Peace Lily Care

Quick care guide

Light and placement

Medium to bright filtered light encourages flowering; direct midday sun can scorch leaves. Place the plant where it can remain stable rather than moving it repeatedly. Watch the newest growth: smaller leaves, stretching or leaning usually mean the plant needs more usable light, while pale scorched patches can follow sudden exposure to strong sun.

Window direction is only a starting clue. Distance from glass, curtains, nearby buildings, trees and seasonal sun angle can change light dramatically. Move the plant gradually when increasing exposure.

Watering and roots

Check often and water when the upper layer begins to dry; avoid leaving roots in water. Water thoroughly when the plant’s root zone is ready, then let excess leave the drainage hole. Empty cachepots and saucers. A plant in lower light, a larger pot or a moisture-retentive mix will usually dry more slowly than the same species in warm bright conditions.

Moisture-retentive but draining indoor mix. Repot only when roots are crowded, the mix has decomposed, or drainage behaviour has changed. A modest increase in pot size is safer than surrounding a small root system with a large volume of wet mix.

Growth, pruning and propagation

Clumping foliage with white spathes under suitable light. Prune with clean tools and remove only damaged or unwanted growth. Cleaning leaves helps you notice pests and allows light to reach the surface.

Propagation: Divide established clumps during repotting.

Common problems

Dramatic drooping from dryness, yellowing from excess water, brown tips from salts or inconsistent conditions. Diagnose by checking soil moisture, root condition, light and recent changes before adding fertilizer or pesticide. Damaged leaves may not recover, so judge improvement by healthy new growth.