Peace lilies may look pretty but they’re more to them than just their looks. They’re actually tropical plants that come from the rainforest. And apart from looking great they also help out in your home by purifying the air.
But like any living thing they need the right care and attention to really do well.
So in this guide we’ll get into everything you need to know about caring for your peace lily indoors.
Understanding Peace Lilies
What Makes a Peace Lily Unique?
The peace lily isn’t actually a lily at all. It’s from the Araceae family and is a relative of the philodendron.
While it’s known for its white flowers they aren’t really flowers but instead are modified leaves called spathes. They surround a spike called the spadix.
Aside from looking great peace lilies are brilliant at purifying the air. They take things like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. So are a great choice for any room in your home.
Native Habitat
In the wild your peace lily would be growing in the rainforest. This means they like higher humidity, warm temperatures and filtered light. Why this matters is because it shows what peace lilies would like in their natural environment and what we should be aiming to recreate indoors.
With that in mind let’s look at how to grow your peace lily.
The Perfect Spot for Your Peace Lily
How Much Is Too Much Light?
Peace lilies are fairly adaptable but at the same time they have preferences for how much light they like.
- Bright, indirect light: A spot near an east facing window is usually a good place for getting the type of light peace lilies like.
- Avoid direct sun: It can burn their leaves.
- Low-light tolerance: If your home doesn’t get much light then it’s unlikely your peace lily will die. But at the same time don’t expect it to be flowering a lot.
Pro Tip: Rotate your peace lily every few weeks. This will give it even amounts of light all round and so it will grow evenly. Plants will lean towards their source of light so when you rotate it the growth should be balanced. Otherwise you might end up with a leaning lily!
Temperature and Placement
Peace lilies love consistency:
- Ideal range: 65 to 80°F (18 to 27°C).
- Avoid cold drafts: Keep your peace lily away from doors or windows that get opened a lot. Especially during the winter.
- Don’t overheat: If you put your peace lily near a heater it can dry it out.
Boosting Humidity Levels
Being tropical peace lilies really want a lot of moisture:
- Humidifier: Put one near your peace lily during the winter as the air can get dry.
- Pebble tray: Fill a tray with pebbles and water and then put your peace Lily pot on top of it.
- Grouping plants: When plants are put near one another they increase the humidity between them. So if you have multiple plants group them together.
Watering
How to Water a Peace Lily
Over and underwatering can be problem for peace lilies. Getting the balance right is going to be important.
- Check the soil: If the top of the soil, putting your finger about an inch in to it, feels dry then you should be watering.
- Use filtered or distilled water: Chlorine and fluoride in tap water can do damage to your peace lily.
- Water thoroughly: Pour the water in to the pot until you see it draining out from the holes in the bottom.
Signs You’re Overdoing It
- Yellow leaves: Too much water can lead to root rot. This will shows up as yellow leaves.
- Mushy stems: A sign that the roots are waterlogged.
What Happens When It’s Too Dry?
- Drooping leaves: When they’re lacking water peace lilies will droop.
- Crispy leaf edges: If they’ve gone long without watering the leaves can turn brown at the edges.
Feeding Your Peace Lily
When and What to Feed
Peace lilies don’t need a lot of feeding but doing so occasionally can help.
- Frequency: Every 6 to 8 weeks during spring and summer.
- Fertilizer type: A liquid fertilizer. Make sure it’s balanced and that you dilute it to half the recommendation.
Common Feeding Mistakes
- Over fertilization: causes brown tips of the leaves because of a build up of salts in the soil.
- Winter feeding: as peace lilies rest in the cold months you should be stopping any feeding until the spring.
Soil and Repotting
Choosing the Right Soil
Peace lilies like in light soil that drains well.
Ideal mix: Potting soil mixed with peat moss and perlite.
Avoid heavy soils: If the mix is too dense it will hold on to too much water and this could also cause root rot.
Repotting Basics
When to repot: Every 1 to 2 years or when the roots start are clearly too big for e pot (coming out of the holes etc)
How to repot:
- Take your peace lily out of its pot.
- Separate the roots and trim any of them that look damaged or rotting.
- Put the peace lily back in a new pot. The new container should be around 1 to 2 inches bigger than the old one.
Pruning and Maintenance
Keeping It Clean
Dust can build up on the leaves of peace lilies and that can stop them from photosynthesizing properly.
Wipe with a damp cloth: Don’t use a product designed for shining the leaves. They can clog their pores and cause extra problems.
Pruning Dead Leaves
- Cut away yellow or brown leaves: Use sharp scissors and sterilize them first to stop any spread of diseases.
- Cut at the base: Trim as close to the line of soil as you can.
Why Isn’t My Peace Lily Flowering?
If you’re not getting any flowers from your peace lily then it may need:
Better light: Try moving it to an east facing window if it isn’t already in one.
More nutrients: give it more feeds when it’s in the growing season to support the flowers.
Age: If it’s going it may need a year or two to mature before it starts to flower.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Leaf Issues
| Symptom | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowing leaves | Overwatering | Let the soil dry out before you water again. |
| Brown tips | Low humidity or over fertilizing | Increase the humidity or cut back on fertilizer. |
| Drooping leaves | Underwatering or temperature stress | Water thoroughly or move to somewhere with a stable temperature . |
Pest Problems
- Spider mites: Tiny pests that spin webs and do best in drier conditions.
- Mealybugs: White bugs that are found in the folds of the leaves.
How to Combat Pests:
1. Wipe the leaves with a mix of water and soap.
2. Neem oil is a natural pesticide and works well.
Propagation Made Simple
Dividing Peace Lilies
If you want to propagate by division it’s very easy to do:
- Remove the plant from its pot.
- Separate apart the clumps of roots and make sure each have their own leaves and roots.
- Plant the divisions in fresh soil and water well.
Safety Considerations for Pets and Kids
Peace lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals. If you were to eat them they can irritate the mouth and throat. So it’s a good idea to keep your peace lily away from children and pets just to be on the safe side.
Fun Tips and Tricks
Use rainwater: makes for a great alternative to tap water (it’s free!).
Accessorize with pots: you can have some fun using a decorative pot. It’ll look great especially when it’s instead of a more practical plastic container.
Peace lily bouquet: You can cut and display your peace lily flowers in a vase for up to 10 days.
Following all the steps and tips found in this guide will give you the best chance of growing a healthy peace lily. Regardless of whether you have experience of growing one before or this is your first time peace lilies are wonderful plants that you will enjoy growing and caring for.
