Get a Peace Lily and not sure how to care for it? This post is full of 5+ tips on how to care for and how often you water peace lily plants. You should find everything you need to have happy healthy plants.
What Is Peace Lily Plant?
The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) is one of the most popular indoor plants known for its attractive foliage and distinctive white flowers, which are actually a special leaf bract that surrounds the plant’s true flowers.
These plants are appreciated for their ability to thrive in low-light conditions and for their air-purifying qualities, as they are capable of absorbing potentially harmful toxins from the environment.
Characteristics of Peace Lily plants include:
- Foliage: They have glossy, dark green leaves that can make a striking contrast with their white blooms.
- Flowers: The white, spathe-like bracts look like flowers but are actually leaf bracts that surround a spadix, a spike of small flowers. These blooms can appear intermittently throughout the year if the plant is well-cared for.
- Size: Depending on the variety, Peace Lilies can range in size from compact plants suitable for desktops to larger varieties that can reach over 3 feet in height.
- Air Purification: Peace Lilies are among the plants studied for their ability to remove air pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia, making them a healthy addition to indoor spaces.
Despite its name, the Peace Lily is not a true lily (Lilium spp.) and is not as toxic as true lilies, which can be extremely harmful, especially to cats.
However, it is still considered toxic to pets and humans if ingested due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation to the mouth, throat, and stomach.
Comprehensive Guide On How to Care for a Peace Lily Plant:
If you’re trying to find the perfect houseplant for your home, look no further than the peace lily! Not only do they look wonderful and come in a variety of different sizes, but they’re also amazingly easy to care for!
Just learn these tips on How to Care for and how often you water peace lily plants and your lily will flourish for years to come!
Light:
Peace lilies thrive under indirect light. That doesn’t mean low light, it just means that they prefer not to be pressed right against your brightest window for indirect sunlight.
But anywhere else in a decently lit room is likely to be a good place for your peace lily. In fact, peace lilies can even thrive in a room with only fluorescent lights as their light source!
Water:
The number one thing you need to learn about how to care for a potted peace lily is how to water it. Watering frequency for peace lily plants depends on various factors such as the environment, pot size, and the plant’s growth stage.
Generally, peace lilies prefer consistently moist soil but not waterlogged conditions. If you find yourself having to water them all the time, that means they need different soil and/or a different pot.
Ideally, your peace lily should be planted in soil that drains well yet allows slightly moist soil and in a decently large enough container that the soil can hold water for a couple of days.
Watering once a week is usually enough water with good soil and a proper pot. However, this can vary based on room temperature, humidity levels, and light exposure. Peace lilies in brighter light may need more frequent watering than those in low light.
Water Drainage & Checking:
You do want to make sure you have drainage holes in the pot to allow excess water to drain off. If too much water is left to sit it will raise the soil moisture and promote issues. When you have the right soil and pot you will be able to get watering routine and even have a set schedule for watering.
Before watering, check the top inch of soil. If the plant’s soil feels dry, it’s time to water. If the top soil still feels moist, you can wait a few more days. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so it’s crucial not to let the plant sit in water.
If you are worried about over-watering, you may want to consider planting it in a self-watering pot. These types of pots are really the best way to water peace lilies. That is because they pull water from the bottom of the pot. So it only gives water to the base of the plant.
In the growing season (spring and summer), your peace lily may need more frequent watering as it’s actively growing. In the fall and winter, growth slows down, and you can reduce watering frequency.
Food:
Peace lilies like fertilizer, but not all the time. In general, wait a month and a half after fertilizing before fertilizing again. A liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer works well.
If your peace lily is being kept in an area without much light (and as a result is growing slowly), you only need to fertilize every 3 months.
If you’re not that into fertilizing but still want to make sure you get great peace lily flowers, at least fertilize your plant during the spring and summer growing season.
Temperature:
Peace lilies prefer to be at average room temperatures, which is great because that’s usually the temperature your house is at! However, if you want to best care for a peace lily you need to make sure not to place your lily near anything that will make it hotter.
Such as a heater, fireplace, or oven or by anything that will make it cold, like a drafty door or window. Also, avoid placing your plant by any cold supply vents.
Humidity:
Lastly, to perfectly care for a peace lily, you should remember that they are tropical plants and you should recreate the humidity of its native tropical environment.
You can easily do this by putting a humidifier in the same room, or by just misting the plant’s leaves every so often. Alternatively, you can place a pebble tray filled with water beneath the plant pot can help maintain a higher humidity level.
You may also want to get several peace lilies or other high humidity plants and pot them all together. Group potting like this creates a miniature sort of rainforest environment. That helps all the plants better maintain their moisture levels.
