The peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) has a reputation for being unkillable, which does it a slight disservice. It survives neglect. Looking lush and pushing out those white spathes is a different bar, and July is when the gap between surviving and thriving shows. Warm air and faster growth pull more from the plant than the quieter months do.

None of it is complicated. Good peace lily care in summer comes down to reading what the plant is already telling you and adjusting before a droop turns into a brown edge. The five tasks here cover the stretch through the hottest part of the season, and none of them takes long.

5 Peace Lily Tasks Worth Doing in July

A peace lily is expressive, which makes it forgiving. The leaves sag when it's thirsty, so it tells on itself before harm sets in. Give it a good drink with a watering can like this one from Amazon, and it perks right back up again. That feedback is what keeps the summer routine manageable.

1. Water More Often, but Read the Soil First

Heat drives thirst, and a peace lily that coasted on a weekly drink in spring may want water every few days once July settles in. The dramatic wilt is the giveaway, but chasing that peace lily droop on a rigid schedule overcorrects into soggy roots. The soil is the better guide. When the top inch (2.5cm) feels dry, it's time; when it's still damp, wait.

Watering a peace lily with rainwater or filtered water is better than hard tap, since the browning leaf tips so many owners fight often trace back to fluoride and chlorine building up. Letting tap water stand overnight helps a little. The plant drinks fast in the heat, so a pot left to dry out completely collapses hard and takes a couple of days to recover, if it recovers all the way. Humidity is the half of watering that summer strips away, since air conditioning pulls moisture out of a room. A peace lily raised on tropical damp responds with brown, papery leaf tips, and watering more never fixes that one. The answer is putting moisture back in the air – group it with other plants, set the pot on a pebble tray like this one from Amazon, or run a small humidifier nearby.

2. Feed Lightly for Those White Spathes

July sits in the middle of active growth, and a hungry peace lily puts out leaves at the expense of flowers. A balanced houseplant fertilizer keeps both going, and a gentle 1-1-1 liquid houseplant food from Amazon suits a plant this sensitive to salt buildup. Feeding once a month through summer is plenty.

More is not better here. Over-fertilized peace lilies show it fast. The leaf tips crisp up brown, and a white crust of mineral salt starts creeping across the soil. Flush the pot through with plain water if that shows up, then skip the next feeding. Plenty of people mistake a plant with all leaves and no blooms as hungry, when usually it's the opposite.

3. Get the Light and Placement Right

Peace lilies pass as shade plants. Indoors that mostly holds, so summer sun through a south window can scorch them in a way low winter light doesn’t. Watch for pale washed-out patches, or bleached blotches where a leaf has taken too much direct sun. Bright indirect light a step back from the glass keeps the color rich without burning.

The flip side is true too. A peace lily parked in a genuinely dark corner stays alive but rarely blooms, since it needs decent light to bother producing spathes at all. Somewhere it casts a soft shadow is about right. Keep it clear of air-conditioning vents while you're adjusting placement, because that cold dry draft browns leaf edges as surely as too much sun does. Giving the pot a quarter turn each time you water keeps growth even, since a peace lily leans toward its light source over a few weeks and grows lopsided otherwise.

4. Groom the Leaves and Deadhead Spent Blooms

Dust is a quiet problem on a broad-leaved plant. A film across those big leaves blocks light and slows the plant down, so wipe each one with a damp cloth every couple of weeks to keep them working and glossy. Spent flowers matter as well – once a white spathe fades to green and then browns, cut the whole stalk to the base with a clean pair of Fiskars micro-tip pruning snips from Walmart so the plant redirects that energy into new growth.

Older leaves yellow off on their own schedule, and those get trimmed at the base as they go. The wiping does double duty, putting your eyes on the leaf undersides where spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and mealybugs settle in before anyone spots them. Both love the summer heat. Catch a handful early and you can often skip the infestation entirely.

5. Check Whether It's Ready for a Bigger Pot

Summer growth can tip a peace lily into being root-bound. A few things give it away. Water runs straight through instead of soaking in, roots poke out the drainage holes, and the plant wilts again almost as soon as it's watered. A rootbound peace lily blooms poorly and dries out constantly, undoing the other four tasks.

When repotting a peace lily, go up just one pot size – too large a container holds excess water and invites root rot, which peace lilies are prone to. These fun 8-inch pots from Amazon suit a plant stepping up from a 6-inch nursery pot. That said, these things flower best a little snug in the pot, so if none of those signs are showing, leave it where it is and look again in fall. Do these five through the summer and your peace lily rewards you with that deep green flush and a steady run of white spathes, right when the rest of the garden is wilting in the heat.

Peace Lily Essentials

The peace lily has a reputation as the houseplant nobody can kill, which is mostly fair and a little misleading. It survives low light and shrugs off neglectful watering – but then makes you pay by going dull and brown-tipped, and becoming slow to flower. June is when that neglect shows, as warmth and longer days push it into growth.

Good peace lily care in June is less about rescue than upkeep: small adjustments to watering and light, feeding included, that keep the leaves glossy and coax out the white spathes. None of these tasks is difficult, and most take a few minutes. A peace lily that gets the full set looks the part by midsummer: glossy leaves, the odd bloom, and no brown edges spoiling the look.

1. Step Up the Watering, and Check What’s in the Water

A peace lily drinks faster in June’s warmth and active growth, so the once-a-week winter routine can leave it quite thirsty. The plant makes its needs plain: leaves go limp and the whole thing sags when the soil dries, perking up within hours of a drink. Useful as that signal is, repeated hard wilting wears it down, so check the top inch (2–3 cm) of soil every few days and water your peace lily once it feels dry.

What comes out of the tap matters more than you’d think. Peace lilies are sensitive to chlorine and fluoride in treated water, and salts don’t help – brown, crispy tips are the usual result. Standing water overnight clears the chlorine; filtered or rainwater handles the fluoride. One of mine grows with its roots down in an axolotl tank, the glossiest of the bunch, since that water stays dechlorinated and filtered.

Peace Lily June Care Essentials

2. Raise the Humidity Around Your Plant

A peace lily comes off the damp floor of tropical forests; a living room in summer is the opposite. Air conditioning pulls moisture from a room fast, and the strain tends to show first at the leaf edges, which brown and turn papery. Grouping a few plants together helps a little, since each raises the humidity around the others as it transpires.

For a real change, moisture has to go back into the air directly. A Levoit cool mist humidifier from Amazon near the plant holds humidity up better than misting does – a quick mist looks productive but dries off within the hour. A pebble tray is the low-tech version: a dish of water and stones keeping the pot above the waterline, topped up as it evaporates. Either way, the aim is to have air closer to the understory than to a desert

3. Feed, but With a Light Hand

June sits in the feeding window, since a peace lily only uses fertilizer while growing hard through spring and summer. The catch is that it’s a light feeder, and the usual mistake is being too generous. Piling it on doesn’t buy more flowers; it builds up as salts that scorch the tips and push the plant toward soft, leafy growth instead of blooms.

When fertilizing peace lilies, a balanced liquid feed at half label strength, every four to six weeks, is plenty. Reach for a formula designed for houseplants, like Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Food, and there’s little to get wrong.

Flushing the pot with plain water periodically clears the salts feeding leaves behind. I spent years blaming my tapwater alone for brown tips before realizing the soil had salted up from overfeeding – a flush fixed it faster than switching water did.

4. Wipe the Leaves Until They Shine

Those broad, glossy leaves are most of a peace lily’s appeal, and they double as dust magnets. The film builds faster than expected, dulling the shine and, worse, blocking the light the plant needs to photosynthesize and flower. The fix is about as simple as plant care gets: wipe each leaf with a soft, damp cloth, with a hand underneath for support so it doesn’t bend or tear.

Plain water on a microfiber cloth (I use this one from Amazon) is the whole kit; skip the commercial leaf-shine sprays, which coat the surface and clog the pores it breathes through. I use my own DIY spray, but a drop of mild soap will do to shift any greasy residue – just rinse after.

Cleaning houseplant leaves is also a good time to spot pests. Check the undersides, where spider mites and mealybugs settle first; a leaf you’re already wiping is a leaf you’re inspecting. Caught there, they rarely become a real infestation.

5. Get the Light Right for Summer

Light is where the flowering question gets settled. A peace lily wants bright, indirect light to bloom; in a dim corner, it stays green but seldom throws a spathe. A plant that never flowers is usually one that’s too dark. The instinct is to shift it to the brightest window, and in summer, that can backfire.

