Peace lilies are one of the best and most popular choices when looking for a houseplant or to add a bit of greenery to your home. They look great and are relatively easy to look after.
But even with being fairly simple to look after you still have to care for them the right way.
So use these straightforward tips to care for your peace lily the right way and make sure it’s healthy and doing well.
Light Requirements
Peace lilies are known for being able to survive and do well even without much light. But they’ll do even better and bloom far more often with moderate, indirect light.
So it’s all about striking the right balance:
What’s the Ideal Spot?
- Best light: Put your peace Lily near a window that has sheer curtains or in a room that gets bright but indirect light. Easy facing windows are often best as they get the gentle morning sun that won’t burn the leaves.
- Signs of too much light: Leaves turning yellow or brown or looking burnt can be a sigh your peace lily is getting too much sun.
- Adjusting to low-light areas: Peace lilies can grow and survive without much light but they will grow slower and flower less. If that’s the case for you then you could use an LED grow light for a few hours every day in the winter.
Watering
Watering peace lilies is often the trickiest part. They can be very sensitive to too much water and that leads to root rot.
This is how to do it the right way:
How Often to Water
- Test the soil: Put your finger around an inch deep into the soil and see if it’s dry. If so then you should go ahead and water.
- Frequency: Usually peace lilies need watering once a week. But it will depend on the humidity and the temperature in your home.
- Room temperature water: Water with room temperature water so the roots don’t get shocked by it being too cold.
Watch Out for Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes you can make. If you notice the leaves wilting even when the soil is damp, yellow leaves or mushy roots then those are big signs you’ve given your peace lily too much.
To stop this from happening make sure your pot has good drainage and lots of holes.
Misting and Humidity
Peace lilies love humidity. If your home is dry then you can mist it to help out. This is especially useful in the winter.
Alternatively you can group your plants together as they will create their own humidity. They boost it for each other.
Or even use a small humidifier near to your peace lily.
Ideal Temperature and Humidity
Peace lilies like the temperature to stay stable. So aim for a range of between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C).
Temperature Tips
- Avoid cold drafts: Keep your peace lily away from heaters, air conditioning and windows with drafts.
- Winter care: If your home gets particularly cold then moving it to somewhere warmer is always going to be a good idea.
Humidity
If you’ve found brown tips on the leaves of your peace lily then that’s a clear sign of low humidity.
Try one of these methods to help:
- Regular misting: Mist the plant’s leaves every couple of days.
- Humidity tray: Put a dish of water with pebbles in it under the plant pot. As the water evaporates it boosts the humidity around the plant.
- Bathroom placement: The steam from showers creates a naturally humid environment.
Choosing the Right Soil and Fertilizing
Peace lilies like soil that is similar to the rainforest where they would have naturally grown. So that is rich, loose and well draining.
Best Soil for Peace Lilies
- Use a balanced potting mix: You want a mix that has organic matter like coconut coir or peat in it as they hold on to moisture but don’t become soggy.
- Avoid heavy garden soil: If the soil is too dense it will suffocate your peace lilies roots.
Fertilizer Needs
Give your peace lily a feed every 4 to 6 weeks during the spring and summer. Use a balanced fertilizer and dilute it to half strength so it’s it not too strong. Don’t bother fertilizing during the fall and winter as peace lilies naturally slow down their growth.
Repotting Your Peace Lily
Peace lilies grow best when they’re slightly root bound. But you’ll aerosol need to move them to a bigger pot every 1 or 2 years so they can grow in to it.
How to Repot
- Choose a new pot: It should be only a few inches bigger than the one it’s currently in.
- Timing: Spring is ideal for reporting as it gives the plant time to get used to it’s new home during its growing season.
- Process: Gently remove the plant, loosen the roots and put it in the new pot with fresh soil. Water thoroughly after repotting.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Every peace lily owner will face some issues at some point. This is how to tackle some of the most common problems:
Yellowing Leaves
Yellow leaves can be a sign of a few issues:
- Overwatering: Check how moist the soil is and if it’s too much then change how often and much you’re watering.
- Lighting: If the plant isn’t getting enough light – move it to a brighter spot.
- Nutrient deficiency: Try using a balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
Brown Tips
Brown tips are usually caused by low humidity or too much fertilizer.
- Increase humidity: Mist the leaves or put a humidity tray nearby.
- Reduce fertilizer: If you’ve been fertilizing regularly ease off a bit.
Leaf Curling or Wilting
If the leaves are wilting but the soil feels damp then overwatering is likely to be the issue. Let the soil dry out before watering again.
Lack of Blooms
If you want to get your peace lily blooming then getting the light right is the most important thing you can do. It’s going to need bright, indirect light to flower.
So make sure they’re getting enough light and use a fertilizer as it will help encourage flowering.
Encouraging Blooms
Although peace lilies don’t flower constantly if you do things right you can get them to flower a few times a year.
Tips for Better Blooms
- Give them more light: Move your peace lily to a spot that gets indirect sunlight.
- Regular feeding: Fertilize with a fertilizer that is known to help with flowering. That will be one that has lots of phosphorus as it stimulates flower production.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Keep Leaves Clean
Having dust on the leaves can stop photosynthesis from happening. Wipe them with a damp cloth every month and it will keep them healthy and looking good.
Pruning and Support
- Pruning: Remove any yellow or dying leaves and spent flowers to keep the plant healthy.
- Support: If you have a taller peace lily it might be leaning. If so then a stake that supports the stem will help.
Beware of Pests
Peace lilies can attract pests like spider mites and mealybugs. If you spot any then wipe the leaves with a solution of soap and water. Or you can use neem oil as it’s a natural way to keep pests away.
Final Thoughts
With the right care and making a few changes to what you’re doing you’ll be able to keep your peace lily happy and healthy.