The peace lily is one of the most popular indoor plants. It adapts to places with little light, even better than others (like Begonia). Also, they have a really very decorative flower. Flower that you can contemplate in your indoor pond, if you want to have it as an aquatic plant. But what is it that makes more and more people attracted to her? Without a doubt, your care. She is very grateful and that, as you can see for yourself if you decide to buy one, you will notice it in a short time.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics and care that the lily of peace needs.
Key features
Image - Flickr / Dinesh Valke
The peace lily belongs to the Liliopsida class, Alismatales order and, therefore, to the Araceae family. It should be noted that there are various species of peace lily, although all have very similar characteristics among them and maintain almost the same requirements and care. The main traits that change between varieties are some colors in the flowers and the appearance of the leaves. About 36 species of the peace lily are known.
This plant is perfect to be grown indoors. This is because it is a plant that hardly needs sunlight to grow. It has green leaves and can grow up to a meter in height. The leaves are lanceolate in shape and slope from the center outwards. Its flowers are white. They are born and grow from the stems.
The advantage of this plant is that if it is well cared for for a long time, you can get to live a long time. It needs a fairly meticulous care so it becomes a challenge for all those people who are fond of gardening. One of the indicators that the plant is being poorly cared for, mainly due to failures in irrigation care, is that it is acquiring a brown color or tone in its leaves.
Naturally we can find peace lilies in Europe and on some Pacific islands in the wild around streams and rivers in places where there is enough shade and high humidity. When we find this plant in the wild, we see that its root is usually very short.
To be able to take good care of the peace lily the brown coloration of its leaves must be completely avoided. It is necessary to supply both the water it needs and the fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients for its good condition.
Peace lily care
We are talking about a plant that is characteristic of the tropical zone of the American continent and the Caribbean. Therefore, it is not a plant that can withstand frost or cold wind currents well. In this sense, we will look for a place where the plant is protected from any adverse environmental conditions.
To have your peace lily in perfect health you have to provide it with the following care:
Location
Being a plant very sensitive to cold, it must be placed inside the home, at least during the winter. As we said, it adapts well to living in rooms with little light, but it will also live wonderfully in those that are bright. Of course, it must be protected from drafts, both cold and warm, and from direct light, as they could damage its leaves.
It only needs to receive sun exposure for a certain time and during the winter to be able to carry out photosynthesis well and grow in good conditions. The rest of the time you must remain in shade or semi shade and protected from cold air currents.
Irrigation
Watering the peace lily should be occasional. It is advisable to water a maximum of twice a week. If we want to have it in the pond, it will be at the highest point. It is advisable to let the soil be moist most of the time. It is the indicator that we can use to know that we have to water again.
If summer temperatures are quite high and the environment is very dry in our area, we can spray the leaves with a little water to keep humidity levels high. One of the main factors to consider when watering the peace lily is the drainage of the soil. Whether we place the plant in a pot or place it in the garden soil, it needs to have good drainage. In this way we will prevent irrigation or rain water from being stored in the ground and flooding the plant. These puddles can lead to the death of the roots.
Another aspect for which we have to be careful with excess irrigation is due to the appearance of pests and diseases. If this plant begins to have wilted leaves, it is because we are overdoing it with watering. This excess watering can endanger the plant due to the appearance of diseases and pests.
Fertilizer
Compost is very important for all plants. In the case of our protagonist, We will fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer every 20 days throughout the growing season, that is, from spring to autumn.
Transplant
In spring we will proceed to transplant it if we see that roots grow through the drainage holes. We will put it in a pot about 2-3cm wider, using a universal substrate for plants mixed with 20% perlite.
Peace lily faq
Some people wonder if peace lilies are poisonous. It should be mentioned that this plant is not toxic as is the case with traditional lilies.. Therefore, there is no need to worry about keeping the plant out of the reach of children and pets. You just have to be careful as they contain microscopic calcium oxalate crystals that, when ingested, cause excessive salivation in the mouth and some discomfort in the throat.
Another one of the frequent questions of the users who sow the peace lily is that the flowers last long or short. Generally, this plant develops its flowers in the spring time and they last several weeks, as long as their care is good. Since the plant is evergreen, it doesn't always flower when it should. Therefore, we should not worry if it does not bloom at the appointed time.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the lily of peace.
