the bud is white with a delicate green splash. At the base, the flower has a slight yellow tint. The roots are short.
Below you will see a photo of the flower:
What is the difference from other species?
The main distinguishing feature of Picasso is the extraordinary color of flowers, in which light green is intertwined with white. Indoor plants grow sprawling and do not differ in particular whimsical care.
The decorativeness, unpretentiousness of spathiphyllum make this plant indispensable for landscaping offices, apartments, winter gardens. In our articles you will find photos and descriptions of all types and varieties of flowers: Silver Cupido, Chopin, Domino, Sweet Chico, Alana, Sensation, Strauss, Wallis and red.
Step by step instructions: how to propagate?
Reproduction of Alan's spathiphyllum is possible by dividing the rhizome and grafting.
Dividing the rhizome is considered a fairly common method that is quite beneficial for the mother plant. The resulting cuttings are considered ready-made material for reproduction, they just need to be planted in a container. For this, several rules are followed:
- planting is carried out at a temperature of 20 ° C;
- before removing the cut, the plant is thoroughly watered;
- for transplant, use a container with a diameter of about 15 cm.
When grafting, a leaf rosette acts as a planting material, which is cut from the mother plant. Further, reproduction is carried out according to this plan:
- the cutting is placed in a container of water for 2-3 weeks, until the roots are formed;
- to prevent stem rotting, activated carbon is added to the water (1/2 tablet per glass of water);
- when the roots reach a length of 2-3 cm, the plant is planted in the soil.
Breeding options
There are three ways to propagate a houseplant:
- Division of the bush. In the spring, during transplantation, you can separate young bushes from an adult specimen and plant them in a separate container.
- Cuttings. For this, the stem is divided into cuttings with two buds. The plots are sprinkled with crushed coal and rooted in wet sand or peat. For better rooting, they can be covered with a glass jar or plastic bag.
- Seed reproduction. Sowing seeds is done in a wet mixture of sand and peat. The container is covered with glass and placed in a warm place. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is wet at all times. Seedlings will appear in about a month. The grown seedlings are seated in separate pots.
Every year, more and more varieties of spathiphyllum appear, with which you can decorate any room. A variety of foliage shades, bush sizes and elegant flowers can revive and decorate the interior of an apartment, office, hall and even a production facility.
Decorative varieties
The indoor plant has many hybrid subspecies that differ in appearance and size of the bush.
Dominoes
One of the most popular among flower growers, it is distinguished by decorative variegated leaves. Its original leaves have a dense structure and uneven color. The green corrugated plate is dotted with white to dark green strokes. Sometimes there are plants with a bluish pattern, so even a non-blooming Domino variety looks exotic and elegant. The height of the bush can reach 50 cm, the leaves grow up to 25 cm long. Domino has an ordinary inflorescence, which consists of a green cob and a white bedspread. So that the leaves do not lose their variegation, the indoor flower should be placed in good lighting conditions.
Gemini
Indoor plant with variegated leaf color, which is similar to the color of the leaves of the Domino variety. However, plants can be distinguished by the bracts, which in Gemini have an oval shape and a pointed tip.
Picasso
The ornamental variety, bred in Holland, is very popular with flower growers for its green leaves with white large sectors. The color of the bedspread and the cob of the flower is also white. Some specimens may have completely white leaf plates, which makes the bush look very impressive and original. The plant requires good lighting, because in the shade, the color of its foliage will change and eventually turn just green.
Sensation
The impressive size of the plant was created by Dutch breeders. The height of the bush can be one and a half meters, and the length of large dark green leaves - up to 70–90 cm. Also, the variety is distinguished by large inflorescences, pronounced veins on the leaf plate and a long flowering period. The variety is perfect for decorating offices, halls and large rooms, where it can grow in shaded areas.
Cupid
The hybrid variety, eaten by Dutch breeders, is 50 cm high, a variegated, unusually curved bedspread and bright green leaves. During flowering, the plant produces 8 to 10 inflorescences, which is why it is very popular among lovers of indoor flowers. Against the background of beautiful dark green leaves, its unusual numerous inflorescences look very gorgeous. Flowering begins in April and May and lasts until summer. The plant is recommended to be placed on the western and eastern windows and watered abundantly.
Verdi
An indoor plant with graceful ears and a snow-white blanket grows up to 75 cm in height. Depending on the care, it can bloom only in spring or twice a year - in spring and autumn. Photophilous variety, which should be shaded in summer from direct sunlight. Can grow in offices with artificial lighting. Requires abundant watering and spraying of leaves.
