How to Grow and Care for a Peace Lily: Complete Guide

Simple routines keep plants lush with glossy leaves and abundant white flowers.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 19, 2025

Simple routines keep plants lush with glossy leaves and abundant white flowers.

How to Grow and Care for a Peace Lily

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) remains one of the most cherished indoor plants, admired for its lush, glossy foliage and elegant white blooms. Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or new to houseplant care, cultivating a peace lily is a rewarding experience. This comprehensive guide demystifies all aspects of peace lily care—covering everything from proper placement and watering to trouble-shooting common issues and ensuring perpetually healthy growth.

What Is a Peace Lily?

A peace lily is a tropical evergreen perennial plant indigenous to Central and South America and Southeast Asia. It flourishes in the dappled light and moist understory of rainforests, making it naturally suited for lower-light indoor environments.

Appearance: Lance-shaped, glossy green leaves with distinctive white, hood-like flowers (spathes).
Grown for: Decorative foliage and air-purifying qualities.
Lifespan: Peace lilies are long-lived perennials with proper care.
Pet safety: Peace lilies are considered toxic to pets and humans if ingested. They contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract.

Benefits of Growing a Peace Lily

Air purification: Recognized by NASA as an effective plant for removing indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene.
Low maintenance: Requires moderate attention, and forgiving of occasional neglect.
Year-round beauty: Foliage remains vibrant year-round; white spathes often appear several times a year.
Symbolism: Commonly symbolizes peace, purity, and healing, making it a popular gift plant.

Where and How to Grow Peace Lilies

Peace lilies can thrive almost anywhere in your home, provided their basic needs for light, water, and humidity are met. They are primarily grown as houseplants but can be placed outdoors in warm, humid climates—always protected from direct sun.

Peace Lily Light Requirements

Best light: Bright, filtered, or indirect light—for example, near an east- or north-facing window.
Direct sunlight: Should be avoided, as it may scorch leaves and diminish blooming.
Tolerated low light: Peace lilies can survive in low-light situations, though flowering becomes sparse or absent.
Artificial light: Peace lilies adapt to artificial office lighting, but growth may be slower and blooms less frequent.

Tip: Inadequate light leads to fewer or no flowers, while excessive brightness can cause leaf tips to yellow or burn.

Temperature and Humidity

Ideal temperature: 65–80°F (18–27°C) during the day; not below 55°F (13°C) at night.
Drafts: Avoid exposure to cold drafts, air conditioning, or heat vents.
Humidity: Prefers humidity above 50%. Bathrooms or kitchens are often suitable locations. Mist leaves with distilled water, or use a pebble tray or humidifier for drier rooms.

Peace Lily Soil and Potting

Potting mix: Use a rich, well-draining houseplant soil—typically peat-based with added perlite or bark for drainage.
Pot selection: Choose a container with drainage holes to prevent soggy roots.
Repotting: Repot every 1–2 years, ideally in spring, if roots are circling the pot or growing from drainage holes. Go up one pot size at a time.
Hydroponic options: Peace lilies can also adapt to semi-hydro systems using Leca or Pon and a hydroponic fertilizer.

How to Water a Peace Lily

Frequency: Water thoroughly when the top inch of the soil is dry to the touch. Typically, watering weekly works; adjust based on your environment’s temperature and humidity.
Amount: Water enough so moisture runs through the drainage hole, then empty any excess from the saucer.
Water type: Use filtered, distilled, or rainwater—peace lilies are sensitive to chlorine and fluoride in tap water, which can cause leaf tip browning.
Signs of underwatering: Dramatic wilting or drooping. The plant typically recovers rapidly with a good soaking.
Signs of overwatering: Yellow leaves, standing water in the pot, root rot. Always allow excess water to drain.

Peace Lily Fertilizer Needs

Type: Use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, during active growth seasons.
Frequency: Fertilize every 4–6 weeks in spring and summer. Peace lilies require very little fertilizer; over-fertilization may cause brown leaf tips.
Winter: Pause fertilization in fall and winter, as growth slows naturally.