The summer sun sits higher and harder than in spring, and direct midday light through glass can scorch the leaves, bleaching pale patches that don’t recover. The sweet spot is bright light through a sheer curtain, or a spot a few feet back from a sunny window – strong, but never direct. East-facing windows tend to suit it, with gentle morning sun and shade once the afternoon turns. Washed-out leaves or dry brown patches mean it’s getting too much; pull it back a foot or two (30–60cm), and it usually settles.

6. Cut Spent Blooms Back to the Base

A peace lily flower doesn’t bow out gracefully. The white spathe greens over, then browns at the edges and turns shabby while the rest of the plant is still going. A spent bloom does nothing and pulls the eye to the tattiest part of the plant, so take it off completely rather than trim the brown back.

When pruning peace lilies, follow the flower stalk to where it rises from the crown and cut it there with a clean, sharp pair of precision pruning shears – Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Snips are ideal. Leaving a stub invites rot and looks worse than the bloom did.

Bear in mind, an immature peace lily won’t rebloom on cue: nurseries force those uniform shop-floor blooms with a hormone – gibberellic acid – so a young plant at home may not be mature enough to flower yet. Given decent light and a season or two, though, it gets there on its own.

May is a turning point for many houseplants, including peace lilies. With longer days and higher temperatures, houseplants have come out of dormancy, and active growth is really amping up, but only if the conditions are right.

To get the most healthy growth and blooming possible, good peace lily care now is a must. From boosting sunlight and humidity to light feeding and potentially dividing or repotting plants, these are tasks that even a low-maintenance peace lily will appreciate. Put in the time now and reap the rewards all summer and into the fall.

1. Do a Deep Spring Clean

If you didn’t do it in April, now is the time to tidy up your peace lilies. As indoor air recirculates all winter, houseplants accumulate a lot of dust. This is especially true for plants with broad leaves, like peace lilies. Wipe the winter dust with a soft, damp cloth. This will help your leaves take in more energy from sunlight, promoting new growth.

This is also a good time to do any necessary peace lily pruning, which encourages fresh growth. Use sharp, clean scissors to snip off old flower stalks, yellow leaves, and brown tips. Peace lilies look most vibrant and elegant when tidied up, and it only takes a few minutes to do this chore.

2. Adjust the Lighting

As your peace lily comes out of dormancy and enters a period of more rapid growth, it needs a little more light to encourage maximum blooming. It’s important to find a good balance, though. Peace lilies don’t do well in bright, direct light or full sun at any time of year, but they can benefit from a small increase in summer.

You can move your peace lily to a brighter window. An east-facing window is ideal, as morning light is gentler than afternoon light. North-facing windows that are very bright can also provide a good amount of indirect light.

Another option is to move your peace lily outdoors once it’s warm enough. In colder climates, this might not be until the end of May. Find it a spot in dappled or deep shade, such as under a tree or a covered patio. If the leaves get brown, crispy edges or the color fades, the light is too bright or too direct.

Peace Lily Essentials

3. Start a Gentle Feeding Routine

Peace lilies don’t like too much sun, and they also don’t like too much food. While your lily won’t need any fertilizer in winter, it can benefit from gentle, minimal applications in spring and summer. May is a good time to start a peace lily fertilizing routine for the remainder of the growing season.

Use a balanced, liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Apply it now and again every four to six weeks until fall. Signs you are overfeeding include browning on leaf tips and salt accumulation around the edges of the container. The right amount and frequency of fertilizer will promote new growth, strong stems, and abundant flowers.

4. Water More and Up the Humidity

Peace lilies are famously forgiving of neglect, even when it comes to watering. If you’ve ever forgotten to water your peace lily, you’ll know, as it droops dramatically. On the other hand, once you water it, you’ll see the leaves perk up quickly as if nothing were wrong.

Although they’ll forgive you, your peace lily will look its best when watered adequately, especially in summer. Instead of a rigid routine, water as needed. Check the soil for dryness. When the top inch is dry, it’s time to water.

Humidity is also important for peace lily health. While air is generally more humid in spring and summer, air conditioning can dry it right out. Use pebble trays and misting to raise the humidity and keep your plant happy. Or, if possible, get it outside for a summer vacation.

5. Repot... If the Time Is Right

Peace lilies grow best when a little root-bound. They don’t like to be able to stretch their roots too much. This means they generally don’t need to be repotted every year. If your plant is due for a slightly larger container, you might see roots growing through drainage holes or at the surface of the soil. Another sign to upgrade is if water runs through the pot increasingly quickly. This is a sign of overly cramped roots.

May is a good time to repot a peace lily. You want to do this task before new growth takes off too vigorously, giving the roots time to settle.

Upgrade to a container that is only one or two inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) larger than the current pot. Use fresh soil or potting mix. It should be loose and light, as compacted soil can lead to rotted roots. Once it’s repotted, give your peace lily a good watering and keep it in a warm spot out of direct light for a few days as it adjusts.

6. Divide While You're at It

Peace lilies don’t like to be disrupted too often, so if you’re thinking of dividing a plant, do it when it needs to be repotted anyway. If your current plant is very large and you don’t want to go any bigger, you can separate it into two or more smaller plants. Repot them for yourself or to share with friends. May is a good time to do this, as the smaller plants will recover more quickly during the active growing season.

Remove the plant from its container and brush soil from the roots until you can see them well enough to find good places to make divisions. Peace lilies naturally grow in clumps, so you should see obvious root sections that you can separate. Use a clean, sharp knife if necessary, and to minimize bruising and damage to the healthy roots. Make sure each peace lily division has roots and several leaves.

Peace lilies are low-maintenance houseplants, but they do need some care. May is an important time to do these tasks, like cleaning, feeding, and watering, to ensure healthy growth and plenty of flowers that you’ll enjoy in the summer.

March can be a tricky time – it’s still not quite spring, but don’t we want it to be? For several of our plants, it’s the tail end of a bitter winter slog, and several are looking decidedly under par. That includes houseplants that might have been spared the harsh weather outside. My peace lily (Spathiphyllum) looks quite winter-weary as we get to the business end of a long cold season. This time last year, I had the same issue.

And here's the thing: I'd just been advised to switch out my morning coffees for something healthier. It was while supping a lukewarm Sencha that I glanced at my lackluster peace lily and thought: well, if it can help me, maybe it could work for her? After months of dry indoor air and low light, her leafy sheen had dulled and she looked like she was hugging her pot. I really wanted to give my peace lily plant a little love. So I gently tipped a bit of green tea into the pot… and waited. (OK, I also had a moment of panic and felt a bit silly about this impromptu soak, but then I waited some more.)

Without wishing to sound glib, this breakfast counter moment has been a game-changer. Plants, like us, appreciate a timely tonic – and March is a critical time if you want to help your favorite houseplants wake up from the winter glums. I understand the temptation to reach for a houseplant fertilizer (and I’ve tested my fair share of feeds), but at this time of year, a gentle approach really helps peace lilies get back in the game. No kidding, what initially felt like a moment of March madness has been a revelation. Here’s why this splash of green tea works wonders for peace lily growth in March, and how a timely infusion can help yours, too.

Why A Green Tea Tonic Works

You might be vaguely skeptical, and I understand. The world is full of faddy tips for this and that, and I am guilty of embracing a few unusual gardening tips (we can come back to those another time). But there is some solid botanical chemistry behind this March tonic. Here’s why a timely infusion can unlock nutrients, boost leaf shine and trigger brilliant white blooms.

Peace lilies are naturally understory plants from tropical rainforests, where they thrive in leaf-littered, slightly acidic soil. Tap water tends to be slightly alkaline, which, over a long winter, can cause a bit of a nutrient lockout. The first thing this green tea infusion does is gently lower soil pH. This acidity acts like a key, unlocking minerals like iron and magnesium that have been sitting in the soil but were unreachable for the plant.

Caring for peace lily plants this way also delivers a dose of tannic acid and polyphenols. These help the plant manage the stress of fluctuating March temperatures and indoor heating. Added to this, you’re delivering a vital dose of nitrogen, a building block for chlorophyll. It’s the direct reason a dull, hungry yellow can shift to that deep, healthy emerald.

All of this from one timely brew! Our cup of green tea tells the plant the growing season has officially begun. There are three key stages to awakening your peace lily with this tonic:

• Days 3-7: The first change isn't color, it's posture (aka turgor). Within the first week, you’ll notice the stance starts to feel sturdier. That fainting drama that peace lilies are famous for lessens as the tea's minerals help the plant's cells hold onto water more effectively.
• Week 2: As the iron becomes available again, the dull winter leaves regain their deep, emerald flush. You’ll look at it a fortnight later, and it’s like someone waved a magic wand over the foliage – the change is genuinely that noticeable.
• Week 4: After a couple of fortnightly infusions, you’ll see the first white beak (or spathe, as we call our peace lily flower) emerging from the center. Because the plant isn't struggling with soil chemistry, these blooms tend to be larger and stay brilliant white for longer.

