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Peace Lilies: How to Care for Peace Lily Plants (Spathiphyllum) | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Peace Lilies

close up of a peace lily flower with greenery and foliage
Photo Credit
Georgina198/Getty Images
Botanical Name
Spathiphyllum spp.
Plant Type
Houseplant
Sun Exposure
Part Sun
Shade
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Varies
Flower Color
Green
White
Hardiness Zone
10
11
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How to Care for a Peace Lily Plant

Catherine Boeckmann
November 30, 2023
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Learn how to care for a peace lily, one of the most popular indoor plants. These beautiful houseplants are fairly easy to grow, but knowing how often to water peace lilies and what to do if their leaves droop or turn yellow is essential. Plus, find tips on how to repot your peace lily to keep it happy!

About Peace Lilies

Peace lilies are not true lilies. They are tropical, evergreen plants in the Arum family, native to tropical Central and South America. These plants thrive on the forest floor, receiving dappled sunlight and consistent moisture and humidity. Replicating these conditions in the home is the key to keeping your peace lily happy and healthy.

With enough light, peace lilies produce white to off-white flowers starting in the early summer and continue to bloom throughout the year in the right conditions. 

Most household varieties of peace lily grow up to 16 inches tall, but larger outdoor cultivars can have leaves up to 6 feet tall. Peace lilies are not cold-hardy, so they can only be grown outdoors in warm, humid climates (USDA Zones 10, 11).

Is the Peace Lily Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Yes, peace lilies are mildly toxic. All parts of the peace lily plant contain calcium oxalate, which may cause stomach and respiratory irritation if ingested in large amounts. Keep peace lilies out of reach of small children and pets who might chew on the plant. Common plants containing calcium oxalate also include philodendrons, daffodils, true lilies, and hyacinths.

Peace lily on table. Photo by izzzy71/Getty Images
Photo by izzzy71/Getty Images

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Planting

How to Plant, Repot, and Divide Peace Lilies

  • Plant or replant your lilies in a container twice as large as the root ball with well-draining, all-purpose potting soil. The soil should be able to hold moisture and dry out slowly over time. Peace lilies don’t like to dry out entirely, but they also won’t do well if kept in soil that’s constantly wet, as this fosters root rot fungus.
  • Repotting the plant every few years in the spring is suitable for the peace lily, as it will appreciate the refreshed soil.
  • Eventually, the peace lily may grow too large for its pot, at which point it can be divided. Remove the plant from its pot and split it into smaller plants, being sure to leave several leaves per clump. Peace lilies grow from rhizomes, so they can tolerate a bit of tough treatment during dividing.

Can Peace Lilies be Grown in Water?

Yes, peace lilies can grow in water alone; they are often sold in vases without any soil. Ideally, the base of the plant should be suspended above the water line, either by a specially-made vase insert or a layer of small river stones. This allows the roots to grow down into the water but keeps the base of the plant and its leaves from being constantly wet, which can cause rot. 

Growing

Lighting

  • Place peace lilies in indirect but bright sunlight. An east-facing window is perfect, as the plant will be exposed to the bright morning sun. A north-facing window would also be a good choice for a peace lily.
  • Keep peace lilies out of areas where they’ll get direct sunlight all day (such as in a south-facing window), as it may dry them out too much.

Watering

  • How often should you water your peace lily? It’s not the number that matters but the dryness of the soil that counts. Keep the soil lightly moist to the touch but not overly saturated. Peace lilies can tolerate short periods of dry soil, but their leaves will start to develop brown tips if they don’t have enough water or humidity. 
    • Tip: One nice thing about peace lilies is that they will tell you when they’re thirsty: the plant’s leaves start to droop. When the plant starts to look less “perky” than usual, test the soil with your finger. If it feels dry, it’s time to water again. They can be a bit dramatic; don’t panic if they start to wilt.
  • Peace lilies are sensitive to chemicals commonly found in tap water, such as fluoride, which may cause brown leaf tips. Use filtered, room-temperature water, if possible. 

Humidity

  • Peace lilies enjoy high humidity. Misting their leaves or placing their pot atop a moistened tray of gravel can help to increase humidity around the plant. 

Fertilizing

  • Peace lilies are not heavy feeders, so fertilize only occasionally. To encourage spring and summer growth, fertilize every 6 weeks or so with a balanced houseplant fertilizer starting in late winter.

Temperature

  • Peace lilies are a tropical plants; they do best in temperatures between 65°F and 75°F degrees (18 to 23°C) during the day and about 10° cooler at night. 
  • Keep these plants away from the furnace or a drafty window or door.

Other Care

  • The large leaves of peace lilies tend to collect a lot of dust in the home. Gently wipe them down with a wet paper towel occasionally; a thick layer of dust can inhibit photosynthesis.

