Spathiphyllum

Common names: Spath, Spathe, "Peace Lily", Snow Flower

Don't be afraid to water your "Peace Lily".  They grow in water!
 

The next time someone tells you your "Peace Lily" doesn't like water and should only be given a "drink" when it begins to "beg" suggest they take a trip to Ecuador where they commonly live in streams.   I always advocate to "listen to Mother Nature, since her advice is best" and Mother Nature's advice is to keep your Spathiphyllum damp at all times and grow it in bright light!

On page 50 in his 1978 article published in the scientific journal Aroideana entitled The Genera of Araceae in the Northern Andes by Dr. Michael Madison formerly of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens he states, "Spathiphyllum includes 40 species of terrestrial herbs which usually are found in wet habitats."   Since the date his article was published several new species have been described to science but the plant we normally grow are rarely species plants. 

Again in Aroideana Volume 5, page 117 in an article by Robert White on West Panama he writes, "As we left the area we stopped at a sunny stream and found growing along its banks a small Spathiphyllum sp. with very dark green leathery leaves. The outside of its spathe was dark green and the inside was white, cut with fine lines of very dark green leathery leaves. The outside of its spathe was dark green and the inside was white, cut with fine lines of green."  Aroideana is the journal of the International Aroid Society.

Like it or not it isn't excess water that kills "Peace Lilies" in homes. The cause of their demise is almost always poor light conditions, near constant neglect, lack of nutrients and even more importantly poor soil conditions!   Since these plants grow in areas where heavy rain waters drain the soil is nutrient rich. All the decayed vegetation releases nitrogen and other nutrient rich mater into the water.  The water then carries those nutrients to pools of water as well as creeks and streams. The decayed vegetation causes most of this water to be low in pH as well as very soft and those pools are filled with a rich humus of decaying leaves, branches, animal droppings and other sources of minerals and nutrients that serve as food for the plants. Spathiphyllum species love food and I'd bet the majority of growers that loose these plants have either never fed their plants or at  have tried to feed them to death!  Over feeding is just as bad as never feeding.  Good soil mixes are discussed later in this article.

Simply because a grower tells your they "know someone" that lost a beautiful Spathiphyllum due to too much light over watering that does not indicate the plant actually died of too much water and light!   Long held beliefs are common in home horticulture and eventually most become "old wife's tales that simply will not die.  The photo at above is our artificial Ecuadorian river and almost all the plants along the back are Spathiphyllum.  The top is filled with plants that grow along the banks of streams and rivers in South America as well as in shallow water while the plants at the bottom are all aquatic.  Although difficult to see the tank contains two mated Angelfish and almost four dozen Neon Tetras. 

For those tempted to say we must be using some "trick", some of the plants have been in our collection for five years or more and others were bought at a local home supply store.   All the soil was removed and the plants are "potted" bare root in plastic boxes with suction cups holding them to the back of the aquarium,  The boxes have numerous holes to allow the water to freely flow through the roots and the "medium" is nothing more than orchid bark along with fine pieces of charcoal.  All the boxes now have roots hanging out the holes reaching the sand on the bottom of the tank.

According to the Royal Botanic Garden Kew (London) scientific website CATE Araceae, there are forty five natural species (excluding natural variations)  http://www.cate-araceae.org/Spathiphyllum  On top of that there are but well over 200 hybridized varieties created by the hand of man, many sold as Spathiphyllum 'Clevelandii'.   Like many others, Spathiphyllum 'Clevelandii' is a trade name and not a species name.  As a result it is almost impossible to look at any specimen and accurately determine what the parent species may have been.

You can also see a list of all the names species of Spathiphyllum on the Missouri Botanical Garden website TROPICOS  but please be aware that many of these scientific names have been sunk into synonym with other previously described species and are no longer valid.  A synonym is a plant that was described to science after the accepted species name was described and has proven to be the same species.  During the 19th century this practice was common since botanists did not possess the scientific information available today and were not aware of natural variations in species:  Spathiphyllum species

The Spathe or "Peace Lily" can be an excellent houseplant. Some species and hybrids have small, narrow lanceolate (lance shaped) leaves while others have much larger and broader leaf blades. Some produce small inflorescences while others produce a spathe and spadix that is quite large. Not all wild Spathiphyllum species are suitable as house plants but a large number of these white cup shaped spathe bearing plants are sold as hybridized "Peace Lilies". Virtually none of the commonly available plants are species but instead are hybrids.  Correctly the term is spathe, not "spath".

Commonly given as a funeral plant, the "Peace Lily" is a member of the larger plant family Araceae commonly called an aroid.  The majority of the true species originate in Central America, southern Mexico as well as northern South America as far south as Peru but limited to northern Brazil.  Species plants may also be found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad.  There are also four species found in southeastern Asia and some of the neighboring tropical islands. 