Make The Perfect March Pick-Me-Up

When it comes to treating your peace lily to this timely tonic, think about dilution and frequency. You aren't looking to give your plant a caffeine jolt – rather, a nutrient-dense infusion the roots can absorb without shock. Think gently when preparing this tonic. To care for peace lily plants, it needs to be not too hot, not too strong, and absolutely no additives.

The process is simple: steep one organic green tea bag in about a pint of boiled water. I personally recommend a high-quality, pure leaf like Numi Organic Gunpowder Green or Rishi Tea Sencha Green Tea Sachets, both available from Amazon. They are both loaded with key antioxidants.

As far as golden rules for peace lily tea making go, it’s simple: never water plants with warm tea. Let it sit for 24 hours until it is room temperature or slightly cool. I also never use the tea neat. Once it's brewed, I dilute it with equal parts regular water. It should be a very pale amber (or pale green, depending on variety) rather than a dark color.

While Matcha is wonderful for us, it’s a bit too concentrated for this tonic. Stick to traditional green tea bags or loose-leaf Sencha for that gentle boost. Add every two weeks from March, until your plant is ready for a more dedicated fertilizer. And be sure to keep it pure, and avoid any green teas with added sugar, honey, or milk.

Shop Green Tea Essentials

To help your peace lily relocate its lush factor with green tea, this is all you need. To make your March plant ritual feel less like a chore and more like a moment, here are a few of my favorite finds for your peace lily March tonic:

Tailoring Your Green Tea Tonic

Just as we all have our preferred tea strength, different peace lilies will have their own needs, based on maturity, size, health, or variety. Whether you're dealing with a dramatic fainter or a peace lily baby, here is how to best adapt the ritual.

If your peace lily looks like it’s given up on life and is in full droop mode, it’s likely too stressed for the standard green tea application. Before you give it a brew, give it a thorough soak with plain, filtered water to rehydrate the roots. Once it has perked up (usually after a few hours), wait two days, and then apply a very diluted, cool green tea chaser. This acts like a recovery tonic, helping the plant regain the minerals it lost during its droopy phase.

If you have a younger plant or one you’ve recently divided, their root systems can be a little sensitive. Use a fine glass mister like the pretty Sincengel Glass Water Mister from Amazon to apply a very weak, room-temperature tea spray directly to the leaves as a foliar feed. Plants can absorb nutrients through their stomata (leaf pores), providing a gentle nitrogen snack without overwhelming delicate new roots.

• Giants (like 'Sensation'): Bigger peace lilies have more leaf area to support, so they need a larger dose or a more regular brew. I give my 'Sensation' a cup and a half of diluted tea to ensure those huge, ribbed leaves stay dark green and don't get hunger spots.
• Variegated (like 'Domino'): Variegated plants are tricky, and too much nitrogen can sometimes cause them to revert to solid green. However, the gentle levels in green tea help variegated varieties maintain their contrasts, keeping white splashes crisp and bright.
• Mini lilies (like 'Cupido'): Smaller peace lilies are prone to salt buildup but also sensitive to overwatering. Only treat them to a tea sip once a month in March and April. Also, try bottom-feeding (placing tea in the saucer) for these smaller guys to avoid soggy stems.

Beyond the Cup: Peace Lily Glow-Up

You’re now well on your way to transforming your peace lily into a lush, air-purifying centerpiece. But while our botanical tea ritual is the internal reset your plant needs, March is also the time for a bit of external TLC. During winter, dust can build up on peace lily leaves like a jacket. This doesn't just look untidy, it physically blocks the plant's breathing pores (stomata) and prevents it from photosynthesizing efficiently.

Gently wipe each leaf from the stem to the tip, using a damp, soft cloth or some wipes. Southside Plant Wipes from Amazon are very gentle, a little goes a long way, and that neem oil can also tackle any possible pests. It’s also a good idea to give your plant a little rotation. As the sun shifts and strengthens, your plant will start stretching toward the window. Give your pot a quarter-turn every time you apply your tea infusion. It ensures a more uniformly lush and bushy look.

March is also a great time to check the roots. If you see them peeking out of the drainage holes or if the tea seems to run straight through the pot, it’s probably time to repot your plant. I love Rosy Soil Potting Mix for Houseplants, available from Amazon, and add a little perlite for drainage. Moving up one pot size (2 inches or 5 cm wider) should be enough. Peace lilies like being a little cozy, so don't give them too much leg room or the soil may stay too damp.

Frequently Asked Questions

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It is not unusual to find your peace lily in shock after repotting. This can happen when repotting any houseplant. There are steps you can follow to prevent a peace lily wilting after transplanting, as well as steps you can take to correct the situation if it does happen.

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.) are popular household plants that will bloom if given sufficient light. Proper care of a peace lily, plus following transplant tips, will help prevent a peace lily dying after repotting.

How to Fix a Peace Lily Droopy After Repotting

If your peace lily wilted after repotting, follow these steps to bring the plant back to health.

1. Let the top 1/2 inch (1.3 cm.) of soil dry out between watering. Peace lilies prefer moist soil but not wet. You can let it stay a little on the dry side till it recovers.
2. Position the plant in indirect light for about a week to 10 days. When it perks up, relocate it to its former location or in bright, indirect light, such as near an east or south window.
3. Avoid placing the plant near heating or cooling vents.
4. Wait two to four weeks before resuming fertilizer.
5. Always water before the plant wilts. Waiting for a wilt signal to water will stress the plant.
6. Increase the humidity around the peace lily by setting the plant on a tray of pebbles. Fill the tray with water making sure the pot sits on the pebbles and does not touch the water.

Transplanting Tips

In the future, before transplanting a peace lily or any houseplant, follow these tips to successfully make the transition.

1. Two weeks before transplanting, fertilize the plant and inspect it for pests. Address any pest problems before transplanting.
2. Water the plant the night before transplanting to hydrate the roots and make it easier to remove from the container.
3. Choose a container that is 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cm.) larger in diameter than the original container. Anything larger can cause root rot by holding excess water in the soil.
4. Make sure the container is clean. Kill any pathogens by dipping the pot in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
5. Purchase a soilless planting medium with organic matter or mix your own including perlite to increase the drainage capacity.
6. Carefully remove the plant from the container. Inspect the roots for damaged or circling roots. Break up any circling roots and snip off any black or discolored roots. Divide the plant, if needed, making sure each division has three stems.
7. Fill the container about half full with the soilless mixture. Add the plant at the same level it was before and fill in the edges with more soilless mixture. The top of the soil should end about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) from the top of the container to make watering easier.
8. Water well and let the water drain through the drainage holes. Discard any water that collects in the drip pan.
9. Pot up any divisions you made.

Observing these recommendations should help keep your peace lily vibrant and thriving.

Peace lily is a tropical plant popular as a houseplant in colder climates. It is easy to grow and forgiving of neglect. The foliage is attractive, but the plant also produces gorgeous white flowers. If your peace lily flowers are green, the contrast is not as striking. There are a few possible reasons for this phenomenon. 

Why Do Peace Lily Flowers Turn Green? 

What you may consider a flower on the peace lily is actually a spathe. A spathe is a modified leaf, or bract, that surrounds the small flowers. The natural cycle of the spathe on a peace lily is to develop with a greenish color, turn bright white, and then turn green again as the flowers fade and ultimately turn brown. 

Most likely your green peace lily blooms are simply part of the process. However, another reason that they may be more green than white is over-feeding. Peace lily has low fertilizer needs, so providing too much can cause issues, including less striking flowers. Another growing condition that may contribute to the green color is bright light. 

How to Prevent Green Blooms on Peace Lilies 

Because the green shade is natural during certain phases of the peace lily flower’s lifespan, it’s not possible to avoid green flowers entirely. However, you can take steps to make sure your plant produces more flowers that are healthy and bright white:

• Fertilize only lightly and a couple of times a year. Use a houseplant fertilizer but halve the strength. Apply during active growth and when flowers are blooming. Reducing fertilizer when you see a green flower won’t correct the problem immediately, but it should lead to whiter blooms next time around. 
• Make sure your peace lily doesn’t get too much light. This is a shade-loving tropical plant. Too much sun may trigger photosynthesis in the spathes. A spot in the house with indirect light is best. 
• Water your peace lily regularly, but make sure drainage is adequate. The plant is healthiest with moist but not soggy soil. 
• Your peace lily should not be allowed to get too cold, but also avoid putting it next to a radiator or vent. The dry air from indoor heating or from a cold draft can harm the plant.

