Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, peace lilies are some of the easiest and most forgiving indoor plants you can grow! These stunning flowers can quickly adapt to almost any environment! This peace lily plant care guide will show you just how to do that! One of our favorite things about the peace lily is that it purifies the air. This makes it an excellent companion to your home or office.
And, while you may think their flowers are stunning, they're actually not flowers, but rather specialized leaf bracts that grow hooded over the actual flower. Keep reading to find out more about peace lily plant care! Peace lilies are tropical evergreen plants that grow on the forest floor. This is because they enjoy dappled light and consistent moisture. Try to replicate these conditions in your home, and you will have a thriving and happy peace lily!
These house plants will usually produce white flowers in early summer and will also continue to bloom throughout the year. The regular houseplant variety will grow to about 16 inches in height. Larger, outdoor varieties, may grow as high as 6 feet tall. Because peace lilies are not cold hardy, they should only be grown indoors, where the air is warm and humid. Alternatively, if you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, they can be grown outdoors.
If you have pets or small children, it's good to keep the peace lily away, since it is actually poisonous. They contain calcium oxalate, which is a substance that can cause stomach and respiratory problems if ingested.
Peace Lily Plant Care
Peace lilies can do well without or without light. Depending on the amount of light they'll receive, they'll also look different. Medium to high light will make its flowers bloom, making it more of a showstopper. Low to medium light, on the other hand, will make it more a foliage plant. Whichever type of light you have though, the peace lily will still thrive and work hard to purify the air around you!
Peace lilies don't care too much about whether or not you give them sunlight, but they certainly DO care if they're been over watered. In fact, one of the most common ways for a peace lily to die IS because of over watering. Therefore, it's always best to under water than over water. Instead of watering once a week like you would with most plants, check the soil. If it's dry, go ahead and water it, but if it's moist let it be. Water the plant deeply, taking care not to wet the leaves.
- Another important thing to know about peace lilies, is that they're very sensitive to the fluoride found in tap water. Use room temperature, filtered or distilled water instead.
- Because peace lilies like a lot of humidity, they make great bathroom plants. If not, mist the leaves once a week.
- Fertilize only once or twice a year – peace lilies do not need more than that. Fertilizing will encourage spring and summer growth.
- Keep the lilies in a warm environment, above 60F (16C), and away from drafts and cold areas. Also keep them away from direct sunlight, but DO keep them in a well lit area.
- Peace lilies will also benefit from re-potting or dividing once they're outgrown their container. Use a good quality potting soil or potting mix. You'll know they've outgrown their medium once they start drooping less than a week after being watered. You'll also notice crowded, deformed leaf growth. If re-potting, move the plant to a pot that's at least 2 inches larger than its previous pot.
- Peace lily leaves tend to attract a lot of dust. You'll need to gently wipe or wash them once or twice a year. This will also help the plant to process sunlight easier.
How to Grow Peace Lilies in Water:
Did you know that you can grow peace lilies in water? You might see them being sold in vases without any soil. To do this, suspend the base of the plant above the water line, using small rocks or an insert. This will allow the roots to grow into the water, while keeping the base and its leaves away from wetness. Getting the leaves and plant will can cause root rot.
My Peace Lily is Not Flowering:
- If your peace lily is not flowering, it usually means it's not getting enough sunlight. Although they're tolerant if low light, that does not mean they can tolerate no light.
- Encourage white blooms by moving your peace lily plant to a brighter location with indirect sunlight.
- Flowers that are green are often caused by over-fertilizing. If this is the case, cease fertilizing immediately. Remember that peace lilies are not heavy feeders. Also, try switching your fertilizer to one made for flowering plants. These usually have higher amounts of phosphorous which is essential for blooming.
What Happens When Peace Lily Leaves Turn Yellow?
When leaves turn yellow on peace lilies, it usually means that you're not watering the plant enough, and therefore the soil is dry. Lily care requires that you thoroughly saturate the root balls when watering. If the leaves at the base of the plant turn yellow, that means that the plant is lacking nitrogen, so be sure to give it a good dose of plant food. Also, be sure to remove any yellow leaves.
Peace Lily Pests and Diseases:
Brown leaf tips (leaves turning brown), are usually caused by too much direct sunlight and improper fertilization. Additionally, a lack of water and/or humidity can also cause brown leaf tips.
Yellow leaves can indicate overwatering as well as underwatering and old age (older leaves).
Scale and mealybugs can appear on the plant if given the opportunity. Make sure to take the time and regularly wipe down the leaves. Use insecticidal soap or soapy water to keep them at bay.
Are Peace Lilies Poisonous?
Unfortunately, yes, peace lilies are poisonous, so it's best if they're kept away from small children and pets. The peace lily plant contains calcium oxalate, which is a key substance that can cause stomach and respiratory irritation if ingested in large amounts. A lot of times pets will gnaw away at the leaves, so it's best to not keep lilies in pet households.