The Spathiphyllum hybrid is one of the more commonly available plants sold in discount stores, nurseries and floral stores. True species plants are a very rare find in the home since almost all available for sale were created by hybridizers.  Even in the wild some species are also quite rare.   Almost all the plants available for purchase were not grown from seed but were grown in a test tube as a chemically created tissue cultured or cloned plant.  Although I had at one time been lead to believe the cloned variations were "designed" to need little water that is nothing more than a myth.  The plants can naturally withstand abuse since they must live through the dry season in their native habitat which at times requites them to survive when little water is available but they do have limitations and cannot withstand perpetual abuse and neglect in a home.

Once you read what I write about the "Peace Lily" some will undoubtedly want to say the plants in our homes are very different from the plants in the rain forest since they are “house plants” and not wild. I don't wish to be unkind but all house plants had to originate somewhere in the wild!

Your "Peace Lily" house plant may be a hybridized form of a wild plant but the DNA came from a wild specimen somewhere in the world. That plant “remembers” how it grows in nature and craves for those conditions. When we kill these plants it is almost certainly because we fail to treat them the way their DNA expects to be treated. If the plant can't get what it needs including high humidity, at least moderately bright light and adequate water its response is often to just give up and die. You can easily avoid that eventuality by giving the plant what it needs!

Spathiphyllum specimens are sometimes known by home growers for their ability to tolerate low light conditions so many expect them to "tolerate" those conditions eternally.  Even though the Spathiphyllum will tolerate such poor condition it doesn't "like" them and in nature appears to prefer medium or bright indirect light as well as adequate water and food.  However, the genus is sometimes found in full shade as was described by Dr. Croat in one of his treatments on the species Spathiphyllum dressleri.  "Spathiphyllum dressleri ranges from Panama to Colombia and occurs in moist to wet forest, at 50 to 700 meters. The species is rare and is found in full shade in areas of tropical wet forest."   "Full shade" does not indicate a dark corner of a room! 

If you wish to make it thrive and grow in your home a specimen prefers high humidity and constant moisture.  A specimen should be kept out of direct sunlight with a tray of pebbles filled with water beneath the pot to provide some humidity.  Although few wild species produce an inflorescence year round if you wish to keep it producing inflorescences the plant should also be misted frequently.  But there may be a chemical cause once the plant begins to refuse to "bloom".   By the way, on a visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden research greenhouse in December 2009 not one of the specimen plants of the majority of true was producing an inflorescence!  These species also often bloom seasonally,

Hybridized Spathiphyllum commonly sold in garden and discount centers can be seen with a cluster of open inflorescence virtually any month of the year. Commercial growers use a chemical known as gibberellic acid often sold as GA3 to induce the plants to produce inflorescences in order to make them more saleable. Gibberellic acid is a natural plant hormone and is used in agriculture to stimulate both cell division and cell elongation that affects the leaves as well as the stems of a plant.

Gibberellic acid is used commercially to make all the plants in one group bloom at the same time. Through repeated use these large growers force the growth of a spathe and spadix regardless of season. They have calculated the quantity to be used and know how much gibberellic acid to apply to any particular species but these formulations are often guarded secrets.  The next time you buy a beautiful Spathiphyllum at a discount store and find it begins to produce few or odd shaped leaves and spathes there may be a reason. The specimen has likely been fed gibberellic acid since it was nearing sexual maturity to force it to bloom. Without the constant use of the hormone the specimen cannot get its "fix" and as a result may rarely bloom again since it has been "hooked" on the chemical!   Although GA3 can be purchased, the use of the chemical can be hazardous to the plant if you don't know the exact dose to use.  In that case you must resort to the use of a good fertilizer.

I frequently read posts on garden forums asking why a “Peace Lily” is about to die and how to save the plant.  Almost without exception the principal responses given are to slow down on the water and/or move it to an area of dimmer light.  This advice is exactly the opposite of what nature provides naturally!

I'm not certain where such advice on the the "Peace Lily" originated but you should be aware this plant commonly grows either in water or on the edges of pools of water in moderately bright light in the native habitat. If a grower moves the plant into dim light the eventual result will be the demise of the plant since it can no longer complete its natural photosynthesis.  Photosynthesis is a requirement of the plant to keep it alive and healthy! 

Although these plants are tolerant of neglect they can't survive forever if not allowed to live as they were intended to live and grow.  A great rule to follow is "Listen to Mother Nature since her advice is best" and Mother Nature gives the plant adequate light, food and water.