I have a huge peace lily in a large container that graces my more formal living space in the house. It sits by the window, catching early morning light. This plant is nearly 20 years old and has survived both neglect and destructive kittens.

How My Peace Lily Plant Survived So Long

My grandma passed away when I was in college. I couldn't go to the funeral because I had exams that I couldn't miss. My parents assured me it was okay and that she would understand. What I got, though, was this little peace lily plant from the church decorations. It has been with me ever since, a reminder of my grandma.

When I got the plant, I was far from a green thumb at gardening. I didn't have my own house or yard yet, and I had killed some houseplants before. I had one sad spider plant barely hanging on and didn't have high hopes for the peace lily growing.

One thing going in my favor is the fact that this is a very forgiving species. Not only do peace lilies tolerate the soil going dry, but they prefer it. I have to admit I let it wilt a time or two, which is not ideal, but letting the soil dry out and then giving it a good soaking was just my style of plant care.

Fortunately for me, peace lily also likes being pot bound. It neither wants nor needs too much space to grow. Years ago, I put it in a large container, let it fill it out, and have since then kept it in the same pot. It seems happy there.

Another struggle my plant has faced over the years is cats. Our first two cats decided to turn the large pot into a litter box, so we added stones to the top of the soil. The next two kittens who came along were particularly destructive, chewing on leaves, breaking stems, and generally using the plant as a personal jungle gym.

Keeping a kitten out of the peace lily is a game of distraction, but fortunately, this tough plant recovers well. It is already regrowing and with a few broken leaves trimmed off, it looks a little smaller but neater.

To keep the peace lily flowering, I give it a very occasional fertilizing. It doesn't like too much. I reduce the concentration with a basic houseplant fertilizer and only use it every few months. I plan to keep it for another 20 years, at least.

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.), with their smooth, white blossoms, exude serenity and calm. Although they are not actually lilies, these plants are among the most common tropical plants grown as houseplants in this country. Peace lilies are tough and resilient, but they are susceptible to a few pests and diseases. Read on more information about peace lily plant problems, including common diseases in Spathiphyllum plants.

Peace Lily Plant Problems

Peace lilies may be tropical plants but they do not require kid-glove care. On the other hand, the better your cultural care matches the plant’s needs, the fewer peace lily plant problems you are likely to encounter. Peace lilies need indirect light, never direct light. If you position your plant a couple of feet from a window, it should be fine. Another alternative is to put it near fluorescent lights. Sufficient light is essential to preventing diseases in Spathiphyllum. These lovely plants prefer a humid location. They thrive in warm, moist conditions. You can satisfy your peace lily and avoid peace lily plant problems by keeping the temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18-26 C.). Increase the humidity for your peace lily by setting the plant on a tray filled with pebbles and water. Watering too often can bring on diseases of peace lily plants. Wait until you see the plant wilting before adding more water.

Pests and Diseases of Peace Lily Plants

Taking good care of your peace lily will mean it’s less likely to suffer from pests and diseases. Remove all dead leaves from the plant and the pot. Wipe down green leaves with a damp cloth occasionally to remove dust. Check the plant’s leaves for pests like spider mites, mealybugsand scale. These might have come into your home on other plants and can cause peace lily plant problems if not removed or treated. When it comes to diseases of peace lily plants, the two most common diseases in Spathiphyllum are Cylindrocladium spathiphylli and Phytophthora parasitica, both causing root rot diseases. The former type of root rot is transferred among plants by infected water, the second by infected soil. If your plant has root rot, you’ll need to think about treating peace lily diseases. First, try to figure out what your plant has. You’ll recognize root rot disease in Spathiphyllum if you notice that a peace lily has yellowing leaves and a wilting appearance. If its roots are also rotting, it likely has root rot. Oftentimes, cleaning off the roots and repotting the plant in fresh, healthy soil will help.

Is your peace lily drooping suddenly? This common issue can send plant parents into a panic. Peace lilies are generally easy to grow and beautiful – that's why they're beloved by so many.

However, when a problem like wilting occurs, it's time to look back at some peace lily care basics to make sure your plant is getting what it needs. Many issues manifest first as drooping or wilting. If you see that your peace lily is drooping it is undoubtedly a cause for concern, but some instances may be more serious than others.

I'll walk you through the most common causes of a drooping peace lily and how to solve each one. Just follow these expert tips below and your plant will perk up and be blooming again in no time!

Why Is My Peace Lily Drooping?

There are a few potential reasons why your peace lily is drooping. Houseplant problems like this typically fall into a handful of different categories: cultural issues, environmental problems, pests, and diseases.

I'll break down each of the most common causes, including problems in each of those categories, and give you some easy fixes to help perk up your plant.

1. You're Watering It Wrong

Improper watering is the leading cause of drooping peace lily leaves. Though it’s considered good practice to allow the container to dry slightly between waterings, excessively dry soils can cause your plant to wilt quickly.

The same can also be said for overwatering, in which oversaturated containers lead to a rapid decline in your plant’s health. If you think overwatering is the cause of your concerns, then hold off on watering until your peace lily has a chance to dry out. If it's extremely saturated, it may be time to repot your peace lily into fresh, dryer soil.

To prevent future wilting due to improper watering, invest in a moisture meter, like this one from Amazon, to make sure your peace lily is getting exactly the amount of water it needs.

2. It Has a Pest Infestation

The presence of pests only rarely results in wilting peace lily plants. However, this may occur when the infestation becomes severe. The most common indoor pests include mealybugs and scale.

You can help prevent losing your plant to these nuisance insects by routinely checking plants for changes in appearance and monitoring their foliage closely. Once pests have become established, use insecticidal soap, which you can get on Amazon, to clear your peace lilies of harmful insects.

3. It's Diseased

Root rot and stem rot are among the most frequent causes of wilting in peace lilies. Rot as well as other fungal infections are common peace lily diseases and are likely to occur with consistent overwatering or in soils that drain poorly.

Prevention is important since affected plants are unlikely to recover. When planting, always make certain that pots and containers drain well, allowing water to move freely. As a general rule, you should water peace lilies only when the surface of the soil has dried.

To check for root rot, remove your peace lily from its container and take a look at the roots. If they're dark and mushy, then they may be rotted. Use a sharp, clean pair of pruners, like these ones from Fiskars, to cut away any rotted roots. Then repot your peace lily in fresh soil and a clean pot to prevent further contamination.

4. It's Not Getting Enough Light

Peace lily plants are known for their ability to flourish in low-light conditions. However, inadequate light can lead to an overall loss of vigor. This includes a drooping or a wilted appearance.

Check to see if your houseplant is getting enough light by using a simple shadow test or a light meter, which you can get on Amazon.

Sudden changes in temperature or humidity can cause wilting as well. Since peace lily plants are quite tender, dips below approximately 60°F (15°C) may result in damage, causing plants to wilt.

5. It Needs More Nutrients

Fertilizing peace lilies regularly helps keep them looking their best. Though yellowing leaves is the first sign that there may be a nutrient deficiency within your plant's soil, drooping may also occur.

Use a balanced, liquid feed that has been specifically formulated for houseplants, like this Espoma indoor plant food from Amazon. Fertilizers should be used only according to the manufacturer’s labeled instructions. This helps to prevent overfeeding, which can often result in further damage to plants.

6. It's Root-Bound

Drooping peace lily flowers often happen when plants have become root-bound. Root-bound plants are likely to dry more quickly between waterings. They will often show roots that begin to emerge from the top or drainage holes of containers. To maintain the plant’s health when this happens, repotting will be necessary.

Before beginning the peace lily repotting process, water each plant well and allow it to rest for several hours to ensure it's well-hydrated. Then remove the plant from its container with the root ball intact.

Loosen and tease free any circling roots. Then replant peace lilies in pots that are at least one size larger and filled with a quality growing medium, like this Miracle-Gro potting mix for houseplants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peace lilies are so enchanting; it may come as a surprise that they are rugged plants that tolerate a variety of light conditions, including semi-darkness. Peace lilies can even survive a certain amount of neglect at the hands of busy or forgetful indoor gardeners. 

Do peace lilies need fertilizer? Believe it or not, many folks prefer to skip the fertilizer and their peace lily plants do just fine without it. However, fertilizing a peace lily now and then is important if you hope to encourage blooming. Read on to learn more about fertilizer for peace lilies.

