One of the most popular indoor plants is the peace lily, which is also rather easy to grow. Even though they can be fickle at times, peace lilies are a beautiful addition to any collection of houseplants once you know how to take proper care of them. Here is all the information you require on taking care of a peace lily at home.
About Peace Lilies
Tropical, evergreen peace lilies flourish on the forest floor where they get dappled sunlight, constant humidity, and moisture. The secret to getting your peace lily to be content and healthy is to duplicate these circumstances in the house.
Peace lilies begin to produce white to off-white flowers in the early summer with sufficient light and can bloom all year long with the correct circumstances.
In contrast to bigger outdoor cultivars, which can have leaves as long as 6 feet, most residential kinds of peace lilies only reach a height of 16 inches. Peace lilies can only be grown outside in warm, humid climates because they are not cold-hardy plants (USDA Zones 10, 11).
Is the Peace Lily Plant Poisonous?
Indeed, peace lilies have a low toxicity. Calcium oxalate, a chemical that can irritate the stomach and respiratory tract if consumed in high quantities, is present in all parts of the peace lily plant. Away from young children and animals who might gnaw on the plant, keep peace lilies. The common plants philodendrons, daffodils, real lilies, and hyacinths also contain calcium oxalate.
How to Plant, Transplant, and Divide Peace Lilies
- Use an all-purpose, well-draining potting soil. The soil has to be able to retain moisture and gradually lose moisture over time. Peace lilies don’t want their soil to completely dry out, but they also won’t thrive in perpetually damp soil because that encourages the growth of the fungus that causes root rot.
- The peace lily benefits from repotting every few years in the spring since it will love the new soil.
- The peace lily can be divided if it becomes too big for its pot at any point. Split the plant into smaller plants after removing it from the pot, making sure to leave some leaves on each clump. Since peace lilies are rhizome-based plants, they may withstand some rough handling when being divided.
Can Peace Lilies be Grown in Water?
Yes, peace lilies may flourish in just water; this is why they are frequently marketed in vases devoid of soil. Ideally, a layer of small river stones or a specifically manufactured vase insert should suspend the plant’s base above the water’s surface. This permits the plant’s roots to extend into the water while preventing rot from occurring at the plant’s base and on its leaves.
Lighting
- Keep peace lilies in an area that receives plenty of bright, indirect light. As the plant will be exposed to the intense morning sun, an east-facing window is ideal. A peace lily would do well in a window that faces north.
- Keep peace lilies away from situations where they will receive constant direct sunshine (such as in a south-facing window), as this may cause them to become overly dried out.
Watering
- Consistency is important when it comes to watering. Keep the soil just damp enough to feel, but not drenched. Although peace lilies can endure brief periods of dry soil, if there isn’t enough moisture or humidity, the tips of their leaves will start to turn brown.
- A helpful hint concerning peace lilies is that they will let you know when they are thirsty by drooping their leaves. Check the soil with your finger when the plant starts to look less “perky” than usual. It’s time to water once more if the soil seems dry.
- Because fluoride, a chemical frequently found in tap water, can result in dark leaf tips, peace lilies are delicate to its presence. If feasible, use filtered water that is at room temperature.
Fertilizing
- Since peace lilies don’t consume a lot, fertilize them infrequently. Starting in late winter, fertilize with a balanced houseplant fertilizer approximately every six weeks to promote growth in the spring and summer.
Temperature
- Since peace lilies are tropical plants, keep them away from chilly windows and in temps over 60F (16C). They thrive in temperatures over 70°F (21C).
Other Care
- Peace lilies’ broad leaves have a tendency to attract a lot of dust within the house. Periodically give them a light wipe down with a moist paper towel; a dense layer of dust can prevent photosynthesis.
How to Get Peace Lilies to Flower
- If no blooms are blooming, the plant is most likely not receiving enough light. Low light is highly accommodating to peace lilies, but “low light doesn’t mean no light! Move the plant to a more sunny spot where it will receive bright, indirect light for at least a few hours each day in order to promote flowering.
