If your peace lily is giving you lots of green leaves but won’t bloom, well that’s something that happens to a lot of us. It’s a common issue that lots of peace lily owners have to deal with.
The honest truth is that getting a peace lily to flower can sometimes be a challenge.
So this guide will take you through some of the main reasons why your Peace Lily may not be giving you flowers and how you can help it to do so.
1. Lack of Proper Light
Peace Lilies like bright, indirect light. If they are sitting in a spot that’s not getting enough light they might still look healthy but won’t produce flowers.
It’s probably the main reason for peace lilies not flowering. They use light as a signal to start the flooring process. Is if they don’t get that light they’ll just focus on growing their leaves.
So hr simple fix for this to put your peace Lily somewhere it will get enough bright and filtered light for most of the day. Near an east or north facing window is usually perfect.
If you don’t have access to much natural light then you can use something like a grow light. But remember that peace lilies are sensitive to direct sunlight and their leaves can get burnt. So make sure any light is indirect or filtered by a sheer curtain.
2. Not Enough Nutrients
A lack of nutrients is another common reason for a lack of flowers. Peace lilies need the right balance of fertilizer to really get them blooming. Specifically, a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus as it can help boost the production of flowers as phosphorus is one of the main parts of flower and fruit development.
Use a houseplant fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks during the spring and summer. Try looking for a fertilizer that has a higher middle number in the N-P-K ratio (e.g., 10-30-10) as it will help with the flowering.
Remember though overfertilizing can be as big a problem as under doing it. Too much nitrogen, as an example, will give your peace lily a lot of lovely green leaves but stop it from flowering.
Follow the recommended dosage that is on the packaging but also think about diluting the solution to half the strength. And using a soil tester kit can help you to figure out if the plant is getting enough nutrients from the soil or if it’s imbalanced.
3. Wrong Watering Routine
Watering is also a big problem when it comes to a lack of flowers on your peace lily. They need soil that is consistently moist but they don’t like being waterlogged.
If you’re leaving your peace lily and it’s getting dry for too long this will stress it. It will then put all its energy into surviving rather than flowering.
But if you leave it to sit in waterlogged soil it can also cause root rot. This will stop it from flowering too and can even eventually kill the plant.
The right way to water your peace lily is to check and see if the top inch of the soil it’s in is dry. If so then you know it’s the right time time. When you do water do it thoroughly enough that the water drains out of the bottom of the pot.
The pot it’s in needs to have good drainage holes so that you don’t get stagnant water. Filtered, room temperature water is best as peace lilies can be sensitive to the likes of chlorine that is found in tap water.
If your peace lily starts drooping that’s a big sign it needs some water. But it’s best to do the watering before it gets to this point.
4. Temperature and Humidity Issues
The humidity and temperate also play a big role in the blooming of your peace lily. They are tropical plants and do best in warm and humid conditions.
The perfect temperature is between 65 to 85°F (18 to 29°C). Temperatures below 65°F (18°C) will make peace lilies go dormant and stop them from blooming.
Along with warmth peace lilies love the humidity. If the air in your home is dry, especially in the winter when you’re using the heating, it can stop them flowering.
To increase the humidity mist your plant regularly with a spray bottle. You can also use a humidity tray (a shallow tray that’s filled with pebbles and water) under the pot.
A humidifier is also a great way to keep your peace lily happy. You can get simple ones that aren’t particularly expensive.
A cheaper way to achieve the same thing is by grouping your peace lily other plants as together they keep the humidity high.
5. The Plant Is Too Young
If your peace lily is still quite young it could be something as simple as not being ready to bloom yet. They need time to mature and younger plants might not have got the energy reverses that are needed to flower.
Generally peace lilies need to be at least a year old before they start flowering. If yours isn’t there yet then you can help it to be in the best shape when it does reach that age. Give it the right light, watering, nutrients etc. and you’ll be giving it the best chance to flower when it’s old enough.
6. Root Bound Conditions
If your peace lily has been in the same pot for a while now it could have become root bound. This means the roots have filled up the pot and there’s no room for nutrients to be absorbed or for any more growth, which will stop it from flowering.
One of the symptoms of a root bound peace lily is that it dries out more quickly. This is because the roots have absorbed most of the available soil.
Checking to see if your peace lily is root bound is easy: take the plant out of its pot and look at the roots. If they’re wrapping around the soil and clearly densely packed you know it’s the right time to repot it.
Make sure you increase the size of your pot so it’s bigger than the ones it’s currently in. 1 to 2 inches bigger in diameter is best.
A potting mix that drains well is important and make sure you’re careful with the roots. Repotting will give the plant the space it needs to really do well, and this will help stimulate flowering.
7. Natural Bloom Cycle
Peace lilies have a natural blooming cycle that is inflicted by how much light it gets. They’ll usually bloom when there is more daylight, so the spring and summer.
It it’s not flowering it could be that it’s the off season. Unlike some plants that flower all year round peace lilies have certain times when they are going to produce more blooms.
You can try and encourage it by copying the natural conditions that would prompt a peace lily to bloom. So lots of consistent light, especially in the winter when there is going to be less natural light.
A grow light in this scenario works well. But don’t overdo it and make sure you’re giving your peace lily rest periods too, as you can stress it with too much.
Tips to Encourage Blooms
Move to a Brighter Spot: Put your Peace Lily in a spot with bright, indirect light. Use the grow light just mentioned if it’s not getting enough natural light.
Fertilize Correctly: A fertilizer that has lots of phosphorous is going to help. Use it during the growing season and make sure your peace lily doesn’t get too much nitrogen.
Water Consistently: Water when you can feel the soil is dry. Keep it moist. Make sure the pot has good drainage so root rot doesn’t develop.
Increase Humidity: Using a humidifier or misting your peace lily will help with the humidity. This is especially true in the winter when the air is dry.
Repot When Needed: If it’s become root bound repot it quickly. A bigger pot is key here. The roots will then have space to grow which will help with flowering.
Be Patient: Young plants will take time to flower. Just keep them healthy and give your peace lily the right conditions and with patience it will eventually flower.
If you do everything found here and are willing to be patient your peace lily will give you those lovely white flowers you want. Keep experimenting with light, water and nutrients until you find the perfect conditions for your peace lily.