The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is one of the most popular indoor plants known for its easy care, lush green leaves, and beautiful white blooms. Native to tropical rainforests, the peace lily is well-adapted as a houseplant and can thrive for years with proper care.
In this comprehensive guide we will cover everything you need to know about successfully growing and caring for peace lilies.
Choosing the Right Potting Mix
Peace lilies need a well-aerated, moisture-retentive potting mix to thrive. The ideal potting mix contains:
- Peat moss to retain moisture
- Perlite or pumice to improve drainage and aeration
- Composted bark for nutrients
You can make your own mix by combining 2 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite, and 1 part compost. Or use a commercial indoor potting soil labeled for tropical plants.
Heavy clay soils or soils that stay wet should be avoided as they can lead to root rot.
Providing the Right Light
Peace lilies grow best in bright, indirect light. Direct sun will scorch the leaves. The best location is near an east, west, or north window where they get gentle morning or evening sun.
In lower light conditions, the plant may become leggy and pale. Moving to a brighter spot can help improve growth and flowering. But make sure to acclimate the plant slowly to avoid leaf scorch.
Watering Properly
Peace lilies like evenly moist soil but dislike sitting in waterlogged soil. Only water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
To check for moisture, stick your finger into the soil or use a moisture probe. If the soil is damp, hold off on watering for a few more days.
When watering, add enough so that it runs out the drainage holes. This ensures the entire root zone gets hydrated.
Yellow, drooping leaves often signal under-watering. Wilting even when wet indicates overwatering. Adjust your schedule accordingly.
Maintaining Humidity
Peace lilies naturally grow in tropical environments with humidity around 60-80%. In dry indoor air, use a humidifier to increase moisture levels.
You can also mist the leaves frequently or place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water. This evaporates and raises humidity around the plant.
Providing the Right Temperature
Ideal temperatures for peace lilies are 65-80°F (18-27°C). Avoid placing them near cold drafts from doors/windows which can damage leaves.
During summer, they appreciate moving to a cooler spot out of direct sun. In winter, keep away from drafty areas and heating vents.
Fertilizing for Growth
While peace lilies don’t require much fertilizer, you can feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. Dilute to half strength to avoid burn.
Excess fertilizer can cause leaf tip burn. If this occurs, flush the soil and avoid fertilizing for a few months until the plant recovers.
Pruning Properly
Trim off any dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at the base of the stalk. Also pinch off spent flower spikes after blooming finishes.
You can prune leggy plants in early spring to shape them. Cut back the tallest stems by a few inches above a node. New growth will emerge from nodes below each cut.
Repotting for Healthy Roots
Repot peace lilies every 2-3 years in spring before growth picks up. A pot 2 inches wider provides enough room for growth.
Carefully remove the rootball and loosen any circling roots. Place in the new pot with fresh soil, water well, and stake if needed while it establishes.
Propagating for More Plants
Propagate new peace lily plants by dividing the rootball when repotting. Each division should have 3-5 leaves and healthy roots.
You can also take 4-6 inch stem tip cuttings and root them in water or a peat-perlite mix. Keep them warm and humid until new roots emerge.
Common Problems and Solutions
Yellow leaves – Usually from too much light. Move to a shadier spot. Can also be from under or overwatering.
Brown leaf tips – Caused by dry air or tap water high in salts/chlorine. Increase humidity and use filtered water.
Drooping leaves – Sign of under-watering. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
Flowers turning green – Due to over-fertilization. Stop fertilizing and flush the soil.
Root rot – Caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Repot in fresh, well-draining soil. Discard badly affected roots.
Bringing the Peace Lily Indoors
The peace lily makes an excellent houseplant. When bringing a new plant home:
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Quarantine new plants away from other houseplants for a few weeks to check for pests.
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Acclimate the plant slowly to indoor conditions. Start in a shady spot and gradually increase light exposure over 7-10 days.
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Use room temperature water when watering to avoid cold water shock.
With the right care, peace lilies can live for many years indoors. Follow these tips and you’ll have a healthy, thriving peace lily that flowers regularly to brighten up your living spaces.