Sweet Silvio
A hybrid large variety with graceful inflorescences and a lush bush up to 75 cm tall, which grows very quickly. This distinguishes Sweet Silvio very favorably from other plant varieties. Glossy, paddle-shaped leaves of spathiphyllum, up to 30 cm long, have pronounced veins and wavy edges. Round, small, creamy white flowers are collected in a small inflorescence that surrounds a white veil. When ripe, the bedspread and ear turn green.
Sweet Lauretta
Bred in 2001 on the basis of Wallis spathiphyllum, the hybrid differs from its "parent" in more impressive size of the bush, higher inflorescence and large leaves. The bush is 80 cm high and grows up to 85 cm wide. It has dark green oval, elongated leaves with lighter veins. A leaf plate 35 cm long is located on a high petiole up to half a meter long. The inflorescence is 16 cm long. The indoor flower looks very impressive and can be used to decorate rooms as a single plant.
Chopin view
The most unpretentious and popular variety among flower growers, which is suitable for decorating any room and does not require special care.The bush up to 35 cm high has a rich color, elongated leaves with a pronounced shine and depressed veins. It has a white blanket and a pale green ear. With the right location and good care, Chopin can bloom all year round. Regardless of age, the variety is recommended to be replanted annually.
Main types
Cereus peruvian (Cereus peruvianus)
It is also called the rocky cereus. The greenish-gray stem is cylindrical with distinct ribs on its surface. As a rule, when grown indoors, the stem reaches a height of 50 centimeters, but can grow up to 100 centimeters. It has large snow-white flowers. The opening of the smelling flowers occurs at night, while their aroma is very pleasant.
The fruit is a red or orange berry that can be eaten.
There is an extremely unusual form of this type of plant, called monstrous. The stem of this plant is strongly curved, as a result of which it forms various unusual shapes. This cactus is quite popular among flower growers due to its unusual spectacular appearance.
Types of cacti. Cereus Peruvian monstrous form. Cereus florida. How to form a beautiful bush
Cereus repandus
According to the information found in most of the sources, this is not a separate species, but simply the second name of the Peruvian cereus.
Cereus jamacaru
The columnar stem has the shape of a cylinder, on the surface of which there are many spines of a light shade. Blossoming of flowers occurs at night. Flowers can often be up to 20 centimeters in diameter.
Cereus giant (desert giant)
In natural conditions, it can be found in states such as Arizona, California and Texas.
This species was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest cactus in the world - 25 meters.
The symbol of the state of Arizona is the flower of this cactus.
This plant differs from many other cacti in that it increases its growth rate only after reaching the age of thirty. From this time, the shape of the trunk begins to change and many lateral processes are formed. Young specimens are rather slow-growing plants.
The fruits are juicy berries of deep red color. They can be eaten and tasted quite good.
Cereus validus
Young straight branching stems are blue in color. There are 4–8 ribs on the surface of the stems. Snow-white flowers.
Cereus uruguay
On the surface of the greenish-blue stem, there are 5 to 8 ribs. The thorns are sharp, they reach 2 centimeters in length.
Cereus azure
It got its name from the stem of an unusual bluish color. A powerful stem can be highly branching. The ribs are few and far between. Snow-white fragrant flowers.
Flowers spathiphyllum photo
Spathiphyllum lives in almost every home. Among lovers of home flowers in pots, spathiphyllum is called "female happiness".
There are even two beliefs: the first - helps single girls find love, and the second - helps young ladies who already have a soul mate to become a mother. The flowering of this plant lasts for several weeks. Several blooms are possible per year.
This popular flower is picky and doesn't need much care. But there are some rules that should still be followed:
- Spathiphyllum loves shade, is afraid of sunlight;
- The optimal temperature range for this flower is between 16 and 23 degrees.
Spathiphyllum is afraid of drafts;
- Spathiphyllum loves water, it should be watered constantly;
- From mid-autumn to January itself, it is necessary to provide this plant with good air humidity;
- From the beginning of spring to autumn, spathiphyllum must be fertilized with special agents for domestic plants;
- To transplant a flower from one pot to another should be in the spring. Do not damage the root system, with spathiphyllum it can be fraught;
- Spathiphyllum must be propagated by dividing its root system into several parts. Better to do this in the spring.
Varieties of spathiphyllum:
- Wallace's Spathiphyllum - blooms for a long time. Not whimsical, feels good in room conditions;
- Heliconium spathiphyllum is an excellent ornamental plant that grows up to one meter in height;
- Spathiphyllum cannoli - native to Thailand. Characterized by emerald leaves and white flowers, exuding aroma;
- Spathiphyllum is adorable - its flowering resembles a flag, therefore, lovers and connoisseurs of domestic plants call it flagolite. During spring-summer flowering, it has a large number of inflorescences.
