Spathiphyllum 'Vivaldi'

Breeding and selection history of Spathiphyllum 'Vivaldi'

Chris van der Voort bred ‘Vivaldi’ in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands, in a controlled breeding programme using two unidentified proprietary Spathiphyllum selections and selected the cultivar in 1993.

How to care for Spathiphyllum 'Vivaldi'

• Flowering: Remove spent flower stalks and keep the plant growing steadily. Flowering naturally varies over time.
• Light: Give ‘Vivaldi’ bright indirect light for the best chance of regular flowering. Medium indirect light is acceptable, but deep shade can reduce new flowers.
• Humidity: Moderate to high humidity helps reduce brown leaf tips and supports healthy flower stalks; aim for 50–60%. Keep it away from heat sources that dry the air.
• Water: Keep the mix evenly moist. Water once the upper mix starts to dry, then let excess water drain thoroughly.
• Potting mix: Use an airy mix that holds some moisture and drains well. Spathiphyllum roots can rot if the mix stays waterlogged for long periods.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures around 18–24 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 12 °C. Avoid cold draughts and rapid temperature changes that can slow growth.
• Feeding: Feed about monthly while the plant is producing new leaves and flower stalks, at moderate strength on a balanced houseplant fertiliser.
• Grooming: Wipe dust from the dark foliage and remove fully yellow leaves at the base with clean scissors.
• Repotting: Use a pot only slightly larger when roots are crowded. If the old mix has broken down while the roots still have space, replace the mix in the current pot.
• Propagation: Split a well-established clump into rooted pieces, making sure each piece has an active shoot.

Problems and solutions for Spathiphyllum 'Vivaldi'

• Flowering drops off: First check whether the plant is still making new leaves and receiving enough indirect light. Move it to a brighter filtered position before increasing fertiliser.
• Leaves droop: Dry mix can cause a quick wilt, but wet mix with the same symptom points to root stress. Always check moisture before adding water.
• Yellowing spreads through the clump: If the mix stays wet for too long or the light is too low, yellowing can spread through the clump. Improve drainage and compare the pattern with the yellow-leaf guide.
• Roots turn dark or soft: Cut away rotten roots with clean, disinfected tools, discard them and repot into fresh airy mix. The root-rot guide covers the full recovery steps.
• White spathes or new leaves become scarred: Check carefully for thrips, mites and mealybugs. Isolate a confirmed infestation and repeat a treatment labelled for that pest at the interval stated on the label. If you are not sure which pest is present, send clear photos to Foliage Factory before treating.

Spathiphyllum ‘Vivaldi’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

What does Spathiphyllum mean, and who first published it?

Spathiphyllum arose from Greek spathē, meaning a blade or spathe, and phyllon, leaf.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Spathiphyllum in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 22.