When to Feed Peace Lily Plants

Peace lilies aren’t fussy and they really don’t need much fertilizer. The best time to apply peace lily fertilizer is when the plant is activity growing or producing blooms. 

As a general rule, two or three feedings throughout the growing season is plenty. If you choose to feed your plant more often, use a very diluted fertilizer. Avoid overfeeding, as too much fertilizer may create brown spots on the leaves. 

If the flowers are a little green around the gills instead of creamy white, you are probably overdoing the fertilizer. Either cut back or dilute the concentration.

What is the Best Peace Lily Fertilizer?

When it comes to fertilizing a peace lily, any good quality, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer is fine. Look for a product with a balanced ratio, such as 20-20-20, diluted to one-half or one-quarter strength. Be sure to water after feeding your peace lily to distribute the fertilizer evenly around the roots. Never apply fertilizer to dry soil, which may scorch the roots.

Are your peace lily leaves turning brown suddenly? Don't fret. This common issue is nothing to worry about as long as you understand the causes and fixes behind brown leaf tips.

Though these houseplants are generally tough and resilient, sometimes you will notice a peace lily with brown tips. This unsettling condition is usually caused by water or fertilizer issues, which are easy to solve.

Let's dig into the exact causes of this common peace lily problem and how to treat them so you can keep growing a peace lily houseplant that thrives year-round.

Why Does My Peace Lily Have Brown Tips?

It is important to differentiate between plant problems caused by diseases (termed “biotic”) and those caused by environmental factors including cultural care (termed “abiotic”). Both fungal diseases and cultural care can cause brown tips on leaves. Fungal diseases often occur on outdoor plants as a result of fungal spore transfer in high humidity, wind, or splashing water.

Sometimes houseplants that have spent long months looking completely healthy suddenly take a turn for the worse, developing brown tips and margins. While you may assume this is a fungal problem, the truth is often much simpler.

Growing indoors, your peace lily is not likely experiencing high humidity, wind, or splashing rainwater. That means something about the cultural care of your plant is resulting in a peace lily with brown tips. This might be an issue with watering, humidity, or light exposure, but can also involve improper fpeace lily fertilizing.

When you see peace lily tips turning brown, look first to cultural care. In most cases, the normally healthy plant leaves look sickly because of a cultural care issue.

Common Causes of Brown Tips on Peace Lilies

Very few outdoor peace lilies develop brown-tipped leaves. This problem mainly arises when you grow peace lilies indoors. That means that improper cultural care is generally the cause. But determining the exact reason is key to solving the problem. Here are the two most common causes.

1. Too Much Water (or Fluoride)

Peace lilies do not like excess water, so overwatering can result in browning of leaf tips. In addition, if you water with tap water, the plants may react badly.

Peace lilies are very sensitive to fluoride in water or any type of water softener. You can either use distilled, filtered, or collected rain water to water peace lily plants.

Another option is to let tap water sit out overnight to let any unwanted chemicals, like chlorine or fluoride, evaporate. Though there is some debate about whether this practice actually works.

A better way to keep unwanted mineral deposits from impacting plants is to leach your houseplants two or three times per year or whenever you notice a white mineral buildup on the soil. Do this by flushing your plant with three times the volume of water as the volume of soil in the pot. Let your plant drain completely.

2. Too Much Fertilizer

Among those factors that lead to abiotic disorders in houseplants, excess fertilizer ranks high on the list. The idea, "If a little is good, more is better," certainly does not apply to fertilizing plants, especially if they are growing indoors.

During the winter months when days are short and light is poor, most houseplants produce little, if any, new growth. Attempting to encourage new growth by applying fertilizer then is counterproductive.

Excess fertilizer can cause browning leaves in peace lilies. When you fertilize plants, the fertilizer salts are taken up by the plant and are stored along leaf margins and tips. This can cause fertilizer burn, leading to marginal or tip necrosis.

Only fertilize peace lilies during the growing season in spring and summer. Use a fertilizer designed specifically for indoor plants, like this liquid plant food from Miracle-Gro.

How to Treat a Peace Lily With Brown Tips

When you notice that your peace lily leaves have brown tips, consider cultural care first. If you are watering with tap water, consider gathering rain water in a bucket outdoors and using this to water sensitive plants.

If you have been fertilizing your plant, take action to get the salts from the leaves and container. Flush the soil by watering several times with bottled drinking water and letting it run out the drain holes. Then reduce the fertilizer amounts you provide. Repotting your peace lily is another way to clear these salts from the soil.

If these steps do not seem to solve the issue, consider other possible causes of brown leaf tips on peace lilies. These can include too little humidity (place the plant on a pebble saucer with water), too much sunlight, or temperature fluctuations.

Should I Cut the Brown Tips Off My Peace Lily?

Cutting damaged leaves off of your peace lily is a good idea. This will also allow you to check whether the problem is solved as new leaves grow in. A pair of sharp, clean pruners, like the Felco F6 Hand Shears from Amazon, would prevent any further damage to delicate plants.

Peace Lily Care Essentials

It makes sense that indoor plants should improve air quality. After all, plants convert the carbon dioxide we breathe out into the oxygen we breathe in. It goes way beyond that, though. NASA (which has a pretty good reason to care about air quality in enclosed spaces) has conducted a study on how plants improve air quality. The study focuses on 19 plants that thrive indoors in low light and actively remove pollutants from the air. Way at the top of that list of plants is the peace lily. Keep reading to learn more about using peace lily plants for air purification.

Peace Lilies and Pollution

The NASA study focuses on common air pollutants that tend to be given off by manmade materials. These are chemicals that become trapped in the air in enclosed spaces and can be bad for your health if breathed in too much.

• One of these chemicals is Benzene, which can be naturally given off by gasoline, paint, rubber, tobacco smoke, detergent, and a variety of synthetic fibers.
• Another is Trichloroethylene, which can be found in paint, lacquer, glue, and varnish. In other words, it’s commonly given off by furniture.

Peace lilies have been found to be very good at removing these two chemicals from the air. They absorb the pollutants from the air through their leaves, then send them to their roots, where they’re broken down by microbes in the soil. So, this makes using peace lily plants for air purification in the home a definite plus. Do peace lilies help with air quality in any other ways? Yes, they do. In addition to help with air pollutants in the home, they also give off a lot of moisture in the air. Getting clean air with peace lilies can be even more effective if a lot of the pot’s topsoil is exposed to the air. Pollutants can be absorbed straight into the soil and broken down this way. Trim away the lowest leaves on your peace lily to allow lots of direct contact between the soil and the air. If you want to get clean air with peace lilies, simply add these plants to your home.

When it comes to easy indoor plants, it doesn’t get much easier than a peace lily. This tough plant even tolerates low light and a certain amount of neglect. However, repotting a peace lily plant is occasionally necessary, as a rootbound plant isn’t able to absorb nutrients and water and may eventually die. Fortunately, peace lily repotting is easy! Keep reading to learn how to repot a peace lily.

When to Repot Peace Lilies

Does my peace lily need repotting? Peace lily is actually happy when its roots are slightly crowded, so don’t rush to repot if the plant doesn’t need it. However, if you notice roots growing through the drainage hole or circling around the surface of the potting mix, it’s time. If the roots become so compacted that water runs straight through the drainage hole without being absorbed into the potting mix, it’s time for an emergency peace lily repotting! Don’t panic if this is the case; repotting a peace lily isn’t difficult and your plant will soon rebound and grow like crazy in its new, roomier pot.

How to Repot a Peace Lily

Select a container only a size larger than the peace lily’s current pot. It may sound logical to use a larger pot, but a large amount of damp potting mix around the roots may contribute to root rot. It’s much better to repot the plant into gradually larger containers. Water the peace lily a day or two before repotting. Fill a container about one-third full of fresh, high quality potting mix. Remove the peace lily carefully from the container. If the roots are tightly compacted, loosen them carefully with your fingers so they can spread out in the new pot. Set the peace lily in the new pot. Add or subtract potting mix to the bottom as needed; the top of the root ball should be about an inch (2.5 cm.) below the rim of the pot. Fill in around the root ball with potting mix, then firm the potting mix lightly with your fingers. Water the peace lily well, allowing excess liquid to drip through the drainage hole. Once the plant has completely drained, return it to its drainage saucer.

How To Prune A Peace Lily: Everything You Need To Know

If you love indoor plants, you probably already have this popular houseplant in your home, but do you know how to prune a peace lily? Peace lilies rank high among the most popular plants for growing indoors. Their large, glossy foliage adds dramatic color and vitality to a room.

Under ideal conditions, you can expect a peace lily to quickly fill its container in only a few years and then need to be divided. But in the meantime, how do you prune a peace lily? Do these lovelies need to be trimmed or cut back? This article will discuss all you need to know about how to trim a peace lily plant.