Peace Lily plant and flower

How to Get Peace Lilies to Flower

  • Most often, if no flowers appear, the plant is not getting enough light. Peace lilies are very tolerant of low light, but “low light” doesn’t mean no light! To encourage flowering, move the plant to a brighter location, where it will receive bright, indirect light for at least a few hours each day.
  • Green flowers, weak-looking flowers, or a general lack of flowers can also be caused by improper fertilizing. In the case of green flowers, cut back on fertilizing, as the plant may be getting too much nitrogen. In the case of weak-looking flowers or a lack of flowers, try switching to a fertilizer made for flowering plants. This type of fertilizer will have a higher amount of phosphorous, which plants need for blooming. 
Recommended Varieties

Specialty varieties of peace lilies are not very easy to come by in most garden centers, though they have been growing in popularity. You may have more success ordering them from an online source. 

  • Spathiphyllum wallisii is a smaller peace lily, reaching only 12 inches tall.
  • ‘Petite’ is smaller still, at approximately 8–10 inches.
  • ‘Sensation’ is the largest variety available, capable of growing up to 4–6 feet in height and width.
  • ‘Domino’, is a medium-size variety with attractively variegated leaves.
  • ‘Mojo Lime’, which has lime-green foliage, is another medium-size peace lily.

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Wit and Wisdom
  • The peace lily is said to have gotten its common name from its white flowers, which rise timidly above its green foliage and resemble white flags of peace. 
  • Despite the peace lily’s common name, it is not related to true lilies at all.
  • The plant’s attractive blooms are also the source of its Latin name, Spathiphyllum, meaning “spathe-leaf.” The flowers consist of the spathe (the white, sheath-like leaf) and the spadix (the spike of small flowers located within the spathe). 
  • Peace lilies are poisonous to dogs. Learn more about houseplants that are toxic to your pets.
closeup photo of a Peace Lily flower. Photo by W. Carter/Wikimedia.
A peace lily’s flower consists of a spathe (white sheath) and a spadix (green or off-white spike of flowers). 
Photo by W. Carter/Wikimedia
Pests/Diseases
  • Brown leaf tips are commonly caused by excessive direct sunlight, over-fertilization, lack of water and/or low humidity. Keeping the plant on a tray of moistened gravel or misting the leaves can help to increase humidity.
  • Yellow leaves may be caused by overwatering, underwatering, or old age (of the leaf). If the oldest leaves are yellowing and the plant hasn’t been repotted in a while, it may just need more space to stretch its roots. 
  • Scale and mealybugs will happily take up residence on the plant, if given the opportunity. A thorough wipe-down of leaves with a dish soap and water solution or insecticidal soap can be effective at stopping them, though repeated applications may be necessary.
  • Droopy or wilting leaves are often the result of too much water. Often once per week is enough. When you water the plant, wait until the moisture comes out the drainage holes but never leave water sitting in the saucer or water the saucer, hoping the moisture moves up the plant. If the water drains too quickly through to the saucer, then your soil is too sandy; your soil needs to be well-draining and porous, containing peat moss, fine bark, or perlite.
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Comments

Farzana Khan (not verified)

1 week 6 days ago

My Peace lilies are growing well. But these don't flower much. I see tiny green or pale flowers once in a while. They are kept in shade with bright light. I water them 2 times a week.

Pls guide.

Hi Farzana,

It sounds like you should increase the amount of light your peace lily receives. While you do not want to put your plant in direct sunlight, peace lilies thrive when it receives lots of bright, indirect sunlight. Try moving it to a place that is brighter and out of the shade, but won’t be in direct sun.

Also, make sure you are not giving it too much water. You want to soil to be moist to the touch, but not oversaturated. And if you did not fertilize this year, begin fertilizing in late winter with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer. You should add fertilizer two or three times during the active growing season (about every 6 weeks).

Try switching the area of sunlight the Peace Lily is kept in.

Dan (not verified)

3 weeks 2 days ago

I had really bad itchy eyes and nasal congestion. As soon as we removed our peace lilies from our bedroom, my allergies were gone. So no more peace lilies in our home...thank God.

Lisa (not verified)

1 month ago

This is a very strange question! I love the foliage of peace lily, but the flowers creep me out! Would it hurt the plant if I just cut off the flowers as they form?

Hi Lisa,

Removing your peace lily flower stalk before the flower blooms should not hurt your plant. You want to remove the stalk as close to the base of the plant as possible, which is the process you take after blooms are spent. One thing to know is that when you deadhead you peace lily it will put energy into creating more flowers so you will just need to be mindful that more flower stalks and blooms may appear.

Katina (not verified)

5 months 3 weeks ago

One of the lilies left has turned brown & the stem is turning yellow it’s not green anymore. What can I do to save it?

Hi Katina,

Unfortunately, once the flower has turned brown it will soon die and need to be removed. Depending on how long the flower has been in bloom, this change might just represent the end for that specific bloom or it could be a sign of a deeper issue as it relates to its care. While easy to grow, peace lilies thrive when it is watered correctly and the humidity level is consistent. Other issues could stem from too much or too little light, temperature fluctuations, or over fertilization.

Paul Markle (not verified)

6 months ago

I have just separated a portion of a Peace Lily from my mothers passing 10 years ago. After two months the leaves are droopy but alive. Plant seems to be taking but not looking real good. Any suggestions?