Indoor Plant Profile: Peace Lily
Want a graceful plant that always looks lovely, but doesn't need lots of attention? The peace lily is for you
Yes, the peace lily is one of those rare plants that needs little water, light or feeding, but will reward you with eye-catching glossy green leaves and the occasional gorgeous white flower. What’s more, it’s also capable of cleaning up the air in your house or apartment. According to a NASA Clean Air Study, the peace lily can remove harmful contaminants such as carbon monoxide, benzene and formaldehyde from the environment in which it is growing. No wonder it’s one of our most popular indoor plants.
Signature traits: Handsome glossy leaves and arum-shaped white flower heads.
Who is it best suited to?
Although quite tropical in appearance, the peace lily fits into most interiors quite easily and is perfect for low-light spaces. If you’re a busy person with little time to tend your houseplants, but love lush green leaves, the peace lily is ideal. The peace lily is also much favoured by the health conscious, and the spiritual who believe it improves the flow of energy in a space.
Who is it best suited to?
Although quite tropical in appearance, the peace lily fits into most interiors quite easily and is perfect for low-light spaces. If you’re a busy person with little time to tend your houseplants, but love lush green leaves, the peace lily is ideal. The peace lily is also much favoured by the health conscious, and the spiritual who believe it improves the flow of energy in a space.
Where is it best positioned?
Somewhere away from direct sunlight that can burn leaves, but still with a little indirect light is ideal for peace lilies. Normal room temperatures are fine, but not lower than 12°C, and nor should the air be too dry.
How much maintenance is involved?
Regular watering is essential to keep those lush leaves green, and you may need to sit your plant on a tray of moist pebbles if the air is very dry at your place. Misting and dusting the leaves will help keep the plant healthy, as will the occasional feed. Re-potting should only need to be done every couple of years.
Somewhere away from direct sunlight that can burn leaves, but still with a little indirect light is ideal for peace lilies. Normal room temperatures are fine, but not lower than 12°C, and nor should the air be too dry.
How much maintenance is involved?
Regular watering is essential to keep those lush leaves green, and you may need to sit your plant on a tray of moist pebbles if the air is very dry at your place. Misting and dusting the leaves will help keep the plant healthy, as will the occasional feed. Re-potting should only need to be done every couple of years.
When to water
Only water moderately; never let potting mix dry out completely, or remain soggy. Allow the top centimetre or so to dry out between watering. Poke your finger in to test. You’ll know if your peace lily needs water as its leaves will start to flop when it’s too dry. If temperatures drop to below 15°C, reduce the quantity of water so the potting mix is only just moist.
How to fertilise
Peace lilies can survive with little feeding, but if you want your plant to thrive, feed it with a standard liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks during its growing period. Stop feeding during winter unless temperatures are high and it is still actively growing.
When to re-pot
If the roots are starting to come out of the bottom of the container, it’s time to re-pot your peace lily. It probably needs a bigger pot if it needs watering every couple of days.
Only water moderately; never let potting mix dry out completely, or remain soggy. Allow the top centimetre or so to dry out between watering. Poke your finger in to test. You’ll know if your peace lily needs water as its leaves will start to flop when it’s too dry. If temperatures drop to below 15°C, reduce the quantity of water so the potting mix is only just moist.
How to fertilise
Peace lilies can survive with little feeding, but if you want your plant to thrive, feed it with a standard liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks during its growing period. Stop feeding during winter unless temperatures are high and it is still actively growing.
When to re-pot
If the roots are starting to come out of the bottom of the container, it’s time to re-pot your peace lily. It probably needs a bigger pot if it needs watering every couple of days.
Did you know?
In warm subtropical places you can grow peace lilies outdoors, as shown in this Hawaiian garden, where it is planted with Manila palms (Adonidia merrillii). If you have a sheltered, shaded spot in the garden give it a try, but make sure you keep an eye out for slugs and snails. Keeping it in a pot outdoors will ensure soil temperatures are warmer than in the ground.
Why your bathroom needs a houseplant
In warm subtropical places you can grow peace lilies outdoors, as shown in this Hawaiian garden, where it is planted with Manila palms (Adonidia merrillii). If you have a sheltered, shaded spot in the garden give it a try, but make sure you keep an eye out for slugs and snails. Keeping it in a pot outdoors will ensure soil temperatures are warmer than in the ground.
Why your bathroom needs a houseplant
Potential problems
Peace lilies are susceptible to root rot if over-watered, or if drainage is poor. If the leaves are wilting but watering doesn’t revive them, it’s likely your peace lily has root rot. This means starting again with a new plant, as root rot is not easy to fix.
In dry rooms they can also be attacked by red spider mites. Keeping leaves well misted, particularly the undersides, will help keep these pests at bay. If the plant is receiving too much light its leaves may turn yellow, or have brown spots or streaks. Moving it to a more shaded spot should help.
Your say
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Peace lilies are susceptible to root rot if over-watered, or if drainage is poor. If the leaves are wilting but watering doesn’t revive them, it’s likely your peace lily has root rot. This means starting again with a new plant, as root rot is not easy to fix.
In dry rooms they can also be attacked by red spider mites. Keeping leaves well misted, particularly the undersides, will help keep these pests at bay. If the plant is receiving too much light its leaves may turn yellow, or have brown spots or streaks. Moving it to a more shaded spot should help.
Your say
Which indoor plants do you love having at your house? Share your favourites in the Comments.
More
Browse more home design ideas
Common name: Peace lily
Botanical name: Spathiphyllum
Origin: Tropical areas of the Americas and South-East Asia
Plant type: Stemless plant
Size: Peace lilies can range in size from 30 centimetres to around 2 metres, depending on the variety
Looks best: In a pot that complements its graceful form, with plenty of space around it to show off those shiny green leaves
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