Why Should You Prune a Peace Lily?

Properly pruning peace lily plants will keep them healthy and looking their best. Although pruning is only seldom needed, if you do want to cut back a peace lily it will help it to produce new growth. Peace lilies can also be pruned to maintain the desired size and overall shape of the plants.

Best Time to Prune a Peace Lily

It’s best to prune potted peace lilies during their periods of active growth to help them produce new flowers, buds, and foliage more efficiently. Plants grown outdoors can also be pruned at this time to maintain the appearance of your flower beds and prevent disease. If your peace lily is overgrown or has become unmanageable, it may also be pruned back in the fall, but this aggressive technique is seldom needed for plants that have been well-maintained.

How to Prune a Peace Lily

Pruning a peace lily plant begins by determining which parts of the plant should be removed. With a focus on the plant’s health, start by removing any dead or decaying foliage. This includes any leaves that have started to yellow or show signs of damage or disease. Peace lilies should also be deadheaded throughout the season. Removing old or faded flower stalks from the plant prevents the production of seed.

To begin pruning you need a sharp pair of pruners, or secateurs, and a pair of gloves. Peace lily plants are toxic, so take precautions when handling them. Each leaf you plan to remove can be followed back to the soil level where you can snip and detach the foliage from the plant.

Note: Peace lilies are toxic to dogs and cats. Be sure to remove any pruned leaves and stems from the area and position the plant where your pet isn’t able to contact it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Far Back Can You Cut a Peace Lily?

Take care to only trim back to the base of the petiole. While some experts suggest avoiding severe pruning, you can use this technique to revitalize plants that have been neglected or have become overgrown.

Can I Trim Brown Tips Off My Peace Lily?

It is not uncommon to find that one’s peace lily plants have become tipped with brown. There are several reasons that this may occur, most relating directly to cultural conditions. Stressors, such as improper watering, are most likely to be the culprit. To remove brown tips, remove the entire leaf or simply cut away the damaged segments from the foliage.

Check out our Complete Guide to Houseplants.

Peace lily is a popular indoor plant, valued for its easy-going nature, its ability to grow in low light environments, and last but certainly not least, the beautiful white flowers, which bloom nearly nonstop.

Although this plant isn’t fussy, it’s important to understand how to water a peace lily. Read on for the details of peace lily watering requirements.

When to Water Peace Lily

Poke your finger into the potting soil to determine if it’s time to water your peace lily. If the soil feels moist to the first knuckle, it’s too soon for watering peace lilies. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to give your peace lily a drink of water. If you like high-tech gadgets, you can use a water meter. However, the knuckle test is just as reliable and considerably cheaper.

How to Water a Peace Lily

The best way to water a peace lily is to set the plant in the sink. Pour water slowly onto the soil until liquid drips through the bottom of the pot. Let the plant drain thoroughly, then return it to its drainage saucer. Never let the plant sit in water, as disease caused by excess water is the number one reason for houseplant death. Too little water is always preferable to too much water. 

Peace lilies can stand a fair amount of neglect, but allowing the soil to become bone dry may result in a sad, droopy plant. However, peace lily will nearly always bounce back with a good watering.

Peace Lily Watering Tips

Tap water is fine for watering peace lilies, but letting the water sit out for a day or two allows fluoride and other harmful chemicals to dissipate. If water runs straight through the pot, it may mean the plant is badly root bound. If this is the case, repot your peace lily as soon as possible. 

If you forget to water your peace lily for an extended time, the edges of the leaves may turn yellow. If this happens, water the plant well, then clip off the yellowing foliage. Your plant should soon be good as new.

Peace lilies are not true lilies but are in the Araceae family. They are beautiful evergreen plants that produce creamy white spathes, similar to flowers. The presence of these plants in your home or garden may pose a risk to your pets, especially dogs that like to chew different plants in the landscape. How toxic is peace lily? Read this article for the answer and tips on how to protect your pet.

How Toxic is Peace Lily?

As glorious as peace lilies are when they are blooming, there is an underlying menace in these hooded flowering plants. The presence of peace lily and dogs can be an unfriendly equation. Is peace lily toxic to dogs? All parts of the plant, from stems to leaves and even the attractive blooms, contain an irritating toxin that can be dangerous to man's best friend, so it is best to remove or fence off an area where peace lilies grow.

The peace lily isn't technically poisonous, but it contains a compound that can be extremely bothersome to pets, children, and even an adult if consumed. Even the pollen from the spadix can cause oral irritation if licked off fur and paws. The culprit is the presence of calcium oxalate crystals. 

These are also called raphides. They are needle sharp and shoot out of damaged parts of the plant. The crystals are insoluble and persistent when they contact tissue. The result is an inflammatory reaction, which can be mild to severe and accompanied by other symptoms.

Symptoms of Peace Lily Toxicity in Dogs

As if having an inflamed, irritated mouth, muzzle, and throat aren't enough, peace lily toxicity in dogs can also manifest several other symptoms.

Animals may also get diarrhea, vomit, and exhibit excessive drooling. In severe cases, your dog may appear to have trouble breathing due to an inflamed airway. The symptoms can be very distressing but usually don't warrant a trip to your veterinarian.

If the animal shows signs of airway discomfort or if symptoms persist, however, it is time to call your animal doctor and seek treatment. In most cases, the irritation is minor and home remedies can do the trick. If you are unsure what plant your dog may have eaten, it is also a good idea to seek the advice of your vet.

Treating Peace Lily Symptoms

If symptoms are mild and the dog is not in too much distress, make sure there are no plant parts still in its mouth. Try to rinse the dog’s mouth out and encourage drinking of water. Ice chips can ease the discomfort or even ice cream.

If the animal is experiencing difficulty breathing, you should take it to the veterinarian. Steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs are the usual prescription.

Once your pet is comfortable, take steps to remove peace lily and dogs from each other's company. Either pot up the plants and place them in a high location or simply remove them from the landscape. Determining how to deal with the problem also depends upon how successfully your dog learned from its lesson. In most cases, the animal will never go near the plant again.

Peace Lily Toxicity in Cats - Is Your Cat Safe?

An important question for many houseplant parents is whether their peace lily is toxic to cats. The short answer is yes, but there’s more to the story. Attractive and easy to care for, peace lilies are popular houseplants. But do your peace lily and cat belong in the same house?

Is Peace Lily Poisonous to Cats?

If you have a peace lily, your cat shouldn’t be allowed to eat it, but there is much more of a danger with true lilies. The peace lily belongs to the Araceae family and Spathyphyllum genus of tropical plants, but true lilies belong to the Liliaceae family and lilium genus, and those are the ones you definitely want to separate from your beloved pets.

True lilies are highly toxic to cats. Some examples of lilies commonly used in gardens or as houseplants or cut flowers include Easter, Asiatic, Stargazer, and Tiger lilies. They are the ones that contain compounds that affect a cat’s kidneys. Even consuming a very small amount can be fatal to a cat by causing acute kidney failure.

Cats and Peace Lily Toxicity

Considered mildly to moderately toxic, peace lilies are much less toxic than true lilies and are unlikely to cause fatalities in cats. However, peace lilies contain a substance called calcium oxalate, which are insoluble crystals. A cat chewing on a peace lily releases the calcium oxalate crystals, which will penetrate tissues and cause discomfort, irritating the mouth and gastrointestinal tracts of cats. Peace lilies should certainly not be available to them in the areas where they commonly play and eat.

Common Symptoms

The act of chewing on the leaves releases crystals immediately, so most cats show signs of irritation right away. Typical symptoms of peace lily poisoning include:

• Oral pain and irritation
• Drooling
• Pawing at the mouth
• Vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing
• Decreased irritation

In very rare cases calcium oxalate crystals cause swelling in the upper airway. This can make it difficult for the cat to breathe, so even though the peace lily is less toxic than a true lily, it can certainly cause problems and discomfort for curious felines.

What to Do if Your Cat Eats a Peace Lily

Most cats will be fine after the irritation passes. You can help your cat feel better by removing any plant matter remaining in their mouth. Wipe down their paws if they’ve touched the chewed plant. Although your cat is most likely ok, it’s a good idea to call your veterinarian. If your cat seems to be struggling to breathe, contact your vet immediately or go to an emergency vet.

How to Protect Your Cat from Peace Lilies

Because peace lilies are not fatally toxic, cat owners might be alright with having them in the house. Since it causes instant irritation, most cats will stop chewing a peace lily right away, making it unlikely they will ingest very much of the plant.

