Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) are beautiful flowering houseplants that go in full bloom in the spring. Peace lilies are easy-to-grow houseplants that can tolerate some neglect (not a lot, you can still kill it!)
Even if you forget to water your Peace Lily and it begins to wilt, you can revive it the next time you water it.
Peace lilies are also known to be beneficial air cleaners- absorbing harmful acetone, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air. Do know that your Peace Lily is toxic to pets and humans so keep it out of reach. Here are tips on how to care for your Peace Lily at home.
10 Tips on How to Take Care of Your Peace Lily
1. Your Peace Lily can Tolerate Low Light.
Your Peace Lily can tolerate low light such as a north-facing window or a skylight. However, your Peace Lily is happiest in medium light- give it bright filtered light. Avoid full sun.
2. Moderate Water is Best for Your Peace Lily
Your Peace Lily has moderate to high water requirements. Water your Peace Lily when the soil feels dry.
The best way to tell when it is time to water your Peace Lily is to feel the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your Peace Lily.
I find that Peace lilies are thirstier than most houseplants. They are divas that will show their discontent and look wilted if you don’t give them enough water. However, you can easily revive your peace lily with a good soaking.
3. Get the Soil Right for Your Peace Lily
Your Peace Lily needs a well-draining, organic all-purpose potting mix.
4. Fertilize Your Peace Lily
Fertilize your Peace Lily once a month at half strength during the growing season.
5. Don’t forget to Repot Your Peace Lily
Repot your Peace Lily when it starts to outgrow its current pot. When you repot your Peace Lily, move it to a container that is 4 inches in diameter larger than the current pot.
6. Drainage is Essential for Your Peace Lily
Good drainage is important, you don’t want your Peace Lily to sit in soggy soil. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
After watering your Peace Lily and you see water draining out of the pot’s drainage holes, make sure you empty out the accumulated water in the saucer. Don’t let your Peace Lily’s pot sit in this puddle of water. It will cause root rot!
7. Get the Temperature Right for Your Peace Lily
Your Peace Lily needs to have a daytime temperature of 70F to 80 Fahrenheit (21-26C). The nighttime temperature should be at 60-70 Fahrenheit (15-21 C).
8. Your Peace Lily is Sensitive to Chlorine
Your Peace Lily can be adversely affected by chlorine in tap water. It’s best to water your Peace Lily with distilled water or rainwater.
9. Humidity is Vital for Your Peace Lily
Your Peace Lily is a houseplant that likes humid conditions. You should increase indoor humidity. Mist your Peace Lily several times a week.
Another way to increase humidity is to keep your Peace Lily in a saucer filled with water. But make sure the pot is elevated with pot feet or pebbles so your Peace Lily is not sitting directly on the water.
10. Peace Lily are Not the Best Beginner Plant
I have had peace lily plants for years and have killed quite a few of them. Contrary to many plant care advice about Peace Lily, they are not the easiest plants for beginners. You can kill it if you don’t keep up with the watering. It’s higher maintenance than you think.
4 Common Peace Lily Problems
The common problems for Peace Lily are insufficient water, mealybugs, root rot, and sunburn.
Why is my Peace Lily Wilted?
Problem: Your Peace Lily looks dead and wilted.
Cause: You have neglected your Peace Lily and did not keep up with watering it.
Solution: You can easily revive wilted Peace Lily plants by running it under running water. Make sure you have drainage holes so water drains out and your Peace Lily does not get root rot.
Why is there Fluffy White Growth In Between the Leaves and Stems of your Peace Lily?
Problem: There are fluffy white growths in between the leaves and stems of your Peace Lily.
Cause: Mealybugs are causing the fluffy white growth on your Peace Lily. It is a common houseplant disease.
Solution: To get rid of mealybugs on your Peace Lily, wash your plant with water. You can also use soapy water. Spraying rubbing alcohol on affected areas can also get rid of mealybugs. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are also effective in getting rid of mealybugs.