So as you can see, peace lilies make wonderfully low-maintenance houseplants! If you take good care of your plant, it could live 5 years, or more (though 3-5 is the average).
If you have pets, remember to keep them away from your peace lily. While the peace lily is not the Easter lily, eating a peace lily can still make your pet very sick.
Luckily most pets won’t really eat a peace lily as the plant irritates their mouth right away. So they usually stop. But still, some pets are stubborn and will keep at it anyway, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Interestingly enough, the oxalates that can make your pet sick can also irritate your skin. When you handle the plant (like while you’re repotting it). So wear gardening gloves while dealing with your lily, and if it does irritate your skin, wash the area with soap and water.
Have you ever cared for an indoor lily before?
If you found this helpful, here are a few other posts to check out.
- How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant
- How To Help Plants Hit By Frost & Ways To Prepare Plants For Frost Coming
- 7 Reasons to Plant a Windowsill Garden
- How To Grow A Pineapple Plant
Frequently Asked Peace Lily Care Questions:
Q: Can I put my peace lily outdoors?
A: Short answer, Yes.
It does depend on the area you are in. They can be put outdoors in the summer if you are not in a super dry area. However, with doing so there are a few things to watch out for.
You will need to make sure you check the soil more often as it can dry soil faster outdoors. You will also want to make sure not to put them in super hot direct sunlight. When first putting them out, you should place them in a shady spot for the first few days.
Q: Should a Peace lily be pruned of brown tips or damaged leaves?
A: Yes. When you have leaves that become damaged or brown leaf tips they should be pruned so as not to take energy from the plant.
If you notice them happening often, it may be time to repot to a new container or even divide the plant as it may be from overcrowding in the pot.
Splitting Plant Question:
Q: Can a peace lily be separated into different plants?
A: Yes, a peace lily plant can be divided.
To do so, you just want to carefully remove it from the pot. Then try and find small areas where it looks like the foliage is attaching to root sections and pull them apart trying to do as little damage as you can.
If the plant has a large root ball is really root bound (roots really tangled together wrapping around the dirt edge) you may need to use a knife to help cut the roots.
After you have them apart, plant each one in a new pot that is big enough to allow it to grow a little. It may take on a little plant shock, but with care, it will bounce right back.
Anonymous says
Can you put a Peace Lily outside during the summer?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
It depends on the area you are in. They can be put outdoors in the summer if you are not in a super dry area. However, with doing so there are a few things to watch out for. You will need to make sure you check the soil more often as it can dry out faster outdoors. You will also want to make sure not to put them in super hot direct sunlight. They can take a little direct sun in the mornings or evenings when it is cooler but the hottest part of the day the direct sun will burn them.
Verna says
I have had mine for a year. It has beautiful foliage, but no flowers . What am I doing wrong ?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Sorry to hear that Verna. Are you following the tips in this post for lighting, soil, watering and fertilizing? Also if you got it as a super small plant it can take a year or a little longer before you see the first bloom. They like to bloom spring or early summer so if you are giving it what it needs then you should be seeing blooms soon.
Susan says
Hi, I just received a huge piece plant peace Lily from a lady who had it for a year (her husband died and she received it at the funeral). Can I expect it to only live a little while? Also, the leaves have a little brown edge on them. Is there anything I can do to help that?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hi Susan, peace lily plants are such a pretty plant and I really think you are going to enjoy it. If taken care of right they can live for a long time. As for the brown edges on the leaves, it can come from a few different things. It could have been put right in direct sunlight outdoors, over fertilizing, not properly watering, pests and so on. If you take care of it using these tips on how to care for a peace lily plant it should stop the browning on the edges. It may not repair the already brown areas, but just keep it from getting any worse.
Karen says
My Peace Lily is very green, but it is May and has only produced one 1″ long white flower. What can I do to increase the plants size and produce more white flowers? Thank you
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
There are a few factors that come in to play for size and flowers. First, if the plant is young, small flowers are normal. It may also need to be repotted to a larger pot to encourage growth as it may have outgrown the pot it is in now there for making the growing slow down or stop.
Susan says
Hi, I commented to you about that huge piece plant that I received. Another question: can I separated into different plants or will it just die if I do that?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Yes, a peace lily plant can be divided. To do so, you just want to carefully remove it from the pot. Then try and find small areas where it looks like the foliage is attaching to root sections and pull them apart trying to do as little damage as you can. If the plant has a large root ball is really root bound (roots really tangled together wrapping around the dirt edge) you may need to use a knife to help cut the roots. After you have them apart, plant each one in a new pot that is big enough to allow it to grow a little. It may take on a little plant shock, but with care, it will bounce right back.