- Improper fertilizing might also result in green flowers, flowers that appear feeble, or a lack of flowers in general. Reduce fertilization if your blossoms are green; the plant might be receiving too much nitrogen. Try switching to a fertilizer designed for flowering plants if your flowers appear feeble or are lacking. This kind of fertilizer will have more phosphorus, which is necessary for plants to bloom.
Despite their increasing popularity, specialty peace lilies are not always easy to find at most garden centers. It’s possible that ordering them online will be more successful.
How frequently should a peace lily houseplant be watered?
An attractive bar cart with an orchid top sits next to a potted peace lily plant in this living room’s dark corner. Botanical prints in bamboo-style frames on the wall complete the lush appearance.
Temperature
The ideal temperature range for peace lilies is between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your plant away from chilly drafts and other extreme temperature fluctuations. So perhaps don’t set yours up next to a door that leads out into the chilly winter air.
Fertilizing
Use an organic houseplant fertilizer in the spring and summer to encourage flowering. Remember that peace lilies are delicate to chemical fertilizers, thus the best choices are organic ones.
Watering
Peace lilies prefer to receive a lot of water all at once, but they also want time to dry out afterward. When the plant is thirsty, it may droop a little to let you know. If you keep track of when it typically begins to sag, you can arrange to water one day in advance. You can keep your peace lily moist in the summer by watering it roughly once a week and misting the leaves with water. Don’t stop watering and misting your plant if it appears to be fully wilting. Give it time to recover. Before watering the plant, let a container of water stand overnight if your water is chlorinated heavily.
Drainage
Because peace lilies are prone to root rot, it’s crucial to give the plant enough time to dry out in between waterings and to ensure that the container it resides in drains properly. Select a container with drainage holes, then set a saucer underneath to catch any spilled water. Check the roots to make sure they are firm and light-colored rather than damp if your plant begins to wilt. If they’re drenched, you’re either overwatering them or the soil can’t drain properly.
Where in my home should I put a peace lily?
Peace lilies prefer indirect light and shade, which makes indoor settings the best for them. Even offices without windows or fluorescent lighting have been shown to accommodate them successfully! The finest windows for peace lilies typically face south or west because they provide the ideal balance of light.
Are peace lilies sun-required?
Low to bright, indirect sunlight is suitable for growing peace lilies. They are the ideal plant to add color to a dim space or nook. Their leaves may burn and scorch under prolonged exposure to direct sunshine, which can also dry up their blossoms.
Water
Your Peace Lily appreciates weekly waterings, but it will droop its leaves to let you know when it needs water. Feel free to water your plant merely twice a month during the winter.
How long does a peace lily last indoors?
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum sp.) are regarded for their attractive appearance, simplicity of development, and air-purifying properties. On average, peace lilies live three to five years.
Does peace lily require top or bottom watering?
Setting a peace lily in the sink is the ideal approach to water it. Water should be applied carefully to the soil until it drops through the pot’s bottom. Returning the plant to its drainage saucer after letting it completely drain.
Never allow the plant to sit in water since disease brought on by too much moisture is the main cause of houseplant demise. Always choose too little water over too much.
Although peace lilies can tolerate some neglect, if the soil is allowed to become completely dry, the plant may grow depressed and droopy. A good watering, though, will almost always help peace lilies recover.
Can peace lilies grow on coffee grounds?
Since peace lilies are among the most adaptable indoor plants, you might consider utilizing less typical maintenance methods, including coffee grinds. Coffee grounds are beneficial for indoor plants, especially when used as fertilizer, as you may have ever heard. Is it indeed the case with peace lilies?
Can peace lilies grow on coffee grounds? Yes, using coffee grinds on your peace lilies can be beneficial. Due to their high nutrient content, they are used mostly as fertilizer. The grounds are also acidic, which lowers the pH of your soil. Coffee grinds in the potting soil can deter indoor animals like cats and assist peace lilies’ leaves stop yellowing.