The single leaf (Spathiphyllum) is a plant from the South American tropics that is very popular with us as a houseplant. The plant is valued for its large, shiny, dark green leaves, but especially for its mostly white to cream-colored flowers. These are very characteristically shaped and consist of a kind of piston (the actual flower) and a bract, which is supposed to attract pollinating insects. If the flowers, which usually appear twice a year, fail to bloom, this can have various causes.
Why isn't my leaf blooming?
A single leaf may not bloom due to an unsuitable location, insufficient or incorrect fertilization and incorrect irrigation. Place the plant in a brighter location, use flowering plant fertilizer and water with warm, soft water.
Reason 1: Unsuitable location
One possible reason – and probably the most common one – is location. Although the single leaf is unanimously described as tolerant of shade and also thrives in dark locations, it generally does not bloom there. The plant needs sufficient light to form a flower, but it should never be exposed to the blazing sun - after all, it is a rainforest plant that grows in the light shade of jungle trees in its homeland. If you suspect that the lack of flowering is due to a lack of light, it is better to place the single leaf in a brighter place - even a few centimeters can sometimes work wonders.
Reason 2: Insufficient or incorrect fertilization
Incorrect or insufficient fertilization can also result in the single leaf not blooming. As a typical rainforest plant, Spathiphyllum has a high nutrient requirement, although you should not be too wasteful with nitrogen in particular. Nitrogen promotes leaf growth, which in turn occurs at the expense of flowers. As a result, the flowering naturally stops, while the foliage grows lush and green. It is therefore best to fertilize the single leaf with a fertilizer for flowering plants (€14.00 on Amazon) and avoid universal or pot plant fertilizer. Blue grain is also not suitable! However, from time to time a little coffee grounds are great for the leaflet.
Reason 3: Incorrect watering
Another mistake that the single leaf punishes with a lack of flowering is watering with cold tap water. In the rainforest there is neither cold nor hard (i.e. calcareous) water, because the rain that falls there is free of lime (and therefore soft) and warm. So always water the leaflet with warm, soft water.
Tip
An abundant flowering also stimulates this care behavior: Water Spathiphyllum very sparingly for a few weeks in winter and avoid fertilizer. Then water the plant thoroughly and fertilize heavily - after a short time many new flowers will form.
