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Jon VanZile was a writer for The Spruce covering houseplants and indoor gardening for almost a decade. He is a professional writer whose articles on plants and horticulture have appeared in national and regional newspapers and magazines.
Updated on 08/02/24 Reviewed by
Debra LaGattuta is a Master Gardener with 30+ years of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. She is a lead gardener in a Plant-A-Row, which is a program that offers thousands of pounds of organically-grown vegetables to local food banks. Debra is a member of The Spruce Garden Review Board.
In This ArticleThe peace lily is a flowering tropical plant from the Spathiphyllum genus. Outside of its hardiness zones (11-12 USDA), many people grow the peace lily indoors. Peace lilies are not true lilies but are instead, members of the Araceae family. The evergreen plants are native to Central and South America. There are many types of peace lilies within the genus, but in general, peace lilies have large, glossy, oval leaves. They typically bloom in the spring, though that can vary when growing them as houseplants. A healthy peace lily might bloom twice a year, resulting in several months of flowers.
Peace lilies are easy to grow. When grown in the garden in tropical and subtropical climates where they are hardy, peace lilies are normally planted in the spring while it is still cool. When you care for a peace lily indoors, they can be purchased and brought into the home at any time of year, though you will want to protect them from cold temperatures as you transport them. They are moderate growers and will reach maturity in around three years. Peace lilies are toxic to cats, dogs, and people, so be mindful about where you place a peace lily in your house.
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Like many plants, peace lilies carry symbolism. The peace lily's meaning is associated with sympathy, healing, hope, purity, and—naturally—peace. The plant is commonly given as a gift to those who have lost a loved one.
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Peace lilies are happiest when they're somewhat root-bound. However, when the plant has exceeded the capacity of the pot, it can be potted up to a larger container in the early spring. If you notice roots popping up out of the soil and down from the drainage holes, it's time to repot. It's ideal to pot the plant in a terracotta or clay vessel that can wick away excess moisture. Always use a high-quality potting mix, and a pot with good drainage.
A peace lily needs sunlight, though not direct sun. They are shade-loving plants in their native habitats. But peace lilies indoors need a bit more filtered light. An east-facing window is a prime spot to place a peace lily in your house.
Peace lilies like a rich, loose potting mix that contains plenty of organic matter. These plants are native to tropical canopy conditions where the soil is packed with deteriorating plant material, so you'll find the best success with soil that mimics this composition. Additionally, the plant is also very sensitive to too-damp soil conditions, so be sure to choose a well-draining mixture.
Peace lilies prefer to be under-watered rather than overwatered. How often you should water a peace lily depends on container size and how fast the soil drains, but, in general, water when the top inch of soil has dried out (often once a week). In winter, reduce watering but never allow the soil to dry out completely. When watering, be sure to bottom water, as watering the top of the plant can cause leaves to develop black spots.
These plants prefer moist warmth. Avoid cold drafts and temperatures that fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit; the plant will die when exposed to prolonged cold temperatures. The ideal temperature range for your peace lily is 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Spritz the leaves every week with softened or distilled water throughout the summer growing season to raise humidity.
Peace lilies appreciate frequent feedings, which result in the strongest plant and seasonal blooming. Using a diluted 20-20-20 fertilizer, follow the manufacturer's instructions and feed your plant weekly in the summer, or use slow-release pellets at the beginning of the season. You do not need to fertilize the plant during the winter.
Peace lilies have been heavily hybridized and therefore come in dozens of popular varietals. They range in size from miniature to massive and from deep green with snow-white flowers to golden-leaved beauties. Some of the popular types of peace lilies include:
The best way to propagate peace lilies is by dividing clumps during repotting activities, which can be done during any season. Inspect the plant for small offshoot crowns located adjacent to the main parent plant; this is a sign the plant is ready to divide. First, remove the plant from its container, and then tug apart the adjacent crowns (or cut away a section of the main root ball). Fill a 6-inch pot with fresh potting mix that is moist but not soggy, plant the clumps, and water thoroughly. Keep the plant somewhere warm and well-lit. The roots should reestablish themselves in less than a month.
These plants are free of most diseases and pests that can plague houseplants. But they can be susceptible to scale and mealybugs. Spot treatment with horticultural oil is a good strategy for these pests.
Peace lilies are notoriously difficult when it comes to blooming. Sometimes even the happiest, healthiest plants don't bloom outside of their natural rainforest environment. If you're hoping to have your indoor peace lily bloom, your best bet is to provide it with very consistent ideal conditions, especially when it comes to humidity, diffused light, and consistent fertilizer.
Peace Lily typically blooms in the spring, around April. In optimum conditions, the plant will flower twice a year in spring and fall.
Peace lily has white flowers that resemble calla lilies. (The flowers will turn a pale green as the plant matures.) The flowers have a light fragrance.
The peace lily flower stages are budding, blooming, going to seed, and wilting. The buds are fairly small and unfurl like leaves. It can take some time for them to come into bloom, so be patient. When the bloom fades, deadhead the spent flower. Encourage blooms by keeping the plant in bright, indirect sunlight and regularly feeding during the spring and summer to maintain the plant's energy.
Under the right growing conditions, peace lilies typically thrive without issues. But some problems can arise if the environment isn't quite right.
Yellow leaves are mainly the result of watering issues. Overwatering and underwatering can cause peace lily leaves to turn yellow and droop, as can poor water quality. If you water your peace lilies with tap water that contains a high amount of fluoride and chlorine, this can affect the soil pH levels, therefore causing yellow leaves.
Curled, pale leaves generally indicate that the plant is receiving too much light overall. And scorched leaves indicate too much direct sun. In either case, the plant should be moved to a shadier location.
You might notice browning on your peace lily's leaf tips. This can be due to too much or too little water, as well as poor soil drainage. It also can arise due to insufficient humidity. Plus, the buildup of salts in the soil might be a culprit. Ensure that your plant is properly watered and that the soil is draining. If that doesn't seem to be the issue, try flushing the soil by watering until you see water coming from the drainage holes to remove the salts.
A good indoor location for peace lilies is near a north or east-facing window that receives plenty of indirect sunlight.
Although it is a common houseplant, one major disadvantage to peace lily is that it is toxic to people and animals. It does not like direct sunlight which can easily cause leaf scorch, and while it needs frequent watering, it can be very picky with tap and rainwater, so distilled water is best.
You can tell if your peace lily is overwatered by looking at the leaves. If leaves appear yellow and wilting, then you have most likely overwatered it. Another sign of too much water is the scent of the soil. If it smells rotten and sour, then it is too wet.
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