Hope that helps! Happy gardening!
Donna says
Should the Peace lilly be pruned of damaged or brown leaves?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hi Donna, yes when you have leaves that become damaged or brown they should be pruned so as not to take energy from the plant. If you notice them happening often, it may be time to repot or even divide the plant as it may be from overcrowding in the pot.
Alice B. says
Mine was a gift to remember a young 16 yr old that was killed in an auto accident. I have decided it once in four sections I kept one and gave the others away it needs to be done again but this plant is 15 years old and still is amazing. Josh I love and miss you ?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Sorry for your loss Alice. Happy to hear that the plant has been able to last this long to bring you lots of memories. Such a great gift.
Carm C. says
When I purchase my Peace Lily it had beautiful white blooms I transplanted it to a larger pot and it is doing well but the new blooms are coming back green instead of white why is that happening
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
It is normal for the new blooms to start off looking a little green and as they open and age they should turn white. As they age even more they will turn back to a greenish color before turning brown and falling off. This is normal for a Peace Lily.
Carol says
I have a hugh leaf spathafilliam, big plant, reported it. Will fertilizer such as More Bloom produce more flowers? Have had smaller leaf plants for years. Love their gracious look.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hi Carol, I have never tried using a more bloom on one but a basic fertilizer or Peace Lily fertilizer works just fine and will give you a nice healthy plant and that will give you pretty blooms.
Luvenia T. says
What do you do for brown leaves.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
If the whole leaf is brown it can be cut off of the plant.
Carol says
phone changed “repotted” to “reported”.
Julie F. says
I put Miracle Grow on my Peace Lily and it nearly died. I have tried to repot it a few months ago. I read sometimes hard water effects the plant; but this plant has had this water for over 2 years. What can I do to save this plant?? It has sentimental value.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hi Julie, I would try making sure you are giving it the right amount of sun and water. Sometimes it can take a little time after repotting for it to bounce back, so you may see it turning around in another month. Also, have you had any changes in your water? Like if you have city water are you smelling more bleach in it? If so, you may want to start filtering it.
patricia o. says
My peace lilly used to bloom & no longer does.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hopefully, by using a few of these tips it will start blooming again. Let us know how it turns out.
Bill says
Is it normal for all the flowers to suddenly turn brown and die? About 8 very nice ones just died off in 3 or 4 days. Thank you.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hi Bill, if they all bloomed about the same time then it would be normal for them to all die off about the same time. The flower normally only stays on the plant for about a month depending on the care it is given.
Anonymous says
I have had my peace lily four years and it will not bloom.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Maybe try a little troubleshooting. It could need repotting or fed. Is it in a dark room or does it get a little sun each day?
Gerry C. says
My lily is 19 years old, I repotted and now it looks like it is dying. Leaves come up green, then wither, turn yellow and die. Some leaves turn brown on edges and die, what can I do?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Hi Gerry, your plant could be having trouble for a number of different reasons so you may have to do a little troubleshooting. Make sure you are giving enough water but not overwatering. That it is getting enough sunlight, the right room temp, plant food, and so on. You will also want to look the plant over closely to make sure that it does not have any type of pests on it.
Bernice says
We bought a peace lily that wa planted in glass vase in “natural materials.” I would love to recreate this environment for another peace lily. Does anyone know what might be in the vase instead of soil?
Maggie T says
My Peace Lily is very “leggy”. Very long stems on the leaves but not really much bulk to the plant and it doesn’t flower very often and only 1 flower when it blooms. I have had this plant for years. It’s in a well lit spot (not direct sunlight). Quite large pot. Watered once a week. We live in sub tropucal/temperate climate. I don’t what to do to get this plant to stop growing vertically, bush out and flower… Any advice is appreciated.
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Are the leggy stems leaning more to one such as a side with a window? If so, that means it needs more light and it is trying to reach to get the light. Lack of light can also make it not bloom. It should have 6-8 hours of indirect light per day. Once a week watering should be good if you have the right soil. Does the soil feel really dry when it is time to be watered again? If so, you will need to either change the soil or water more often as the soil should stay moist (not soaked) at all times.
Denise M. says
Yes I have a question about my peace Lily ,my leafs are turning brown n falling off what can I do I love my plant ,my son sent it to me for mother’s day. Last year I don’t want to loose it please help tks
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
Thanks for contacting us. The tips in this post should be able to help you bring your peace lily back to good health. To start I would look at how you are watering the plant as well as what type of lighting it is getting.
Laura O. says
Is coffee grounds good for a peace lily plant used as fertilizer?
Reuse Grow Enjoy says
If used in small amounts it is good but not if you use a lot. Just a few tablespoons per pot will go a long way.