Is the Peace Lily Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Yes, peace lilies are mildly toxic. All parts of the peace lily plant contain calcium oxalate, which may cause stomach and respiratory irritation if ingested in large amounts. Keep peace lilies out of reach of small children and pets who might chew on the plant. Common plants containing calcium oxalate also include philodendrons, daffodils, true lilies, and hyacinths. Read Next
How to Plant, Repot, and Divide Peace Lilies
- Plant or replant your lilies in a container twice as large as the root ball with well-draining, all-purpose potting soil. The soil should be able to hold moisture and dry out slowly over time. Peace lilies don’t like to dry out entirely, but they also won’t do well if kept in soil that’s constantly wet, as this fosters root rot fungus.
- Repotting the plant every few years in the spring is suitable for the peace lily, as it will appreciate the refreshed soil.
- Eventually, the peace lily may grow too large for its pot, at which point it can be divided. Remove the plant from its pot and split it into smaller plants, being sure to leave several leaves per clump. Peace lilies grow from rhizomes, so they can tolerate a bit of tough treatment during dividing.
Top 5 Peace Lily Care Tips You Need to Know
FAQ
Should I cut the brown tips off my peace lily?
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Why cut brown tips?Brown tips indicate stress or damage, and removing them can help the plant focus its energy on new, healthy growth.
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How to cut:Use clean, sharp scissors or pruners to cut the brown tips, making angled cuts to retain the natural tapered point of the leaf.
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When to cut:Remove brown tips as soon as you notice them, especially if they are widespread or severely damaged.
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Other signs of stress:Besides brown tips, other signs of stress in a peace lily include yellowing leaves, wilting, or drooping leaves.
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Addressing the cause:Once you’ve removed the brown tips, address the underlying cause of the stress, such as improper watering, light, or humidity.
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Common causes of brown tips:
- Inadequate humidity: Peace lilies thrive in high humidity and can develop brown tips if the air is too dry.
- Overwatering or underwatering: Both can cause stress and lead to browning.
- Too much or too little light: Peace lilies prefer indirect light, and too much direct sunlight or too little light can cause browning.
- Temperature fluctuations: Sudden changes in temperature can also stress the plant.
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Preventing brown tips:
- Maintain consistent watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, but avoid overwatering.
- Increase humidity: Mist the leaves regularly or place the plant on a pebble tray with water.
- Provide indirect light: Place the plant in a location that receives bright, indirect light.
- Maintain stable temperatures: Keep the plant away from drafts and sudden temperature changes.
How often should I water peace lily?
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Check the soil:Before watering, stick your finger into the soil to check its moisture level.
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Watering frequency:You can water your peace lily every few days, or even once a week, depending on your home’s environment and the plant’s growth rate.
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Watering method:Water thoroughly until water starts to drain from the bottom of the pot, then discard any excess water in the saucer.
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Signs of overwatering:Yellowing leaves, weak-looking or brown flowers, wilting or drooping leaves, and brown leaf tips can indicate overwatering.
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Signs of underwatering:Wilting or drooping leaves are also a sign that your peace lily is thirsty.
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Other care tips:Peace lilies prefer bright, indirect light and do well in average indoor temperatures.
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Humidity:While peace lilies don’t have specific humidity requirements, you can mist the leaves occasionally, especially in dry rooms, to help maintain humidity.
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Fertilizing:Apply a liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season (spring and summer).
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Pruning:Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to promote healthy growth.
Are peace lilies easy to care for?
The ‘peace lily’ is a popular, easy to care for houseplant, and it is easy to see why with the white blooms offset against the long glossy green leaves. These blooms can start in spring and last for several months, slowly fading to green. Not only do these stylish plants look good but they also have the added benefit of cleansing the air.
Are peace lilies a good gift?
Peace lilies also make for a great gift between friends as it provides so much beauty for considerably little maintenance. Casablanca lilies are bred for beauty. These flowers are lovely and large. They are milky white and face outward, shaped like a bowl and feature recurved petals and contrasting red-orange anthers.
Do peace lilies grow indoors?
Colors range from purple to blue and hold a bright yellow center full of fluffy stamens. The foliage is silky and fern-like, and they make ideal choices for the front of borders and rock gardens. Peace Lily plants are mostly planted indoors but can live outdoors in hardiness zones 10 or 11.