Best Peace Lily Varieties
Although different peace lily varieties are not usually easy to get a hold of, you can easily find them online. Here are some of the best peace lily varieties!
- Spathiphyllum Wallisii is a smaller variety of peace lily, that reaches only 12 inches in height.
- Petite is an even smaller peace lily, at approximately 8–10 inches in height.
- Sensation is the largest variety of peace lily available, and is capable of growing up to 4–6 feet in height and width.
- Domino, is a medium-size peace lily variety with beautiful leaves.
- Mojo Lime, which has beautiful lime-green leaves, and is another medium-size peace lily.
Need more peace lily care tips? Check out this video courtesy of Harli G.
How to Care for Peace Lilies
Instructions
- Peace lilies can do well without or without light. Depending on the amount of light they’ll receive, they’ll also look different. Medium to high light will make its flowers bloom, making it more of a showstopper. Low to medium light, on the other hand, will make it more a foliage plant. Whichever type of light you have though, the peace lily will still thrive and work hard to purify the air around you!
- Peace lilies don’t care too much about whether or not you give them sunlight, but they certainly DO care if they’re been over watered. In fact, one of the most common ways for a peace lily to die IS because of over watering. Therefore, it’s always best to under water than over water. Instead of watering once a week like you would with most plants, check the soil. If it’s dry, go ahead and water it, but if it’s moist let it be. Water the plant deeply, taking care not to wet the leaves.
- Another important thing to know about peace lilies, is that they’re very sensitive to the fluoride found in tap water. Use room temperature, filtered or distilled water instead.
- Because peace lilies like a lot of humidity, they make great bathroom plants. If not, mist the leaves once a week.
- Fertilize only once or twice a year – peace lilies do not need more than that. Fertilizing will encourage spring and summer growth.
- Keep the lilies in a warm environment, above 60F (16C), and away from drafts and cold areas. Also keep them away from direct sunlight, but DO keep them in a well lit area.
- Peace lilies will also benefit from re-potting or dividing once they’re outgrown their container. Use a good quality potting soil or potting mix. You’ll know they’ve outgrown their medium once they start drooping less than a week after being watered. You’ll also notice crowded, deformed leaf growth. If re-potting, move the plant to a pot that’s at least 2 inches larger than its previous pot.
- Peace lily leaves tend to attract a lot of dust. You’ll need to gently wipe or wash them once or twice a year. This will also help the plant to process sunlight easier.
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when should I cut back my peace lily?
Hi Gina,
Usually for a peace lily plant, once a stalk makes a flower it won’t make anymore, so once the flower dies off, so will the stalk. You can then cut the peace lily stalk. Do so at the base of the plant, and cut as close to the bottom as you can.
Do peace lilies need sunlight?
Hi there,
Peace lilies usually prefer partial sunlight, but they can also do well in poorly lit rooms. If your peace lily gets yellow leaves, it indicates that the light is too strong, while brown leaves indicate a sun burn.
my peace lily died. not sure why because i gave it enough water…but all the leaves fell off 🙁
Hi Sunshine,
It sounds like your peace lily is not getting enough water. As a rule of thumb, you should wait until the leaves start to droop until you water your peace lily plant. If you let it dry too much though, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off.
Is peace lily an indoor plant?
Hi Laurie,
The peace lily can be moved outdoors, but only in warm temperatures. The peace lily is a tropical plant, and therefore needs to be protected from frost and cold climates. For the most part, the peace lily is mostly an indoor plant.
Great article!! How often do you recommend I clean my peace lily plants, and how should I do it? I notice the leaves get very dusty, very quickly, so I’m wondering if there’s a quick, easy, and safe way to clean them?
Hi Anette,
You can clean your peace lily as often as you like, just be sure to be gently when cleaning the leaves. I suggest you use a washcloth with only water to gently clean the leaves.
I have a beautiful peace lily plant that I’ve had for years, and it’s as healthy as ever!
So glad to hear that Dorothy!
Thank you – will be saving this!
Thank you Linda 🙂
After reading these comments, I’m sure I overwatered my peace lily. It’s not dead, but it’s drooping badly, and leaves are starting to turn yellow. Is there a way to save it?
Hi Kathy,
What you could try to do is re-pot the peace lily. Do this by very carefully and gently removing the plant from the pot. Repot the lily plant in another pot with fresh soil. Your lily should come back to life!
The tips of my leaves on my peace lily are turning brown .. what do i do ? 🙁
My peace Lily leaves are turning Black what do that mean ..to much sun.
What do I do with the brown stem from my peace lily? I’ve had these two (and others) over 15 years and when the leaves die off and additional leaves grow off the ‘top’ of the plant, this brown stem beceomes like a trunk. Do I cut it off and try to root the base of the plant? The “trunk” is well rooted, but one is about 8 inches long and the other about 3 inches.