Check out our article on how to make your own homemade pesticides using baby shampoo: How to Make Horticultural Oil and How to Make Insecticidal Soap
Why are there Brown and Black Patches on the Leaves of Your Peace Lily?
Problem: There are brown and black patches on the leaves of your Peace Lily plant.
Cause: These brown or black patches on your Peace Lily are sunburn spots. Sunburn spots are caused by too much direct, hot sun on your Peace Lily.
Solution: Move your Peace Lily to a less sunny spot. The sunburn spots on your Peace Lily plant are permanent. The sunburn spots will not turn back to green.
Why Does your Peace Lily look Wilted even if the Soil is Wet?
Problem: Your Peace Lily looks wilted even if the soil is wet. Check for root rot by pulling the plant out and examining the roots. If the roots of your Peace Lily plant look mushy (healthy roots are firm) and the roots are gray to black in color, these are telltale signs of root rot.
Cause: Root rot is caused by fungus and is a serious problem for your Peace Lily. Root rot is a result of wet soil due to overwatering or poor drainage.
Solution: When your Peace Lily is afflicted with root rot the chance of survival is slim. Your best course of action is to throw your Peace Lily out and start over with a new plant. This time don’t overwater your Peace Lily and make sure there is good drainage in the pot.
Peace Lily Houseplant Facts
| Name | Peace Lily |
| Scientific Name | Spathiphyllum spp. |
| Light | Medium Light. Can tolerate low light. |
| Daytime Temperature | 70 to 80 F (21-26C) |
| Night Time Temperature | 60 to 70 F (15-21C) |
| Water | Moderate Water |
| Humidity | High Humidity |
| Potting | Well-draining, organic, all-purpose potting mix |
| Fertilizer | Fertilize once a month at half strength. |
| Toxic to Pets and Humans | Toxic |
Peace Lily: Frequently Asked Questions
What are Other Common Names of Peace Lily?
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) is also called White sails and closet plant.
Is Your Peace Lily Toxic to Pets?
Peace Lilies are toxic to humans and pets. Don’t let children or pets chew on the leaves of the Peace Lily plant because it contains calcium oxalate crystals. The crystals can cause vomiting and difficulty breathing. It can also result in swelling of lips, tongue, and mouth and excessive drooling. If you see any of these symptoms and suspect ingestion of Peace Lily plants, call poison control immediately! Also, call your doctor or vet once you start seeing adverse reactions in children and pets.
How Can You Tell When It’s Time to Water Your Peace Lily?
Water your Peace Lily when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it’s time to water is by sticking your finger into the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If the soil feels dry, then it’s time to water your Peace Lily.
Can You Use Tap Water to Water Your Peace Lily?
Peace Lily is best watered with distilled water or rainwater since it is sensitive to chlorine.
What Fertilizer Should You Use for Your Peace Lily?
Use a balanced organic fertilizer on your Peace Lily.
How Big Does Your Peace Lily Get?
Depending on the Peace Lily variety, some can grow to 2 to 3 feet tall and wide while the miniature varieties are under 1 foot tall and wide.
How Do You Propagate Your Peace Lily?
Peace Lily Plant is easy to propagate. You can propagate your Peace Lily plant by division of its rhizomes.
Below are steps on how to propagate Peace Lily Plant by dividing its rhizomes.
1. Dig Up your Peace Lily Plant
Using a hand shovel, dig up your Peace Lily so you can lift out the entire plant. Be careful, don’t damage the roots and rhizomes. Dig a few inches away from the plant.
2. Divide the Rhizomes
Carefully divide up the rhizomes. Make sure each rhizome has its own stem, leaves, and roots.
3. Plant the Rhizomes in a New Pot
Plant each rhizome into a new pot. Don’t plant the rhizomes too close together. Ideally, plant each one in its own pot. Water the new plant immediately after planting. Then water every 2-3 days until the roots are established.
4. Place New Peace Lily Plant in a Spot with Bright Indirect Sun
Place your new Peace Lily plant in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. Don’t put it in direct sunlight. Keep your Peace Lily plant in a spot that is warm and humid.
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