Can someone tell me what is the reason why some flowers are green?
Hello, Martha.
The peace lily needs a high humidity and to be fertilized regularly (from spring to late summer, or early fall if it is a mild climate) so that it can bloom abundantly and without problems.
When there are flowers that remain green most of the time it is due to lack of fertilizer, so it is advisable to fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer for green plants or, if you prefer, with liquid natural fertilizers, such as guano. In both cases, the instructions specified on the packaging must be followed.
Greetings 🙂.
Hi there! I have a peace lily and I am delighted with it. But for a long time, the oldest leaves have been dull in some areas, like spots, but without relief or thickness. It doesn't look like fungus or any of the diseases I've seen on the internet. The flowers it takes out are small, but white and pretty and the new leaves come out very green and shiny. What can be?
Hello Cristina.
Do not worry. It is normal for older leaves to wilt as new ones emerge.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like to know what I can do so that the milirio de paz leaves are not dull
Hello Mercedes.
The lily is a plant that has to be placed in full sun and watered about three times a week.
It is also advisable to fertilize it with a fertilizer for bulbous plants, following the indications specified on the package.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a lily, I transplanted it a week ago and it looks sad and the flowers are drying, what can I do?
Hi Crizeth.
Lilies after blooming wither. The transplant may have sped up the process, but don't worry.
Next year it will sprout again 🙂
A greeting.
Hello, I have a peace lily and I transplanted it a few weeks ago and now its leaves are very limp, some are yellow, could you help me I do not want it to wilt, I already have 4 years.
Thank you
Hi Marisa.
How often do you water it? It may be that you are suffering from overwatering.
I recommend you water it once or twice a week in winter and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.
If it still does not improve, write us again.
A greeting.
Hello, my question is if I can leave my lily in a glass container without a hole, it is very decorative but I don't know if it is good for my baby (so I say). Greetings
Hi carmen.
I recommend transferring it to a pot with holes, since otherwise it could rot.
A greeting.
Good afternoon, my name is M.Cruz and I wanted to see if you could help me buy a plant with several lily cuttings a week ago but it comes in a 1 cm pot. and I see that some small roots come out from below the holes, my doubt is that I know that it is transplanted in spring, but now in summer it can be done, or it can endure and grow in conditions in this small pot until next year in spring ,,, thanks and greetings
Hello. M. Cruz.
You can plant it with the pot inside another larger pot, and in spring transplant it well (that is, removing the one you have now).
A greeting.
Hi, I'm a little new to plant care. Before I leave the house, I put my peace lily in the window and when I arrive, which is not yet in direct sunlight, I put it back in the bathroom. I have noticed that the tips of many of the leaves are yellow, like burned, can it be that it does not tolerate the cold of the street or excess water? She has only one new flower right now, she used to have more.
How can I clean the leaves to remove dust?
Thank you
Hello Sandra.
This plant does not resist cold or sudden changes in temperature. Ideally, it should be kept between 18 and 30ºC, which is why it lives so well indoors 🙂
How often do you water it? In summer you have to water it 3-4 times a week, but the rest of the year and especially in autumn-winter it will be enough with 1 or 2 waterings a week.
A greeting.
Good Morning.
I have felt very identified with the photo of the headline "irrigation." I have had my lily for a month as well. The leaves are fallen, like the flowers. It has me very puzzled. It grew wonderfully until transplant (all the new leaves did not fall into the old pot). I transplanted it into a terracotta pot, and since then I don't know if it's the light, the watering (I have spaced it every 4 days), but it gives me the impression that there is no turning back. The stems are weak, like the leaves. The truth is that my plant is the spitting image of the photo in this post, "irrigation" section. Could someone guide me? THANK YOU
Hi Clara.
Do you have a plate under it? My advice is to water less, once a week, especially if you have it indoors.
It is also advisable to treat it with a fungicide, to try to eliminate the fungus.
Greetings.
At this time I was watering it on alternate days, I have seen that it is better to put the water under it, a little finger, and it absorbs it herself.
A greeting and thanks for the reply.
Hello, I have 2 potted peace lilies inside the house, at first I transplanted them and they had flowers but after a while neither of the 2 gives flowers. What can it be due to? Each is in a different room, one with bright but not direct light and one in a darker room in winter.
