Your Happiness Lily likes to be watered once a week, but it will let you know when it needs water by drooping its leaves. During the winter, you can water your plant only once every two weeks.
How much water do peace lilies need?
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are tropical plants that are adapted to growing in damp soil with high levels of humidity in brilliant indirect light or dappled shade in their native Columbia (rather then direct sun).
Because peace lilies are suited to tropical climates with regular precipitation, they are prone to wilting in our houses due to dry air and drowning.
They can also wilt and turn yellow as a result of overwatering or, more commonly, resting in stagnant water.
It’s critical to mimic the watering conditions of the native ecosystem when growing peace lilies in your house.
Peace lilies like their soil to be evenly moist, therefore they should be watered about once a week with a good soak. To avoid overwatering and obtain the best moisture balance, the soil’s surface should begin to feel somewhat dry in between watering sessions.
While peace lilies thrive in homes with room temperatures of 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 23°C) during the day and at least 50°F (10°C) at night, the air in our homes is frequently too dry for them to thrive.
Air conditioning, forced air, and conventional currents from heat sources can worsen dy air by sucking moisture from the leaves and drying out pots more quickly.
Mist the leaves of your peace lily at least once a week, if not more frequently, to create a humid microclimate that mimics the humid conditions of its native rainforest home.
Your peace lily will not dry out since the mist promotes humidity and decreases water loss from the leaves.
If the peace lily is not sprayed on a regular basis in particularly dry homes, the edges of the leaves brown and the peace lily droops.
When it comes to watering peace lilies, there are a few other things to consider:
- The flow of air in and out of your home (draughts, open windows, air conditioning can all sap moisture from leaves).
Feel the soil to an inch depth to determine how often to water your peace lily based on your individual conditions.
When the top inch of the soil feels damp but the surface of the soil feels somewhat dry to the touch, it’s time to water.
In most cases, one a week is sufficient, but you should tailor the frequency of watering peace lilies to your specific circumstances to avoid the leaves turning yellow and drooping due to dehydration or overwatering.
How to Tell Whether your Peace Lily is Under Watered or Over Watered
Surprisingly, the symptoms of both a drought-stressed or under-watered peace lily and an over-watered peace lily are nearly identical:
- The most visible and pronounced impact of drought stress and overwatering is drooping leaves.
Feel the dirt at the bottom of the pot via the drainage hole to determine whether your peace lily is suffering from underwatering or overwatering.
If the soil is marshy or damp, overwatering is the issue; however, if the soil is rather dry, underwatering and drought stress are the culprits.
The peace lily will most certainly recover if you adjust your watering correctly, as it is a fairly robust plant. However, overwatering usually causes more harm than underwatering. (For more information and remedies, see my article on how to resuscitate a fading peace lily.)
Important Peace Lily Watering Tips
The peace lily is a tropical plant that grows well in hot weather. The rain in Columbia is usually significantly warmer than the tap water in your house.
When watered with cold water, the roots of the peace lily can experience some moderate shock because they are sensitive to low temperatures.
Before watering, it’s better to let the water in its container until it reaches about room temperature.
Fluoride and chlorine in the water can cause the tips of the leaves to turn brown and brittle, making peace lilies vulnerable. If you let the water out overnight before watering your peace lily, the chlorine will evaporate.
Fluoride can accumulate and harm the peace lily, however using filtered water or rainwater to water your peace lily on a regular basis can help to counteract these effects.
How Often to Water a Peace Lily in Winter
However, because of the fewer hours of light and lower intensity of light, growth slows down during the winter (peace lilies should grow in bright indirect light).
Cooler average temperatures, which minimize evaporation and water loss from the leaves, can help to reduce water usage.
However, due to artificial sources of heat, the temperature indoors can change more in the winter, causing the plant to dry out considerably faster than typical.
As a result, you may need to water and mist spray the peace lily more frequently in the winter to combat the drying effects of forced air and radiator heat.
Feel the top inch of soil to check for moisture and increase watering if the peace lily appears to be drying out too rapidly.
The leaves of the peace lily will droop if they are too dry. After a period of drought stress and dry soil, a good soak helps to revitalize the plant.
Where should I place a peace lily in my house?
Peace lilies prefer indirect light and shade, so they’re perfect for indoor gardens. They’ve even been found to thrive in workplaces with no windows and fluorescent lighting! The finest windows for peace lilies are those that face south or west and provide the perfect amount of light. If it gets too much light, your peace lily will notify you: Yellow leaves suggest that there is too much light, while brown streaks show that the leaves have been scorched by direct sunshine. If your peace lily’s leaves show these indicators, it’s time to move it.
Do peace lilies need full sun?
Peace lilies grow in shade or partial shade, making them an excellent choice for low-light areas. They can also withstand fluorescent lighting, so if you need a plant to brighten up your office desk, the peace lily is a fantastic choice.
How long do peace lilies live indoors?
Even if that someone is a plant, predicting how long they will live is difficult. You can, however, predict whether or not a plant will live long enough to pay off your investment. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum sp.) are regarded for their attractiveness, ease of growth, and capacity to purify the air. Peace lilies survive for three to five years on average.
Do peace lilies need humidity?
Peace lilies thrive in humid environments. If you use too little, the margins and tips of the leaves may turn brown. Plants thrive in dry interior air when placed on a tray of moistened pebbles or near a humidifier. If you don’t water the peace lily properly, it will forgive you.
How do I get my peace lily to flower?
- Consistency is crucial when it comes to watering. Maintain a constant moisture level in the soil while avoiding overwatering. Peace lilies can survive dry soil for short periods of time, but if left alone for too long, their leaves will turn brown.
- Chemicals usually present in tap water, such as fluoride, are toxic to peace lilies and can cause brown leaf tips. If feasible, use filtered, room-temperature water.
- Peace lilies thrive in humid environments. Misting the plant’s leaves or setting it on a moistened tray of gravel will assist to boost humidity around it.
- Because peace lilies aren’t heavy feeders, fertilize only once in a while. Starting in late winter, fertilize every 6 weeks or so with a balanced houseplant fertilizer to support spring and summer growth.
- Because peace lilies are a tropical plant, keep them away from drafty windows and at temperatures over 60°F (16°C). They thrive in temperatures over 70°F (21°C).
- Keep these plants in a bright, well-lit spot, away from direct afternoon sunshine. An east-facing window is great since it will receive the beautiful morning sun while avoiding the harsh midday rays.
How to Get Peace Lilies to Flower
- If the plant isn’t blooming, it’s most likely because it isn’t getting enough light. Low light tolerance is high in peace lilies, but low light does not mean no light! Move the plant to a brighter place where it will receive bright, indirect light to enhance flowering.
- Improper fertilization might result in green flowers, weak-looking flowers, or a general absence of flowers. Reduce the amount of fertilizer applied to green blooms. If your flowers are poor or there aren’t any, consider using a fertilizer designed for blooming plants. This fertilizer will have a higher phosphorus content, which plants require for blooming.
Can I put my peace lily outside in the summer?
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) is a tropical plant recognized for its lovely foliage and fascinating, odd flowers, despite the fact that its name includes the word lily. Its botanical name, also known as white anthurium or white sails, means “leaf spathe” in Greek, referring to the white spathe, or modified leaf, that makes up part of its blossom. Although peace lilies are commonly planted as houseplants, they also thrive in warm climates or during the hot summer months in cooler climates.