Repotting a Spathe Flower / Problem with clay pots
 

I have a spathe flower (spathiphyllum) in my office that has quadrupled in
size in the past year and a half. It flowered for the first time a few
months ago. Early last fall I re-potted it in a pretty clay pot (it had
been in a plastic pot). Now it seems to require more frequent watering,
possibly because of the porus pot. Also, the plant has lost it's nice shape
and is growing irregularly since the re-potting. Is the irregular growth
typical of this type of plant as it matures? Would you recommend against a
plastic pot for any reason? Also, I'm thinking if I get a plastic pot
that's deep that may help the plant from drooping (of course being dry is
likely the cause of the drooping).

The plant is in my office and even after Friday afternoon waterings, it's
staring to droop by Monday morning. Can't move the plant home because of
the cats (I'm concerned about the flower's irritants to the skin & mucous
membranes).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Repotting a Spathe Flower / Problem with clay pots
 

In article ,
Jenny Rizzo wrote:
I have a spathe flower (spathiphyllum) in my office that has quadrupled in
size in the past year and a half. It flowered for the first time a few
months ago. Early last fall I re-potted it in a pretty clay pot (it had
been in a plastic pot). Now it seems to require more frequent watering,
possibly because of the porus pot. Also, the plant has lost it's nice shape
and is growing irregularly since the re-potting. Is the irregular growth
typical of this type of plant as it matures? Would you recommend against a
plastic pot for any reason? Also, I'm thinking if I get a plastic pot
that's deep that may help the plant from drooping (of course being dry is
likely the cause of the drooping).

I recommend you repot using a plastic pot. Spathiphyllum is a bog or
marginal plant in nature, and I've had the smaller forms flourish with
their crowns under a few inches of water in a terrarium. They recover
fairly well from wilting, although the most wilted leaves will usually
die. They probably die down during the dry season in nature.

Not sure what you mean by irregular growth, but these plants develop
multiple crowns, and under non-uniform conditions, they will be less
symmetric. Turning the plant a quarter turn every week may help compensate
for non-uniform light direction.

The plant is in my office and even after Friday afternoon waterings, it's
staring to droop by Monday morning. Can't move the plant home because of
the cats (I'm concerned about the flower's irritants to the skin & mucous
membranes).

Instead of a shallow saucer, use a round plastic dishpan.

Clay pots don't usually work well in heated homes and offices except for
succulent plants. They dry out much too quickly in the low humidity, and
all the extra water required makes salts build up in the soil much faster,
especially if you have hard water. If you want to reuse your nice clay pot,
you could put a plastic pot with another plant inside it. Other plants
that do well in offices are pothos (nee' Scindapsis, now Epipremnum),
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) and spider plant (Chlorophytum sp.).

Spathiphyllums, also known as 'peace lilies' for some unfathomable reason,
are great office plants. They flourish and bloom with limited light, and
are very forgiving of occasional neglect.

Repotting a Spathe Flower / Problem with clay pots
 

"Jenny Rizzo" wrote:

I have a spathe flower (spathiphyllum) in my office that has quadrupled in
size in the past year and a half. It flowered for the first time a few
months ago. Early last fall I re-potted it in a pretty clay pot (it had
been in a plastic pot). Now it seems to require more frequent watering,
possibly because of the porus pot. Also, the plant has lost it's nice shape
and is growing irregularly since the re-potting. Is the irregular growth
typical of this type of plant as it matures? Would you recommend against a
plastic pot for any reason? Also, I'm thinking if I get a plastic pot
that's deep that may help the plant from drooping (of course being dry is
likely the cause of the drooping).

The plant is in my office and even after Friday afternoon waterings, it's
staring to droop by Monday morning. Can't move the plant home because of
the cats (I'm concerned about the flower's irritants to the skin & mucous
membranes).

Thanks in advance for any advice.


Small ones make interesting plants when placed in a glass bulb vase( the one
with the squeezed neck). The roots hang in to the water. You cover the bottom
with coloured stones and put some small golfish in to add interest.

Dennis

Repotting a Spathe Flower / Problem with clay pots
 

On Mon, 03 Mar 2003 05:36:46 GMT, "Jenny Rizzo"
wrote:

Now it seems to require more frequent watering,
possibly because of the porus pot. Also, the plant has lost it's nice shape
and is growing irregularly since the re-potting

Maybe several plants potted together. Unpot and check for air
pockets/soil voids which allow water to run through without soaking in.

Remove all soil from roots and carefully repot. Use something like a
chopstick to get the soil to fill in around the roots.

Plastic pot is ok. If you want to keep the ceramic put it in a deep
saucer and give extra water on Friday, leave the saucer full, the Spath
won't mind

Repotting a Spathe Flower / Problem with clay pots
 

Thank you all who replied! I repotted last Friday, but think I should have
used a larger pot. The new pot I used only had about 3/4 of an inch room to
the outside of the pot, and the soil is now at the top of the pot. I barely
covered all the roots. The plant also isn't standing 'upright'. It's
flopping, although I've been watering it. I'm thinking of getting a pot
about 2 inches wider (and a little deeper) and packing the soil in tight so
that the "stalks" of the plant will stay upright.

What are your thoughts on this strategy?


"Garrapata" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 03 Mar 2003 05:36:46 GMT, "Jenny Rizzo"
wrote:

Now it seems to require more frequent watering,
possibly because of the porus pot. Also, the plant has lost it's nice
shape
and is growing irregularly since the re-potting

Maybe several plants potted together. Unpot and check for air
pockets/soil voids which allow water to run through without soaking in.

Remove all soil from roots and carefully repot. Use something like a
chopstick to get the soil to fill in around the roots.

Plastic pot is ok. If you want to keep the ceramic put it in a deep
saucer and give extra water on Friday, leave the saucer full, the Spath
won't mind