Peace Lilies are incredibly popular house plants - this little symbol of peace is thought to bring a sense of calm, and what house couldn't do with a little bit of calm every now and then? The main reason, though, that they have become so popular is that they are lovely to look at. The beautiful white flowers and the luscious, dark green leaves will brighten up any room in any house.
Our aim for this blog is to help you really get the most out of your Peace Lily - not just keep them alive, but really help them produce the showstopping blooms that these wonderful little plants are capable of. So we are going to cover all of our top tips for Peace Lily care, from the best type of soil to how often to water Peace Lilies - and everything else you'll need to know.
Are Peace Lilies easy to care for?
There's a quick answer to this question - yes, Peace Lilies are easy to care for.
There's also a slightly longer answer to the question as well, though. You see, while it's easy to care for Peace Lilies, getting them to really thrive takes a little bit of care. Not huge amounts, but there are a few things that you need to know in order to get it to fulfil its potential - and let's be honest, these plants are worth a little effort. The perks are there for anyone who wants to put in a little work in making them grow.
Peace Lily plants have made great gifts for decades - it's always nice to offer someone a a symbol of peace, and the fact that indoor Lily Plant care is so easy makes all the more appealing! Your recipient doesn't have to learn a new skill just to keep it alive. In fact, all they need to do is to read the rest of this blog...
What are Peace Lilies?
Peace Lilies can go by a variety of different names. The botanical name is Spathiphyllum wallisii - Spathiphyllum comes from the Greek words for 'Spathe' and 'Leaf'. It became known as a Peace Lily because the delicate white flowers are said to resemble the white flags held up in battle to indicate a desire for peace. They are also known as White Sails, again, after the white flowers.
They hail from the rainforests of Central and South America - the thought of the regular rainfall pit-pattering against the leaves just adds to the feeling of calm that these little plants exude. However, there is one characteristic that they possess that isn't quite so tranquil is that they are actually toxic to pets and small children - so they should go out of reach when you are finding a home for your plant.
How to look after a Peace Lily
As we mentioned above, caring for a Spathiphyllum wallisii is pretty straightforward - where the little bit of effort comes in is how to get the best blooms. The bloom on a Peace Lily plant produces such beautiful little flowers that it is worth your time to try and give them the right kind of environment to really thrive. They will survive on relatively little, but you want better than that!
So let's start with how often to water your Peace Lily. It might seem strange for a plant that is originally from the rainforest, but Peace Lily plants don't actually require much water. About once a week, check the soil by touching the top - if it feels dry, give it a bit of water, and if it's moist, you can let the soil dry for a bit longer. During the winter, outside of growing season, you can probably get away with watering it every couple of weeks.
Here we have one of the first bits of extra effort that you can put in - the fluoride in tap water can be harmful to Peace Lilies, and it would much prefer rainwater. The best thing to do is to leave a little watering can outside to collect rain, and use that when you water. It would also benefit from a Spring and Summer feed with a liquid fertiliser.
When it comes to light, Peace Lilies can survive with relatively little light, but if you won't get decent blooms in deep shade. Bright, indirect light is best, place a Peace Lily near a window that gets plenty of light and you'll be rewarded with beautiful flowers! Just keep it away from the direct sun.
Bathrooms are great places for a Peace Lily as they love humidity. You can also give it a little spritz with water every now and then, it will love that!
Peace Lilies begin flowering in early Spring, but when they start to die back, you should deadhead them so they can focus their energy on producing new flowers. Wiping Peace Lily leaves to remove dust is also a good idea - the dust can get in the way of the photosynthesis process.
Quick fire Peace Lily Care Guide:
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Origins: Central and South America
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How much light: Bright, indirect light - away from direct sunlight
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Water requirements: About once a week in the Spring and Summer, when the top soil is dry. Every 2 weeks in Autumn and Winter
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Humidity requirements: A spray of water mist goes down very nicely!
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Soil requirements: Pot a Peace Lily Well-draining potting mix or cactus compost - check out some plant pot ideas here
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Temperature requirements: 18°C to 27°C, minimum around 15°C - away from drafts
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Pruning requirements: Deadhead as the blooms die back
Peace Lily Troubleshooting
If you find you Peace Lily has yellow leaves it probably means that your watering isn't quite right. The best thing is to touch the soil - if it is too wet, you're probably over-watering, if it's too dry it may need more water. The yellowing leaves should turn back green when you correct this.
If you are getting brown leaf tips on your Peace Lily leaves, it may mean it is getting too much direct sunlight - move it away from the light source a little and see if the problem goes away.
Indoor plants to bring you peace
Peace Lilies (and this adorable Small Peace Lily) are easy to grow and great to look at, but they could just be the start of a much bigger display of Indoor Plant Power. Have a look through our extensive selection and find the plants that will elevate your living space. And if you have any questions at all, get in touch with our team (social media:@prickplantsuk or email: contact@prickleplants.co.uk) - we would love to hear from you.