Houseplant expert explains how to look after a Peace Lily
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Peace lilies are a popular hybrid from the Spathiphyllum genus of tropical plants. These stunning houseplants with striking creamy white flowers, they are sure to catch your eye in any room. Though they can handle a little neglect, it is still important to give peace lilies proper growing conditions to thrive. There are many factors gardeners will want to consider before adding these houseplants to their home.
Peace lilies are popular houseplants with glossy deep green leaves and long flower stalks that seem to dance above the foliage.
They take two to three years to mature and bloom once or twice a year, resulting in several months of lovely oval-shaped white flowers.
Organic gardening expert Logan Hailey has shared a few crucial steps plant owners need to follow to successfully grow and care for peace lilies.
Watering peace lilies
The expert said: “The most important thing to remember is that they hate ‘wet feet’ (overly moist roots) and love indirect sunlight.
“Peace lilies really despise soggy soil. It is best to wait to water when the plant begins to slightly droop. It will bounce back very quickly after a thorough watering through its well-drained soil.
“Allow the soil to thoroughly dry out before watering again to ensure that the plant does not get too damp.” However, when watering the plant can’t stand chlorine in the water.
Logan explained: “Despite their ability to filter toxins out of the air, this plant is very sensitive to chlorine in the water. It is best to leave the watering can out overnight to let the chlorine dissipate, or water only with filtered tap water or rainwater.”
Temperature and humidity
Like most houseplants, this plant does not like a sudden change in temperature or a cold draft. Logan noted: “Peace lilies thrive in humidity and warmth around 68-85°F (20-29 degrees). They will tolerate down to 55 or 60°F, (12-15 degrees) however, prolonged cold temperatures or chilly drafts will weaken and kill the plant.
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“The best place to keep them is in the warmest area of your home during the winter. As a rule of thumb, remember that if you need a jacket, then it’s too cold. Keep it near well-insulated, heated areas for the lushest growth and flowering.”
For those who live in a dry region, maintain humidity around the plant by misting it with distilled water throughout the summer.
A simple mister bottle will do as long as it doesn’t have heavily chlorinated water. The mist can be applied directly to the leaves every other day or so.
Logan added: “Plants that grow in humid areas don’t require any extra care as long as they remain warm enough.”
Sunlight
In the wild, peace lilies thrive in the shady rainforest floors of Central America and Asia. The gardening pro said: “Keeping this native habitat in mind, it is best to put your plant in an area with indirect or filtered sunlight.”
Depending on the variety, direct sunlight can harm the plant and cause it to have pale, curled-up leaves or even scorched leaf surfaces.
Logan suggested: “A north-facing window, bathroom, office, or middle of a room with muffled light are the best places to grow potted plants.
“Be aware that indirect light does not mean no light. They still need six to eight hours of indirect sunlight to properly photosynthesise and grow.”
Soil and fertility
Like many potted plants, peace lilies prefer a rich well-drained potting mix. Plenty of organic matter like compost is “ideal” for this plant because its native habitat is under tropical rainforest canopies where lots of decaying plant matter has accumulated, according to the expert.
She said: “Loose, easily-drained soil is also important because this plant hates damp conditions as I described above. Choose a potting mix that is rich in compost, perlite, and/or vermiculite that will thoroughly drain when watered.”
When it comes to fertility, they appreciate semi-frequent feeding during the spring and summer. Logan advised peace lily owners to use an all-purpose organic granulated fertiliser or a Liquid fish fertiliser.
For those using these fertilisers, they need to dilute them to one tablespoon per gallon of water every two to three weeks. The houseplants don’t need to be fertilised during the winter.
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