Complete Guide to Peace Lily Care and Growth

Ideal Light for Peace Lily

Peace Lilies thrive in bright, indirect light. They are native to tropical rainforest floors where they receive dappled sunlight through the canopy. An ideal spot in a home would be near an east-facing window or several feet back from a south or west-facing window.

While they are famous for their ability to tolerate low-light conditions, a Peace Lily needs bright, indirect light to produce its iconic white blooms. A plant kept in a very dark corner will likely have beautiful green foliage but will rarely, if ever, flower. The one rule to always follow is to keep it out of direct sunlight, which will quickly burn and yellow its sensitive leaves.

Best & Worst Light Conditions

• Best Light Conditions:

  • Near a north or east-facing window.
  • In a bright room, but out of the direct path of the sun’s rays.
  • They can adapt to office environments with fluorescent lighting.

• Avoid:

  • Direct, intense sunlight which will scorch the leaves.

Watering Needs

Watering Frequency

• Growing Season (Spring-Summer): Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, or when you see the plant start to wilt. This is typically about once a week.
• Dormant Season (Fall-Winter): Reduce watering, but do not let the soil dry out completely.

Peace Lilies can be sensitive to chemicals like chlorine found in tap water, which can cause brown leaf tips. If you notice this, try using filtered, distilled, or rainwater. For precise watering, a moisture meter can help you maintain the perfect moisture level, especially since Peace Lilies are particular about their watering needs.

How to Water

Signs of Improper Watering

• Overwatering: The leaves will turn yellow, and the base of the plant may become mushy. This is a sign of root rot, the most common killer of Peace Lilies.
• Underwatering: The entire plant will wilt and droop dramatically.

What Kind of Soil Does Peace Lily Like?

Peace Lilies prefer a well-draining, all-purpose potting mix that contains plenty of organic matter. The soil should be able to hold moisture well but not become waterlogged and dense.

The ideal soil should be:

• Moisture-retentive to satisfy its thirsty nature.
• Well-aerated to provide oxygen to the roots.
• Rich in organic material.

DIY Soil Mix Recipe for Peace Lily

You can create an excellent potting medium for your Peace Lily with this blend:

• 2 parts high-quality all-purpose potting soil
• 1 part peat moss or coco coir (for moisture retention)
• 1 part perlite (for aeration and drainage)

This mix provides the perfect balance for a healthy Peace Lily.

Pre-Made Potting Mix Options

Fertilizing for Lush Growth

When and How to Fertilize

• Growing Season (Spring and Summer): Feed your Peace Lily every 6-8 weeks.
• Dormant Season (Fall and Winter): Do not fertilize.

Use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer (e.g., 20-20-20) diluted to half or a quarter of the recommended strength. To encourage blooms, you can use a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus.

Ideal Temperature Range

As tropical plants, Peace Lilies prefer warm and stable temperatures. They are happy in the same conditions that humans find comfortable.

• Ideal Range: 65-85°F (18-29°C).
• Tolerates: They are sensitive to the cold. Keep them in temperatures above 60°F (16°C) and protect them from cold drafts from windows, doors, or air conditioning units.

Does It Need High Humidity?

Yes, high humidity is one of the most important factors for a thriving Peace Lily. Native to tropical rainforests, they crave moist air, making them a star on any list of 👉 plants that love humidity. Low humidity is the primary cause of brown, crispy leaf tips.

• Ideal Humidity: 60% or higher.
• Tolerates: It will survive in average household humidity, but its foliage will not look its best without supplemental moisture.

How to Increase Humidity

• Use a Humidifier: This is the most effective method for maintaining consistent high humidity.
• Place in a Humid Room: Kitchens and bathrooms are naturally more humid and make great homes for Peace Lilies.
• Group Plants Together: Grouping plants creates a more humid microclimate.
• Pebble Tray: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. Evaporation will increase humidity around the plant.
• Misting: Misting the leaves several times a week can provide a temporary boost.

The Iconic 'Flower'

Yes, Peace Lilies are famous for their beautiful blooms. However, what we think of as the “flower” is not a true flower. It is a modified, hood-like white leaf called a spathe. The actual flowers are very small and are located on the central spike, which is called a spadix.

A healthy, mature Peace Lily will typically bloom in the spring, but can flower intermittently throughout the year if conditions are right. To encourage blooming, the plant needs sufficient bright, indirect light. After a week or two, the white spathe may start to turn green, which is a normal part of its life cycle.

Popular Peace Lily Varieties

Peace Lilies come in a surprising range of sizes, from small tabletop plants to massive floor specimens.

