There are few houseplants that are as popular the peace lily. It’s relatively easy to grow and care for and on top of that it has lovely white blooms that stand out and look great.
But sometimes those white flowers fade away and won’t come back. Which is a blow as they’re a big part of having a peace lily.
Getting your peace lily to bloom again might seem tricky. But all isn’t lost – you can revive a struggling peace lily with the right care and a few simple changes.
So I’m going to go through seven ways to get your peace lily to flower again that are easy to do and will bring yours back to life.
1. Adjust Lighting: Bright, Indirect Sunlight is Key
Probaby the most common error a lot of people make with their peace lily is putting it somewhere that doesn’t get enough light. They can and do survivor in low light what they really want is bright and indirect light.
The bright light actually triggers flowering to start. If it doesn’t get it your peace lily will spend all it’s gone on producing leaves, not flowers.
- Putting your peace lily near an east facing window is a good move. It will get 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight there.
- Direct sunlight should be so coded though as it can burn the leaves.
- If you can only put your peace lily in a south or west facing window then you might need to use a sheer curtain to soften the light.
So if your peace lily is in a corner without any light do all you can to move it somewhere brighter. You’ll likely see an improvement in its overall health and, hopefully, you’ll start getting the white flowers we all love.
2. Water Consistently but Avoid Overwatering
Peace lilies don’t like being under or overwatered. Both will stress the plant and stop them from flowering.
You need to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
- The water needs to drain completely from the pot otherwise there’s a good chance you’ll get root rot.
- Too cold water could shock the roots so use lukewarm water if you can.
Peace lilies also love humidity. So misting them or putting your peace lilies pot on a tray with pebbles in and filled with water can keep it moist and the right humidity.
3. Maintain Ideal Temperature and Humidity Levels
Temperature plays a big role in getting peace lilies to flower. They grow vest between 65°F and 85°F. If it’s too cold then they’ll sulk. Too hot and they start to struggle.
So you need to get it just right. That means if you’ve had your peace lily near a drafty window or heating vent it may be getting so stressed by the temperatures that it isn’t blooming.
- Keep the plant away from direct drafts or air conditioning units.
- Make sure the temperature doesn’t drop below 55°F.
- Keep the humidity above 50% as this is what it would have grown in when in it’s natural habitat (the rainforest).
4. Feed Your Peace Lily – But Not Too Much!
If you’ve been skipping fertilizing your peave lily, and many people do, that’s a problem. A lot of us think they don’t need it, and whole they’re light feeders they still benefit from a weak fertilizer solution during their growing season (spring and summer).
- Use a balanced fertilizer. Water soluble is best. A 20-20-20 mix works well.
- Only use half the recommended strength. Give it to your peace lily every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season.
- Stop feeding during winter when your peace lily is dormant.
Too much fertilizer is equally a problem through. If you give a peace lily too much it can burn the roots and stop it from flowering.
5. Repot If the Plant Becomes Root Bound
Peace lilies can become root bound over time. If you’re not sure what that means it’s when the roots fill up the pot they’re in.
If your peace lily has been in the same pot for several years it may be time to repot it.
- Roots may be poking out of the drainage holes.
- Water runs through the pot too quickly so the soil isn’t absorbing it.
- The plant isn’t growing or flowering even when you’re caring for it properly.
When repotting choose a pot that is one size larger than the current one your peace lily is in. And go for a potting mix that is known to drain well. Adding perlite or orchid bark to the soil mix can make the air flow better.
6. Remove Spent Blooms and Prune Regularly
Deadheading works because it means your peace lily doesn’t waste energy on old flowers and instead focuses on growing new ones.
- Cut spent flowers at the base once they begin to fade.
- Any yellowing or brown leaves should be removed so the plant redirects it’s energy away from them and towards flowering.
Pruning will also help the plant to stay healthy and look good. And getting your peace lily to put it’s energy into creating new flowers rather than holding onto the old, wilting ones can only be good for you and the plant.
7. Be Patient: Let the Plant Mature
If your peace lily is relatively young it could be as simple as it being too young to bloom. Peace lilies take about 12 to 15 months to reach full maturity and begin producing flowers.
- If your plant was blooming when you bought it the growers sometimes force it to grow by using gibberellic acid.
- After the first bloom faded away it can take another year or two before you get flowers again.
While you’re waiting focus on caring for your peace lily the right way. Give it the right light, water, feed it properly and prune it so that it’s in the best condition to flower when it’s ready. After that you’ve just got to be patient.
Troubleshooting Table
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowing leaves | Overwatering or lack of nutrients | Let the topsoil dry out between waterings and apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season. |
| No blooms | Insufficient light or immature plant | Move to a brighter spot with indirect light. Be sure the plant is mature enough to bloom. |
| Browning leaf tips | Low humidity or underwatering | Increase humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier and water regularly. |
| Root rot | Waterlogged soil | Repot in fresh soil that drains well and reduce how often your water it. |
Final Thoughts
As you can see, getting your peace lily to bloom again isn’t all that difficult. Yes, you’ve got to get the balance of light, water and temperature right. And then be patient.
But peace lilies are adaptable and will react to the efforts you put in. Especially if you’re giving it the conditions it likes.
Just tweak your routine and you’ll soon have a thriving and blooming peace lily.