How to take care of a peace lily
Peace lily is a tropical perennial that is known for being hardy, easy to grow, and perfect to care for indoors. Read on for information about how to care for and maintain this lush indoor plant.
Peace lily, or Spathiphyllum, is native to tropical regions of the Americas and Southeast Asia. It is not actually a lily, but this name comes from its white flowers – or spathes – which are thought to resemble white flags of peace.
Peace lilies are a popular choice for indoor plants
because they are easy to grow, don’t need a lot of light, and help to clean and
purify the air.
In fact, along with succulents and snake plants, they qualify as one of the most popular choices of low maintenance indoor plants.
Buying a Peace Lily
When buying a new peace lily, make sure you select a
healthy looking plant with clean, green leaves that are not yellow or brown
around the edges.
Take note that the foliage of a peace lily produces
crystals that can irritate the skin or cause gastric problems if ingested. For
that reason, it is not recommended to buy a peace lily if you have pets or
small children.
Placement
A peace lily is happiest in a warm, humid environment with
indirect sunlight. A sunny bathroom makes the perfect spot, but it will also
tolerate low light situations, such as an office with fluorescent lighting.
Make sure to keep a peace lily out of direct sunlight,
which can cause the leaves to brown.
Do not place the peace lily close to a door or fireplace where it may catch a cold draft, and use a mister on the leaves every other day if the humidity of your space is low.
Potting
Peace lilies are happy to grow in a container and they actually do well when their roots are a bit restricted.
When choosing a pot, use one no more than a third larger
than the root ball.
Fill the pot two-thirds with peat-free multi-purpose or house plant compost, and then plant your peace lily, filling around the rootball with more compost. Afterwards, water well and allow it to drain completely.
Recurrent wilting, despite regular watering, is a sign
that the plant has outgrown its pot. To bring your peace lily back to life,
repot into a slightly larger pot with fresh compost.
How
often to water peace lily
You should water your peace lily approximately
once a week, or when the soil has dried out. If the leaves of your plant start
to droop, it means that it’s time for a drink.
Blooming
If you want your peace lily to bloom, place it where it will receive bright, indirect light. When grown in low light, these plants will rarely bloom.
Once
you see the flowers, sit back and enjoy! They can last up to a month or
sometimes even longer.
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See also:
5 plants that require minimal light
How to grow and care for succulents