Still, it’s best to take some precautions if you have a peace lily and cats. If there is a room or an area of the house your cat doesn’t go, consider keeping the peace lily there. You can also make it distasteful to your cat by spraying the leaves with diluted lemon juice or a specially made deterrent spray from the pet store.

Another good strategy is to provide your cat with plants that are safe to chew. Try cat grass, mint, or catnip. If your cat tries to chew on a peace lily, redirect them to one of these safer alternatives or choose plants that cats avoid.

Peace lilies are considered only moderately toxic, but to be completely safe, it’s best not to have them in a home with cats. They are similarly toxic for dogs. Choose pet-safe plants to enjoy houseplants and to protect your furry friends.

When it comes to low-maintenance houseplants, it doesn’t get much easier than a peace lily. They are well-liked by many plant enthusiasts because they are easy to care for and don’t need a lot of light to produce beautiful flowers. They also tolerate neglect and make good first-time houseplants.

Another benefit of growing peace lilies is that you don’t need to repot them very often. However, repotting a peace lily plant is occasionally necessary because root bound plants aren’t able to absorb nutrients and water and may eventually die.

When the time finally comes to move your plants into bigger pots, it’s essential to do it properly to avoid damage and plant stress. Here’s how and when to repot a peace lily the right way.

Signs It’s Time to Repot a Peace Lily

Peace lilies are one of those rare houseplants that actually prefer to be a root bound. One reason for this may be that they do not tolerate too much moisture in the soil.

A lot of soil in a pot retains more moisture, which can lead to root rot. When roots are tightly bound in a pot, excess water drains away more quickly, reducing the risk of root rot.

Peace lilies are happy when their roots are a little on the crowded side and only require repotting once every few years. But your plants will give you clear signals when they need a little more space. Here’s what to look out for.

The best way to tell it’s time for a bigger container is by looking at your plant’s roots. If your plant is root bound, it’s definitely time for repotting. For example, you may notice roots growing through the drainage hole or emerging on the surface of the soil.

The easiest way to tell if your peace lily is root bound is to slide the plant carefully from the pot so you can see the roots. A severely root bound plant is unable to absorb water because the roots are so tightly packed.

A drooping peace lily may be a sign it’s time to repot. This happens when the roots are so compacted that water runs straight through the drainage hole without being absorbed into the potting mix.

Don’t panic if this is the case. Repotting a peace lily isn’t difficult and your plant will soon rebound and grow like wild in its new, roomier pot.

When to Repot a Peace Lily

You can repot a peace lily any time, but some times are better than others. Spring or early summer after blooming is the best time to repot houseplants because they still have some growing season left to stretch out and develop their roots.

If a peace lily is in rough shape because the roots are very tightly bound, repot it right away. Don’t wait for the ideal time.

How to Repot a Peace Lily

Start with a pot that is just a little bit bigger than the current container. It should be no more than one or two inches wider in diameter. A larger pot will have too much soil and might retain enough moisture to cause root rot.

Water your peace lily a day before repotting or at least a few hours in advance. This gives the roots time to absorb some water, which reduces the inevitable stress that comes with transplanting.

Make sure your new pot has drainage holes and put a piece of mesh or a coffee filter in the bottom of your pot to keep soil from running out of the holes. Fill the container about one-third full of fresh, high-quality potting mix, like this one from Miracle-Gro that’s designed specifically for indoor plants.

Remove your peace lily carefully from its old container. If the roots are tightly compacted, loosen them carefully with your fingers so they can spread out in the new pot. Set the peace lily in the new pot.

Repotting is also a perfect time to divide your peace lily into new, smaller plants. Once you’ve taken the plant out of its old pot, remove offshoots carefully and replant each one into a small pot filled with fresh potting mix to expand your houseplant collection for free.

When repotting a peace lily into a new container, the top of the root ball should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the rim of the pot. If you bury it too deeply, you can get root rot.

Next, fill in around the root ball with your potting mix, then firm the soil lightly with your fingers. Water your peace lily well, allowing excess liquid to drip through the drainage hole.

Place your plant in a shady area for a couple of days. Don’t worry if it looks a little limp for the first few days. Slight wilting often occurs when repotting peace lily houseplants. Don't fertilize your peace lily for a couple of months after repotting to give your plant time to settle into its new home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Repotting Essentials

How To Propagate Peace Lily Plants: Step-By-Step Guide

How To Propagate Peace Lily Plants: Step-By-Step Guide

How to propagate a peace lily requires a little knowledge and a desire for more of its deep green beauty in the house. Peace lily houseplants are easy to maintain, don’t require much light, and will reliably bloom year-round. A healthy one will, of course, grow and eventually need to be repotted, which is a great time to try propagating a peace lily. 

Peace lily propagation is accomplished by division. Splitting a peace lily will not only get you some free new plants but will allow you to keep the pot size down to a manageable level. Not sure how to go about dividing a peace lily? Keep reading to learn when and how to propagate peace lily. 

When to Propagate Peace Lilies

You can divide peace lilies any time of the year although winter or early spring are ideal when the plant is semi-dormant. 

Best Way to Propagate a Peace Lily

To access the roots of the plant you will need to remove it from its pot, which means repotting and dividing peace lilies go hand in hand. You will already have removed the plant from its container so splitting it up into new plants at this time makes sense. 

How to Divide a Peace Lily

Dividing a peace lily couldn’t be simpler. First, water the plant the day before you plan to divide it. This will allow the plant’s roots to swell and make its removal from the soil easier. 

Remove the plant from its container. Because this is a messy project, I either lay newspaper or a tarp down or go outside. Lay the plant on its side, then gently pull the roots apart with your hands, separating them into smaller plants (propagules). Make sure each propagule has a leaf, stem, and root. 

If you forgot to water the day before and/or your plant is heavily root-bound, you may need a sharp knife to go around the container and to cut through the root ball. Don’t panic if you break or cut through some roots. As long as each propagule has some healthy roots, it will be okay. Plant the new babies in smallish pots since the peace lily doesn’t mind being a bit rootbound.

Replant the new propagules in containers with drainage holes in rich, good-quality potting soil. Water the new plants to remove any air pockets, then place them in an area of bright, indirect light out of drafts. Keep the propagules moist but don’t overwater. Follow the general rules for peace lily care and enjoy as many new plants as you can glean. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Grow a Peace Lily From a Cutting?

No, peace lilies do not grow from cuttings. The best way to propagate them is through division. 

Do Peace Lilies Grow Better in Water or Soil?

You can grow peace lily divisions in water for a while, but sooner rather than later they will need the extra nutrients provided by soil. 

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is an attractive indoor flower known for its ability to thrive in low light. It usually grows between 1 and 4 feet (31 cm to 1 m.) in height and produces pale white flowers that give off a pleasant fragrance and last a long time. Sometimes, however, peace lilies suffer from browning or yellowing leaves. Keep reading to learn about what causes peace lily leaves to turn yellow and how to treat it.

Reasons for Peace Lilies with Brown and Yellow Leaves

Normally, peace lily leaves are long and dark green, emerging directly from the soil and growing up and out. The leaves are strong and oval shaped, narrowing to a point at the tip. They are durable, and often the biggest problem they encounter is that they collect dust and need to be wiped off periodically. 

Sometimes, however, the edges of peace lily leaves turn a sickly yellow or brown color. The root of the problem is almost definitely water related. This browning can be caused by too little or too much watering. There is a good chance, however, that it is due to a buildup of minerals. Since peace lilies are primarily kept as houseplants, they are almost always watered with tap water. 

If you have hard water in your house, it may be accumulating too much calcium in your plant’s soil. Conversely, this mineral buildup is just as likely if you use a water softener. Some minerals are good, but too many can build up around your plant’s roots and slowly suffocate it.

Treating a Peace Lily with Brown Tips

Spathiphyllum leaf problems like this can normally be cleared up fairly easy. If you have a peace lily with brown tips, try watering it with bottled drinking water. First, flush the plant with lots of bottled water until it runs out of the drainage holes. \

The minerals will bond with the water and wash away with it (if you can see white deposits around the drainage holes, mineral buildup is almost definitely your problem). 

After this, water your peace lily like normal, but with bottled water, and your plant ought to recover just fine. You can also snip out unsightly brown/yellow leaves.

Why Your Peace Lily Won’t Bloom & Tips To Make It Flower

Many houseplant parents ask us how to make a peace lily bloom. The peace lily is a very common houseplant that’s only outdoor-hardy in USDA zones 10-11, but the plant thrives in low-light situations, making it perfect for indoor office decor. While the glossy, green leaves are attractive, most gardeners buy the plant for its inflorescence. The cupped, creamy white, spathe enfolds the spadix and enhances the greenery. But once the bloom is finished, can you make it bloom again? Peace lily flowering takes quite a bit of patience, and the right conditions.