Care secrets
Spathiphyllum in our climate is cultivated only as a houseplant. Originating from warm and humid places, it requires timely watering and feeding, as well as annual replanting or soil renewal.
A flower is transplanted when it is seen that its roots have filled the entire volume of the pot. The operation is performed in the spring, once every one or two years. At the same time, the bases of old leaves are carefully removed (they can further provoke rotting processes), and peduncles, wilted and too young leaf plates are cut out so that they do not take away the plant's strength during adaptation.
Spathiphyllum is propagated by dividing the bush, cuttings and seeds. The first option is the simplest and most effective. During the annual transplant, they are carefully divided into several parts so that each has a healthy and strong piece of rhizome, after which the cuttings are seated in different containers.
Watering and feeding
In spring and summer, especially during the flowering period, watering is needed plentiful, in winter - more moderate. Its frequency is on average:
- in summer - every three days;
- in winter - weekly;
- in spring and autumn they are guided by the temperature and humidity level in the room. The earth should be kept moist, but not heavily flooded.
Water for both spraying and irrigation should settle for 1-3 days.
To prevent moisture from accumulating in the soil, it is imperative that when planting and transplanting a flower, drainage is laid on the bottom of the container with a layer of several centimeters, and the bottom of the pot must have holes for draining excess water.
Spathiphyllum requires regular use of fertilizers:
- During the growing season - from March to September - a liquid mineral mixture for flowering plants is added to the irrigation water every ten days. Without this, the culture will not be able to start and continue flowering. If suddenly a flower begins to form buds in winter, which is rare, but it happens, it is fed in the same way.
- In the rest of the year - in autumn and winter - fertilizing is applied once a month. The plant perceives organic matter well. You can use mullein solution.
Leaving during flowering
Before the buds begin to form, it is imperative to fertilize the flower with mineral mixtures with a sufficient content of potassium and phosphorus, since it is these substances that are important for intensive budding.
When flowering has begun, some growers consider it more correct not to fertilize the plant at all, resuming the procedures only at its end. However, a more frequent recommendation remains fertilizing with fertilizer for flowering houseplants.
Some features of caring for blooming spathiphyllum:
- after the opening of the buds, the inflorescences can be cut and used to decorate the room - new peduncles will appear in their place, extending the duration of flowering;
- it should be warm in the room during this period, the plant should be protected from cold air currents;
- do not transplant spathiphyllum during flowering.
Withered inflorescences are removed by cutting them off at the junction with the stem.
Reproduction methods of spathiphyllum
Spathiphyllum is an indoor flower that captivates the eye, attracts with its beauty, which multiplies in several ways:
- Seeds;
- Cuttings;
- By dividing the bush.
Each type of reproduction has its own characteristics.
Let's start by propagating a houseplant with seeds. It is worth noting here that this particular type of reproduction is considered the longest and most laborious. It is especially difficult to grow a flower with seeds at home. It is very difficult to create the necessary conditions, to choose the right seeds for planting. It should be noted that the germination and the ability to sprout plants are very small. Because of this, almost no one tries to grow female happiness from seeds.
Spathiphyllum seeds are sown in a greenhouse in a special soil, which consists of sand and peat. The soil should always be moist, but not wet. As soon as the senes have sprouted, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouse every day. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they can be transplanted into a separate pot.
Another, easier way to propagate Spathiphyllum is cuttings. This is a small collection of young leaves, cut at the base of the stem with the rudiments of the root system.
Saplings are best planted in early spring or summer. In order for the root system to get stronger, the cut shoots must be placed in a pot of sand, which is constantly moistened. Roots grow well in a mine greenhouse in moist perlite. As soon as the roots are strong, the flower should be transplanted into a pot in a specially prepared soil consisting of peat and sand, providing the soil with good watering. Young plants are watered as needed. The main thing is not to overdo it, so that the roots of the flower do not begin to rot.
The easiest way to reproduce is to divide the bush, you can do it yourself at home. For this, an adult plant must be poured with water a day before the division process. Then, with the help of a special spatula, separate part of the plant, which, together with the roots, plant in a prepared pot, water, put in a warm, bright place, but not there, so that direct sunlight falls on the foliage of the plant. The division of the flower must be done as needed. With good growth, a well-developed plant can be planted no more than once every two years.