One of the smartest friends I have is aroid botanist Dr. Tom Croat who is the Curator of Botany at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, MO. Tom has personally collected more than 100,000 living specimens n the wild and granted scientific names to more aroid species than any other living human on this Earth. Tom has often called Spathiphyllum species “water hogs”!

Despite the fact people are constantly advised to grow these plants dry and in dim light I've spoken with aroid botanists including Tom that have seen these plants growing in very bright light away from the edges of the canopy shade. The wild “Peace Lily” often stands in water.  My friend and naturalist Joep Moonen who lives in French Guiana which is an extremely tropical nation in the northeastern corner of South America.  Joep (pronounced "yupe") recently wrote, "We have Spathiphyllum humboldtii growing in French Guiana but it is very rare. It grows in gravel on creek banks and in the rain season grows partly under water."

Spathiphyllum species are common to much of Central and South America as well as s few species in Southeast Asia. Although it is commonly called a “Peace Lily” the plant is in the family Araceae. Plants are divided into classes, subclasses, orders, families, genera (genus) and species. The family which is at the top of the list for Araceae is Liliopsida. Spathiphyllum species are not in the family Liliaceae which contains most of the lily species although both Liliaceae and Liliopsida are related Monocots so the common name is somewhat misleading. The common name “Spath” comes from the spathe the plant produces which is one of the major parts of the inflorescence used for reproduction. 

Aroids are characterized by the growth the inflorescence known to science as a spathe surrounding a spadix. Despite being called a "flower" the spathe is not a flower and is simply a modified leaf which appears in the shape of a hood.  The spadix is located at the center of the inflorescence and is a spike on a thickened fleshy axis which is supported on a stalk known as a peduncle.  

When a “Peace Lily” is referred to as "flowering" the reference is truly to the very small flowers (near microscopic) which are produced along the spadix and has nothing to do with the spathe. The only connection is both are produced during the plants sexual reproduction known as anthesis.   The spathes of different species do not look alike and some look nothing like the common plant found in a home.  Each species has a unique inflorescence which is one of the main characteristics used to determine the species.  Since the majority of plants sold in the U.S. are hybrids the characteristics of the inflorescence is likely a combination of both parent species.

The pollination of a Spathiphyllum specimen appears relatively simple in nature and includes a long flowering cycle.  While aroid species such as Philodendron are unisexual and possess imperfect flowers with the female flowers found in a female floral chamber to hold the female flowers Spathiphyllum species possess perfect flowers.  Bisexual inflorescences possess perfect flowers containing both male and female sexual organs throughout the length of the spadix without any distinctive zones. 

Within the bisexual inflorescence each tiny section which can be observed on the spadix with a good magnifying glass is an individual flower consisting of a central female structure with a stigma at its center and several male flowers surrounding that stigma.   These male flowers are difficult to observe except during male anthesis when they are actually producing pollen.  The pollinator of these species is thought be a small bee active only during daylight hours but the thermogenesis of the species has never been documented.  Thermogenesis is a heat rise produced by the inflorescence that is used to disperse a perfume-like pheromone in order to attract the pollinating insect.   Insects can also "see" the heat as a result of infrared heat.

If you'd like to know more about thermogenesis and are interested to learn how aroids are pollinated please click on this link.  Natural pollination in aroids

So why is the soil mixture important? If the roots of Spathiphyllum species or hybrids don't have the ability to stretch, grow and move freely in their soil they will rot. These plants need very loose porous soil and you aren't ever going to find that in an off the shelf potting mix. It isn't the water that causes the roots to rot it is the soggy, sticky, thick, gummy soil growers normally plant them in!  The only way to allow the roots to absorb nutrients, breathe and poke around easily in the soil is to make it possess a very porous consistency with lots of easily reached regions that are never tightly compacted. In the silt of a Central American or tropical South American stream or pond of standing water these plants can run their roots all over the place. You can reach into the water and feel only very loose compost rather than thick gooey mud. For some reason people believe they can just go buy "potting soil" and anything should grow in it but that may well be the kiss of death to many tropical plants!

Potting mix companies make it that way since they know most people are going to fail to water their plants properly. Instead of following the lead of the companies that sell this thick “mud” we need to pot our plants correctly unless you are willing to constantly sacrifice specimens and pay good money to a plant retailer for a replacement.

Just as you wouldn't plant a cactus in soggy soil you shouldn't plant a Spathiphyllum in an incorrect soil. Cacti like sandy soil and Spathiphyllum prefer loose soil. We are quick to go out and buy the right mix for a succulent but never consider doing the same for an aroid species including a Philodendron or Anthurium even though they also need a special mixture to prosper.