Peace Lily Flowering Stages

In a commercial setting, peace lilies are grown in carefully controlled environments. This is to ensure that the plants are flowering by the time they’re displayed for purchase. This member of the Arum family doesn’t produce an actual flower but instead a flower-like modified leaf, the spathe. A blooming peace lily is beautiful and getting the plant to produce the spathe again is a gardener’s challenge. The spathe is long-lasting but will eventually turn green and then brown when it is done. During its life cycle, the plant buds, blooms, sets seed, then the flower wilts.

When Does a Peace Lily Bloom?

Purchased peace lilies have been forced to bloom. Professional growers treat the plant with gibberellic acid. Known as GA in the trade, this substance is a plant hormone that drives blooming, among other things. It is a natural product derived from the Gibberella fujikuroi fungus that occurs on rice plants. After spraying the plant with GA, the flower will be produced around 70 days later. The plants generally bloom in mid-spring, around April, with the flower lasting over a month.

How Often Does a Peace Lily Bloom?

Peace lilies produce blooms once the growing season begins and may occasionally produce a flower in early fall. Getting 2 annual blooms requires exacting conditions that mimic those of their native range in the tropical forests of Columbia and Venezuela. The plant must have the perfect light, proper temperatures and humidity to form even 1 flower.

Why Is My Peace Lily Not Flowering?

A peace lily not flowering is a very common occurrence; the internet is flooded with searches about the peace lily not blooming. Once the spathe fades and it is cut away from the plant, the peace lily is often kept just as a foliage plant, never to bloom again. Indoor home conditions are rarely optimal for generating another bloom, but structured changes to the environment or growing the plant in a controlled area can force it to flower.

Not Enough Light

Peace lilies (Spathyphyllum) are understory plants that receive filtered light through the tree canopy. They like low light but too little light will prevent the plant from blooming. Most of the time it thrives in light as low as 20 candles, but when you want it to bloom, this amount must be increased. The plant will respond to the short day-long-night photoperiod of fall and winter by forming a bud. But, except a few cultivars, these plants will not form buds during the long-day-short night part of the year.

Wrong Time of Year

This photoperiodism response is typical of many plants. Light changes are sensed by photoreceptors that in turn cause hormonal changes. Auxins are plant hormones that drive new growth. They are what informs the plant that it is time to bloom. Peace lily is a short-day response plant. So plants will begin to form buds in the cooler season and fully flower when the days become longer.

Plant Isn’t Old Enough

A peace lily must be several years old before it will flower. While studies have shown younger plants produce more flowers, very old plants may simply stop producing blooms. Young plants will generally produce a bloom in about 15 months in perfect conditions.

How to Make a Peace Lily Bloom

• Peace lily plants respond not only to light changes, but to temperature and humidity levels. To encourage the plant to bloom, move it to a slightly brighter location.
• Plants that undergo a chilling period of 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 C) for a few weeks will flower earlier than those in warmer temperatures. The optimal average temperature year round is 72 F (22 C). You can use an indoor temperature gauge, like the Govee Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer from Amazon, to monitor the indoor temperature.
• The plants also enjoy significant humidity. In homes with central heating, they often do not receive enough ambient moisture. Mist the leaves daily or place the container on a saucer filled with pebbles and water.
• This will evaporate and increase the humidity around the plant. The plant does not need much fertilizer but the chance of a bloom increases with an application of balanced fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season.
• Removing spent flowers will encourage plants to rebloom. Avoid placing the plant near drafts and allow it to become pot bound. With a little luck, the plant will bloom again.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a group of tropical plants native to Central and South America. In the U.S. they are mostly used as indoor houseplants, but can be grown outdoors in summer with the right conditions. “Peace lily” describes about 50 species within the Spathiphyllum genus. In their native tropical range, they grow in clumps on the floor of the forest.

Quick Facts about Peace Lilies

• Botanical name - Spathiphyllum
• Height - 1 to 6 feet (0.3 to 1.8 m)
• Spread - 1 to 5 feet (0.3 to 1.5 m)
• Sun exposure - Partial to deep shade
• Soil requirements - Rich potting soil
• Hardiness zones - 11 and 12
• When to plant - Year round indoors

Peace lilies are lovely houseplants for the home or office, and are said to be excellent at cleaning the air in a room. Most commonly these plants have dark green leaves and white “flowers.” However, what most people think of as the flower is actually a specialized leaf bract that grows hooded over the flowers.

How to Grow a Peace Lily

Peace lily care is easy, making this a great houseplant for beginners. Here are some tips for how to care for a peace lily indoors.

Peace Lily Light Requirements

In their native habitat, peace lilies are adapted to dappled light and can even tolerate deep shade. As a houseplant, bright, filtered light works best for an indoor peace lily. These plants should never be placed in direct light, which can cause leaf scorching.

However, peace lilies placed in brighter light tend to produce the lovely white spathes and flowers more frequently. Peace lilies bloom less when grown in low light, and should be treated as be more of a traditional foliage plant.

Watering Peace Lily Plants

Peace lilies grow best in soil that’s moist but not soggy. They should never be overwatered or allowed to sit in water, which can cause root rot. Good soil drainage is very important for this plant.

Allow the soil to dry before watering a peace lily. It will tolerate some degree of neglect in terms of watering and still recover. However, our experts suggest that peace lily plants should not be watered on a schedule, but rather checked once a week to see if they truly need it. Simply touch the top of the soil to see if it is dry. If it’s still damp, wait a bit.

Some houseplant parents like to wait until their peace lily is starting to droop before watering the plant. Since these plants are fairly drought tolerant, this method does not harm the plant and may help you avoid overwatering.

Peace Lily Repotting Tips

Your peace lily will not need to be repotted often. In fact, it does best when it’s root bound, which is another characteristic that makes it a good houseplant. Repot a peace lily when its roots start showing through the drainage holes or are visible above the soil around the base of the plant.

Signs that the plant needs a larger home are if it droops less than a week after being watered, or if the leaves become crowded or deformed. The best times to repot are in late winter or early spring. When repotting, move the peace lily plant into a container that is at least 2 inches (5 cm) larger than its current pot.

How to Propagate Peace Lilies

You can propagate a peace lily by division. Remove the entire plant from the pot and remove one or more crowns for replanting. Try to gently pull the crowns apart or use a sharp knife if they don't separate easily. You can also simply use a sharp knife to cut through the center of the rootball and replant each half in its own container.

Soil & Fertilizer for Peace Lily Plants

Plant Spathiphyllum in a container with a good quality well-draining potting mix. Feed your peace lily with a general houseplant fertilizer every six to eight weeks during the growing season. Use it at only a quarter of the recommended strength. Peace lilies are very sensitive to overfertilization, which can cause burning on their leaf tips and edges.

Problems, Pests & Diseases

Pests and diseases of peace lilies are not common. Soggy conditions can cause root rot. Possible pest infestations include mealybugs and scale.

The large, flat leaves of peace lilies get dusty and should be wiped regularly. This will help the plant to process sunlight better. This is also a good opportunity to check for signs of pests. Avoid commercial leaf shine products which can clog the pores of the plant. Washing the plant can be done by either setting it in the bath and giving it a short shower or by placing it in a sink and letting the tap gently run over the leaves.

Peace Lily Varieties

As a popular houseplant, its easy to find a few different species and cultivars of peace lily at your local garden center or online:

Spatiphyllum wallisii

This is one of the most common species of peace lily grown as a houseplant. There are several varieties within the species. It has the classic peace lily look of glossy, lance-shaped leaves and showy flowers with white spathes.

"Sensation"

This is the largest commercially cultivated peace lily. It grows up to six feet (1.8 m) tall and wide. The leaves are dark green and strongly textured.

"Mauna Loa Supreme"

A medium variety, this peace lily grows to about two or three feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) tall. The white flowers are large.

"Allison"

Allison is a smaller variety, topping out at about two feet (0.6 m). It flowers profusely.

"Jetty"

This cultivar is also about two feet (0.6 m) tall and wide. It has very glossy leaves and long-lasting flowers.

"Little Angel"

For a truly compact peace lily, try "Little Angel." It grows to about 12 inches (30 cm) and blooms prolifically.

"Jet Diamond"

This newer cultivar might be a little more difficult to find, but it's worth a search. It has dark green leaves with silvery variegation.

Check out our Complete Guide to Houseplants for more houseplant ideas.