Thank you very much
Hi Inma.
For them to flourish they need light, otherwise it is very difficult.
In addition, it is necessary to pay them in spring and summer for example with guano following the indications. So they will have the strength to take flowers.
A greeting.
Hello, I have had a lily for more than 20 years, it was beautiful, but lately the leaves have turned black on the sides. I cut off the leaves and now a flower has come out, but the leaves keep coming out and turning black. What can be.
Thank you.
Margherita
Hi Margie or Hello Margarite.
Have you ever changed the pot? I ask you because over time the nutrients in the soil are depleted, and that makes the plant sick.
My advice is that you transfer it to a somewhat larger one, with new soil - do not remove the one that is in the roots - and water it about 3 times a week in summer and a little less the rest of the year.
Regards!
Good afternoon. I have seen lilies full of leaves and several branches. Because my lily is only a trunk with two or three leaves. What would be missing
Hi Patricia.
Peace lilies have no branches, that is, they only produce leaves and flowers.
If your plant is running low on leaves, it may be that it lacks room to grow, or compost.
Greetings and happy new year.
My lily is almost like the one in the photo but it is not a lack of water, it became like that suddenly, it is in a terracotta pot, will it be too much humidity?
Hi Viviana.
If that pot does not have holes in the base, surely the water that remains stagnant is already damaging the roots.
And if it has holes but you have put a plate under it, it may also be that it is having problems with excess water.
By the way, do you spray / spray its leaves? If you do, I recommend you stop doing it. It is better to put containers with water around (you can take advantage of and put small aquatic plants there), or get a humidifier. This way, you will be able to breathe easier.
If you have doubts, write to us.
Greetings.
Hello, I have a beautiful lily plant, but I started to notice that it has tears on the leaves, like cuts, I don't understand why this is happening; could you help me? Thank you
Hello, I have just been given a huge and beautiful Peace Lily, but after three days, two of the flowers I had have turned brown (one was already adult and the other is tiny because it is coming out). Does anyone know what the reason is? I have only had it for 3 days and I have put it in front of the window that this northern location, that is to say, sun from 17:XNUMX p.m. Thanks
Hi Conxi.
Even if it is indoors, if it is next to a window the sun can burn it. Therefore, it is advisable to move it away a little, so that it can grow well.
Likewise, it is important to control the irrigation, since if, for example, the dish is always filled with water, its roots will rot.
Regards!
Hello, my lily is the same as the one in the photo. I bought it a week ago and one day I left it in the patio at 40 degrees of heat and irrigated it with plenty of water. Thank you very much =)
Hello Victor.
I recommend keeping it in the shade (or if it is indoors, in a bright room but without direct light, and away from drafts).
If the land is completely dry, you have to water; but if you notice it wet, it is better to wait a few days. If you have a plate underneath, remove the water that is in it so that the roots do not rot. If you have it in a pot without holes, then you have to plant it in another that has.
And the rest is to wait. Hopefully there is luck and can be saved.
Greetings.
With the flower, can you dry and make new plants?
Hello Maria Isabel.
No, the flower stem does not have the capacity to emit roots.
Regards!
The peace lily seems to me one of the most beautiful indoor plants, its flower is so peculiar and so sophisticated that it really has me in love. It brings back very good memories of my childhood, in my grandmother's house there were like 4-5 plants of these in the living room, the dining room and in the kitchen, how beautiful it is
I love the Lily of Peace, I have one placed in the entrance of my house, it looks very beautiful, I clean its leaves with gualele peel
Hi Angela.
It is a very beautiful plant, without a doubt.
Thank you very much for commenting.
Good morning, I have overwatered my plant and the roots have rotted. I got her out of the ground. What should I do to get it back? There are hardly any roots left. And it is very musty.
Hello Rachel.
If it has few roots, it is best to plant it in a pot with new soil and water it but about twice a week, no more.
And to wait. Greetings.
My Peace Lily blooms every now and then but the flowers only last 1 week at most, they turn brown and die. to what is due?
Thank you.
Hello Cristina.
It may be that you need a little more light, but it is normal that your flowers last little. If it is otherwise fine, there is nothing to worry about.
Greetings.
What to do with the flower that has dried up. is it cut? Thanks
Hello Mercedes.
Yes you can cut it.
A greeting.