Once a home grower sees their plant begin to decline the first reaction after posting or reading a few comments on a garden site is to slow down on the water without bothering to learn how these plants grow in the wild. Not long after they come back and post their plant died anyway.   Remember, these are rain forest plant species and they live in an extremely wet environment. For 6 to 8 months a year it rains much of the day! Rather than trying to force the plant do do what we want it to do we need to do what the plant needs.

I find it regrettable that many home growers are just down right lazy when it comes to taking care of their plants and use what I believe is an excuse to make themselves feel better. It sure doesn't make the plant feel better. If you went out and bought a dog you'd feed and treat it the way it needs to be fed and treated. Why won't we do that with a plant?

Good growers mix their soil for each plant to match what the plant needs in order to make the plant prosper. These species need extremely porous soil and moderately bright light or their roots will rot. But it isn't watering that causes the rot and eventual death of the plant. It is the soil quality, low light which starves the plant of needed chemical reactions and neglect!

Here's how to mix your soil for your "Peace Lily" . You're going to make up a special mixture and then add that to an equal amount off the shelf soil. Start by making a mixture which will be one half the total soil mix. That mixture should contain about 30% peat moss, roughly 20% Perlite, and 30% orchid potting mix which contains cedar wood chips, charcoal and gravel. To that add any good compost, a few cups of finely cut pieces of sphagnum moss and some cypress mulch. If you have some Vermiculite throw that in as well. This formula isn't critical, just keep it loose. The mixture above will be added to an equal portion of moisture control soil mix such as Miracle Grow Moisture Control. Mix all of this thoroughly and keep it constantly damp once you pot your plant. Enough ingredients to pot a large plant shouldn't cost more than $15 and the chance are high you'll have enough mix left over to plant one or two more plants.

The commercial growers really don't care if you kill your plant since you'll probably go buy another one and that makes them money. I have large Spathiphyllum specimens that are almost 20 years old and my atrium is watered every other day.  During the summer my plants receive 8 minutes of water per per day.  I've also grow these plants in water and I have friends that grow them in aquariums. You can even buy them as aquarium plants in many pet stores and in an article published in Aroideana volume 3, #4 entitled AROIDS IN THE PUBLIC AQUARIUM, author Craig Phillips who at the time was the Director of the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. described how Spathiphyllum species were used in some of their aquarium displays. 

Now here's one very important factor to keep these plants healthy! Give your plants a regular dose (follow the instructions) of Osmocote 30-30-30 fertilizer to keep them producing inflorescences. Osmoscote is a pelletized fertilzer given once every three months and available at garden centers.  Commercial aroid growers have learned the 30-30-30 mixture works best for aroids.  Fertilizers with lower numbers will not do as well.

Growers need to pay attention to what the plant wants and needs naturally or should not even buy one if they aren't going to treat it right. Water it but pot it right first. Remember, keep the plant in bright indirect light, keep the soil evenly damp and feed it! And I'm sorry if some are offended, but ignore the old wives' tales!

A very interesting point was raised a few years ago by my friend Julius Boos from Trinidad. Julius is known widely as an expert in aroid species having published many articles in scientific publications and journals such as Aroideana. Aroideana is the official publication of the International Aroid Society. You may find his quote of interest, "The blooms of Spathiphyllum canifolium are reportedly used and cooked as an ingredient in curies in Surinam and northern South America. I got a recent record of the blooms and young leaves of Caladium bicolor being cooked and used as a food in Aruba and N. W. Trinidad, W.I. and the name used for them there was 'ca-chew'." So at least some of these plants are used for more purposes than simply as a house plant!

The hybridized Spathiphyllum ("Peace Lily") is tolerant of a fairly wide range of conditions and abuse for moderately long periods of time but if not potted properly as well as given adequate light will eventually simply give up and die. Even near death, the plant often recovers with little more than a regular watering and a pruning to remove the dead leaves and spathes provided it is given fertilizer and good light.  Although it will be close to dehydration and starvation the plant will tell you when it wants to be watered by beginning to droop it's leaves.

If fertilized and treated well a large number of very exquisite white Spathiphyllum "spathe" inflorescences will grow. The lance shaped leaves normally reach 20 to 40cm (8 to 16 inches) in length and grow directly from the soil. However, there are numerous hybrids that can grow much larger.  The hybrid plants prefers medium to moderately bright light so long as it is near a window but protect it from cold and drafts! Spathiphyllum grows nicely under average room temperatures and can easily be propagated by dividing a few of the plant's clumps as it begins to outgrow the pot.

Aroideana is the scientific journal of the International Aroid Society.  http://www.aroid.org/

For information on natural variation in aroid and other plant species please visit this page:  Natural variation

My thanks to Devin Biggs for the use of his photos. Many aroids can be grown as semi-aquatic plants under proper conditions. See this website for information: http://ripariumsupply.com/

 

Join the International Aroid Society:  http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html