The Best Peace Lily Care Tips

The peace lily, known scientifically as Spathiphyllum, part of the Araceae family, is a flowering plant known for its dark green leaves and graceful white blooms. In the wild, these plants grow along rivers and streams, typically on the forest floor of tropical humid forests. Nowadays, peace lily is also a beloved indoor plant, especially since it's quite easy to grow and has a long lifespan, reaching 20 years or more with correct care.

Curious to learn more about peace lily care? Read on!

How to Care for a Peace Lily?

Like with any other plants, peace lilies require certain growing conditions to thrive. These are usually meant to mimic their native habitats. Since peace lilies are tropical plants native to Central and South America, they thrive in warm, moderately moist, and shady environments receiving dappled sunlight.

Before we begin, it's important to note that peace lilies bloom in the spring, but can actually bloom all year-round if taken care of properly. Peace lilies reach maturity in three years.

Here's a quick overview of the most important information you need to know if you plan to care for a peace lily plant:

When to Plant

If you live in a tropical or subtropical climate and want to grow peace lilies outdoors, it's best to plant peace lilies in the spring while temperatures are still not too high. These plants thrive in USDA hardness zones 10-12.

If you want to grow peace lilies indoors, you can purchase them anytime as long as you can protect them during transport if it's cold and your home stays warm in winter.

The container needs to be twice as large as the root ball. The soil needs to be chosen wisely: it should be acidic, hold moisture, and dry out slowly.

It's recommended to repot peace lilies in refreshed soil every few years, preferably in spring.

Light Requirements

Peace lilies flourish in bright indirect light, which supports their growth and blooming. Direct light or too much sun can easily scorch the green foliage. The leaves will then lose their vibrant color. Conversely, avoid keeping peace lilies in dark environments because you'll notice fewer blooms.

But what does bright indirect light mean exactly? When it comes to plant growing, indirect sunlight means filtered or diffused light. In other words, peace lilies need to have access to light without being hit directly by it.

Here's how you can achieve this:

• Place the plant about 1-2 feet away from the window.
• Place the plant near an east-facing window or a west-facing window, but make sure it's not hit by the light in the afternoon.
• Use window treatments that filter light. Magic's solar shades, for example, filter light perfectly, being useful for plants that need indirect light. They also cover the window completely, so there's no risk of some sunrays sneaking in through the corners and hitting your plant. (see photo below)

Lighting Conditions in Different Climates and Home Types

Light availability varies greatly depending on your home type, window placement, and regional climate, especially in regions like Ontario, where seasonal light changes are dramatic. Here are some tips in this regard:

Temperature

Peace lilies thrive in temperatures between 65-80°F and should be protected from cold temperatures below 55°F to avoid damage. Therefore, keep them away from drafts or heat sources to maintain their health. For example, if you keep your peace lily near a window and that window is old, there may be tiny cracks around it that let cold air in during the winter. In this case, you should either move the plant or replace your windows because that cold air can affect the plant's growth.

Furthermore, peace lilies are also not very fond of temperature changes. In this regard, windows and doors are, yet again, the main culprits. If they're old and improperly sealed, they'll let warm/cold air in and affect indoor temperatures.

Humidity and Water

In terms of humidity, peace lilies love moist environments with humidity levels above 50%. If the air is too dry, especially in winter when heating systems are active, these evergreen plants may develop brown leaves, especially at the tips or edges.

Therefore, you can mist their leaves once in a while or group several plants together to create a mini-humid environment. Additionally, you can place a pebble tray filled with water beneath the pot. If necessary, use a humidifier, but make sure to keep humidity levels below 60% to avoid mold growth.

Don't forget to ensure that your windows and doors are properly sealed. They play a crucial role in maintaining stable humidity and indoor comfort: not just for your peace lily, but for you as well.

Watering

Even though peace lilies enjoy humid environments, they prefer being underwatered rather than overwatered and they can tolerate short periods of dry soil. The general rule is to wait until the top 5 cm (2 in) of the soil dries up before watering the plant again. Based on this rule, you would water your peace lily about once a week (more rarely in winter though). If the leaves develop brown tips or start to droop, the plant probably needs more water.

During the growing season (spring and summer), peace lilies need to be watered more frequently due to warmer temperatures and active growth. In contrast, growth slows during the cooler fall and winter months, in which case you should water them more rarely to allow the soil to become slightly drier between waterings.

As mentioned earlier, you should choose a well-drained soil to prevent root rot. Additionally, make sure to avoid using tap water, as peace lilies can be sensitive to chemicals. Instead, use filtered water.

Feeding and Fertilizing

Fertilize actively growing peace lilies about once a month during spring and summer with a liquid fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer. Over fertilization can burn the plant's roots and may result in brown leaf margins or a lack of blooms. In fall and winter, when growth slows, feeding is unnecessary.

If your plant develops pale leaves or experiences a lack of flowering despite healthy light and water conditions, you can occasionally use fertilizer, as it can help support new blooms.

