Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum - Plant

Peace lilies are shade loving plants with varieties that range in size from 1 to 6 feet tall. The long-lasting white flowers, which bloom all year long, add brightness to dark rooms. Peace lilies require minimal watering.

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Peace lilies are shade loving plants with varieties that range in size from 1 to 6 feet tall. The long-lasting white flowers, which bloom all year long, add brightness to dark rooms. Peace lilies require minimal watering. The soil should be kept slightly moist.

Light: They are shade-loving plants in their native habitats, and in the home they prefer light to moderate shade. Some varieties can withstand more light. Yellow leaves indicate the Peace Lily is getting too much light. Brown spot and streaks indicate direct sun rays have reached the plant and scorched it.

Water: 
During the summer, water and mist frequently. They thrive with higher humidity. In water, reduce watering, but never allow the soil to dry out.

Temperature:
They really prefer moist warmth; avoid cold drafts and temperatures below 55ºF if possible. Beware. Because temperatures below 45°F will kill it, so keep it indoors much of the year.

Soil:
These plants like a rich, loose potting soil containing plenty of organic material.

Fertilizer:
Feed weekly in the summer, or use slow-release pellets at the beginning of the season.

Re-potting the Peace Lily :
The Peace Lily should be repotted every year or two. The signs that a Peace Lily should be repotted include:

• Roots crowd the soil surface. Slide pot down partway to see if roots are packed together. If so, the plant is “root bound” and could use fresh soil and a little more room. Despite this, keep in mind that Peace Lilies bloom BETTER when somewhat root bound. Further, the root ball may react badly to too much room. Only repot if the leaves turn yellow and/or the plant seems to need watered more than once a week.


• The Peace Lily plant dries out twice a week or more and takes up new water quickly.


• Plant stalks crowd the pot.

Peace Lily Potting Mix: Use a peat-based potting mix that contains perlite (or sand) and composted bark. Ingredients will be listed. Peace Lilies grow under a forest canopy and so are used to living in deteriorating bark. Make sure the mix has a springy texture, dark color and low odor.

Peace Lily Pots:
Clay, ceramic or plastic are equally useful. Choose a pot just two inches wider in diameter than original pot. The largest pot size a Peace Lily will ever need is 10 inches in diameter. To avoid root rot, make sure all pots have drainage holes, even if you have to drill them yourself.

Steps in Repotting:

• Fill bottom of pot with enough new potting soil so that the plant’s current surface won’t sink and require more soil to be placed on top of it. The goal is to fill the pot in only on plant sides, not the top.


• Tamp the soil in the bottom of pot to compact it.


• Remove plant from original pot. If plant doesn’t come free of pot, soak it in water for an hour.


• Place root ball on surface of soil.


• Fill edges of pot with soil. Water edges and add more soil after the water compacts the new soil a bit.

Pruning the Peace Lily:
The only time Peace Lilies need pruning are when leaves yellow and the flower fades. Cut both with a clean blade as close to the soil level as possible.