How To Revive A Peace Lily Drooping After Repotting

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.