Spathiphyllum, known in this country as a single leaf or, more rarely, a leaf flag, is a popular houseplant for shady locations. This very distinctive plant with its dark green, shiny leaves and striking flowers comes from the tropical rainforests of South America, where it thrives in the light shade of the large jungle giants. So that the leaflet feels comfortable in your home, you should create similar conditions there with consistently warm temperatures and high humidity.
Why does my leaf have brown leaves?
Brown leaves or leaf tips on the single leaf can be due to the air in the room being too dry, a location that is too sunny or over-fertilization. This can be remedied by spraying the plant, providing heat protection and adjusting fertilization and location.
Single leaf has brown leaf tips or brown leaves
If your leaflet shows brown leaf tips or even completely brown leaves, the room air is usually too dry to blame. Especially in winter, when the windows are only opened briefly and the heating is constantly running, it is often too dry for the tropical plant. Ensure higher humidity by spraying the single leaf regularly and briefly ventilating it several times a day. In summer it is of course an advantage if the windows are open all day. Incidentally, brown leaf tips are sometimes associated with an infestation by the red spider orcaused by spider mites, which prefer dry air and high temperatures.
Single leaf has brown spots or spots on the leaves
However, if the single leaf has brown spots on the leaves, this often indicates over-fertilization. In this case, repot the plant in fresh substrate and fertilize less frequently. To ensure a sufficient supply of nutrients, fertilization with liquid complete fertilizer (€18.00 on Amazon) at intervals of around two weeks is sufficient - but only during the growing season, because the single leaf also needs a break during the winter.
Tip
Furthermore, brown leaves are often an indication of a location that is too sunny - place the plant more in the (light) shade, then it will feel more comfortable.