Pruning and Bloom Care

Peace lilies typically don't need pruning, except if they're old or have withered leaves. In this case, you just have to cut back the spent flowers to encourage flowering. You can also cut back spent stalks at the base of the peace lily plant. This way, you'll make room for new stalks.

Pests and Problems

Peace lilies are relatively resilient, but common pests include spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, fungus gnats, and thrips. However, this problem is usually solved by simply wiping the leaves with a damp cloth and soap and water/insecticidal soap. Furthermore, you can greatly reduce the risk of pests by installing high-quality bug screens, such as those from Magic.

These plants can also develop:

• Yellow leaves, which indicate a watering issue; in this case, your plant likely does not get enough light. Furthermore, if you're watering your peace lily with tap water, the chemicals in it can interact with the soil's pH levels, which can also cause peace lily yellowing leaves.
• Curled leaves, which indicate that your plant gets too much light
• Brown tips, which indicate that the plant receives too much or too little water. This can also be an indicator of poor soil drainage.
• Root rot, which occurs when the plant is overwatered

Propagation

Peace lilies can be propagated by dividing them into smaller plants. You can do this when you repot the plant in the spring. Before propagating, make sure the plant has reached maturity and is large enough to be separated. Here's what you should do:

• Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently separate clumps of stems and roots.
• Each division should have at least a few leaves and an intact root system.
• Plant each new clump in its own container with fresh, moist potting mix.
• Water thoroughly and place in indirect light.

Are Peace Lilies Toxic?

Peace lilies are toxic to both pets and humans if ingested. While they are not true lilies, and therefore not as deadly to cats as, say, Easter lilies, they contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation. For pets like cats and dogs, chewing on the leaves or stems can lead to symptoms like drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and oral irritation. In humans, especially children, it can result in stomach and respiratory irritation if ingested in large amounts.

Therefore, to keep everyone safe, place peace lilies out of reach of pets and small children. If you suspect ingestion, contact a vet or poison control.

Peace Lily Not Blooming?

If your peace lily is healthy but not producing flowers, it might be due to the following factors:

• Insufficient light: peace lilies need bright, indirect light to bloom. If it's too dark in the room, you’ll get lush foliage but no flowers.
• Over-fertilizing: too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen-heavy ones, encourages leaf growth over blooming.
• Watering issues: inconsistent watering or using tap water with chemicals can stress the plant, preventing flowering.
• Age: very young plants may not bloom. Most peace lilies start flowering once they mature.

To encourage blooms:

• Place the plant in a bright, filtered-light spot.
• Fertilize lightly once a month during spring and summer.
• Avoid overwatering and switch to filtered or distilled water.

Types of Peace Lilies

There are several varieties of peace lilies, differing in size, leaf shape, and blooming habits. Here are a few popular ones:

• Spathiphyllum 'Wallisii': a smaller peace lily variety, with narrow, shiny, and somewhat veined green leaves.
• Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa Supreme’: a larger variety that grows up to 3-4 feet tall and has large leaves that reach 9 inches in width.
• Spathiphyllum ‘Domino’: a variegated variety with beautiful streaks of white on its leaves.
• Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’: one of the largest types, with bold foliage, growing up to 4-6 feet in height and width
• Spathiphyllum ‘Jetty’: a fast-growing peace lily with loads of small flowers.

Peace Lily Symbolism and Benefits

Did you know that peace lilies also carry symbolic value? Peace lilies symbolize peace, purity, and healing. They're often grown in homes and offices for a calming atmosphere.

Their importance goes beyond symbolism! According to the NASA Clean Air Study, peace lilies can help remove indoor air pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. All that with just a little effort - peace lilies are definitely easy to grow and care for compared to other plants!

Final Thoughts

Caring for a peace lily is quite simple: it only needs the right light, temperature, and humidity! These plants are placed near windows or glass doors and highly depend on the amount of light and drafts that enter through them. Therefore, it's important to make sure that your windows and glass doors are properly insulated, filter sunlight, block drafts, and keep bugs out!

At Magic, we create innovative window and glass door solutions that support a healthy indoor climate for you and your peace lily!

Ready to upgrade your home for better plant care and everyday comfort? Give Magic a call to book a free consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you take care of a peace lily indoors?

To grow a peace lily indoors, keep it in bright indirect light, water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, and maintain humidity above 50%; avoid drafts and use filtered water.

Where is the best place to put a peace lily in your house?

The best place to put a peace lily in your house is near an east- or north-facing window with filtered light, away from direct sun and cold drafts.

Should I cut the brown tips off my peace lily?

Yes, you can trim brown tips of peace lily leaves with clean scissors to improve their appearance. But make sure to avoid cutting into healthy green tissue.

How often should you water peace lily?

You can water your peace lily about once a week. If its leaves droop, you need to water it. You can also pay attention to the soil: when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, you can water peace lily.

What type of light is best for peace lilies?

Peace lilies thrive best in bright indirect light, though they can tolerate low light. It's important to avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.

When is the best time to repot and propagate peace lilies?

The ideal time to repot and propagate peace lilies is in early spring during their active growth phase, which promotes optimal growth for the new plants.