• ‘Domino’: One of the most popular variegated varieties, featuring beautiful green leaves generously splashed and speckled with white.
• ‘Sensation’: This is the largest of all Peace Lily cultivars, capable of reaching up to 6 feet tall with huge, deeply ribbed leaves. It’s a true statement floor plant.
• ‘Power Petite’: A charming dwarf variety that typically stays under 12 inches tall, making it perfect for desks and small spaces.
• ‘Wallisii’: A common and compact variety, usually growing to about 12-15 inches tall, making it a very popular gift-sized plant.
• ‘Mauna Loa Supreme’: A mid-sized variety, growing up to 3-4 feet tall with lush, 9-inch-wide leaves and large flowers.

When to Repot

Peace Lilies prefer to be slightly root-bound, which can help encourage them to bloom. They typically need to be repotted every 1-2 years, or when they are clearly overgrown.

• Frequency: Every 1-2 years.
• Signs:
  • The plant needs to be watered every few days to keep it from wilting.
  • Roots are growing out of the drainage holes or crowding the surface.
  • The plant can be lifted out of the pot with the soil and roots in one solid mass.

Spring is the best time to repot.

How to Repot

1. Choose a New Pot: Select a pot that is only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current one. Using a pot that is too large can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot.
2. Remove the Plant: Gently remove the Peace Lily from its current pot.
3. Divide (Optional): This is the perfect time to divide the plant into smaller clumps to create new plants.
4. Pot Up: Place a layer of fresh, appropriate potting mix in the new pot. Center the plant and fill in the sides with more soil.
5. Water: Water the plant thoroughly and allow it to adjust.

Why and When to Prune

Regular pruning keeps your Peace Lily looking tidy and directs its energy toward producing new, healthy growth and flowers.

• Why Prune: To remove yellow or brown leaves and to cut off old, spent flower stalks.
• When to Prune: You can prune your Peace Lily at any time of year.

How to Prune

Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears.

• Leaves: Follow the stalk of any yellow or brown leaf down to the base of the plant and make a clean cut.
• Flowers: Once the white spathe of a flower turns green or brown and begins to wilt, follow its stem all the way down to the base of the plant and cut it off. This encourages the plant to produce new blooms.

Pests That May Affect Peace Lilies

Peace Lilies are generally robust, but they can be susceptible to a few common houseplant pests, especially when stressed. Cleaning the large leaves regularly can help keep pests at bay.

• Mealybugs - These pests look like small bits of white cotton and often hide on the undersides of leaves and where the leaf stems meet the main plant.
• Spider Mites - Thriving in the low humidity that Peace Lilies hate, these tiny pests can cause stippling on the leaves and fine webbing.
• Fungus Gnats - These small flying insects are attracted to soil that is consistently moist. While the adults are mostly an annoyance, their larvae in the soil can damage the plant’s roots.

Treating pests usually involves wiping them off and applying insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Troubleshooting Peace Lily Issues

Peace Lilies are quite expressive and will usually show you when something is wrong. Most issues are related to watering or humidity.

• Wilting & Drooping - This is the most famous Peace Lily signal. 99% of the time, it means the plant is thirsty. This helpful trait is shared by the 👉 Golden Pothos, which also wilts when dry. However, if the soil is wet and the plant is wilting, it is a sign of severe root rot.
• Yellowing Leaves - This is most often a sign of overwatering. It can also be a sign of old age on lower leaves.
• Brown, Crispy Edges - This is a classic symptom of either low humidity or a reaction to chemicals in tap water.
• Root Rot - Caused by overwatering or poor drainage, this is the most serious threat to a Peace Lily. The roots will be brown and mushy instead of firm and white.
• Failure to Bloom - The most common reason a healthy Peace Lily won’t flower is insufficient light. While it tolerates low light, it needs bright, indirect light to produce its spathes.

Creating New Plants

Propagation by Division

This is best done during spring or summer when you are repotting the plant.

For a step-by-step overview of the technique, see our plant division guide.

1. Remove the Plant: Take the entire Peace Lily out of its pot and lay it on its side.
2. Examine the Crowns: Gently brush away soil to see the separate crowns of leaves and roots.
3. Divide: Using your hands, gently pull the clumps apart. If they are tightly tangled, you can use a clean, sharp knife to cut through the root ball, ensuring each new division has several leaves and a healthy portion of roots.
4. Repot: Plant each new division in its own appropriately sized pot with fresh potting mix.
5. Care: Water the new plants thoroughly and keep them in a warm, shady spot while they recover and establish themselves.

Is the Peace Lily toxic to cats?

Why are the tips of my Peace Lily leaves turning brown?

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Why is my Peace Lily drooping?

How much sunlight does a Peace Lily need?