General Maintenance and Cleaning

Leaf cleaning: Dust the broad leaves regularly to allow efficient photosynthesis. Use a damp, soft cloth or give an occasional gentle shower under tepid water.
Grooming: Trim away yellow or brown leaves at their base to keep the plant healthy. Remove spent blooms to encourage further flowering.

Encouraging Peace Lily Flowering

Provide plenty of indirect sunlight and maintain high humidity from spring to summer.
Fertilize judiciously, using only as needed. Too little or too much can affect blooming.
Do not allow plants to become rootbound or stressed, as this impedes flower formation.
If purchased in bloom from a greenhouse, don’t worry if flowering pauses post-purchase—adjustment to new conditions can delay reblooming.

Peace Lily Troubleshooting Guide

Problem	Likely Cause	Solution
Dramatic wilting	Underwatering	Water thoroughly; peace lilies typically recover within hours.
Yellow leaves	Overwatering, poor drainage, old leaves	Check for soggy soil or clogged drainage. Remove old/yellow leaves.
Brown leaf tips	Tap water chemicals, low humidity, over-fertilizing, underwatering	Switch to filtered water, mist leaves, adjust watering and fertilizing habits.
Lack of flowers	Poor light, immaturity, recent repotting, low nutrients	Move to bright, indirect light and fertilize during growth season.
Brown streaks/spots	Direct sun, cold drafts, pests	Relocate plant, check for pests or extreme temperature shifts.
Roots growing from drainage holes	Rootbound	Repot in a container 1–2 inches wider.

Repotting and Propagation of Peace Lilies

Repotting Steps

When to repot: Every 1–2 years or when roots circle pot interior or grow through drainage holes.
How to repot: Choose a container 1–2 inches wider, loosen root ball, refresh with new soil, replant to the same depth.
Post-repotting: Water lightly and keep out of direct sun for several weeks. Flowering may pause temporarily as the plant acclimates.

Propagation by Division

Remove plant from pot and gently separate root clumps, ensuring each section has foliage and healthy roots.
Plant divisions in small pots with fresh mix. Water in and treat as mature plants.

Peace Lily Pet Safety and Precautions

Toxicity: Peace lilies are not true lilies, but all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals—mildly toxic if ingested by pets (cats, dogs) and humans, causing oral irritation.
Symptoms of exposure: Drooling, mouth irritation, vomiting.
Precaution: Keep peace lilies out of reach of pets and children.

Seasonal Peace Lily Care

Spring/summer: Active growth and flowering. Water more frequently, maintain high humidity, fertilize monthly, and consider repotting.
Fall/winter: Growth slows; reduce watering, eliminate feeding, and guard against exposure to cold drafts or furnace heat.

Decorating with Peace Lilies

Use peace lilies to add lush greenery to living spaces, bedrooms, or home offices.
Group with other tropical plants for a mini indoor jungle effect.
Place in decorative ceramic, glass, or woven baskets (always ensure internal pots have drainage holes).
Peace lilies work well in mixed indoor planters, but avoid crowding roots.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Peace Lily Care

Q: How can I tell if my peace lily needs water?

A: The most reliable sign is slight wilting or drooping. Alternatively, check the soil—if the top inch is dry, it’s time to water. Peace lilies often “faint” when thirsty but recover quickly after you water them.

Q: Why does my peace lily have yellow leaves?

A: Yellow leaves are often due to overwatering, poor drainage, or natural aging. Always ensure the pot and mix allow for good drainage, and remove old leaves at the base.

Q: Can peace lilies survive in low light?

A: Yes, they tolerate low light, which is why they’re excellent for offices and shaded rooms. However, growth will be slower and flowers rare.

Q: What kind of fertilizer should I use?

A: Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer (like 20-20-20) at half strength monthly, only during spring and summer.

Q: Should I mist my peace lily?

A: Peace lilies appreciate humidity. Misting helps, but use filtered or distilled water. You can also place the pot on a tray of pebbles with water or use a humidifier.

Q: Are peace lilies safe for pets?

A: All parts are mildly toxic. They should be kept away from pets and children to prevent accidental ingestion.

Q: How do I get my peace lily to bloom?

A: Ensure the plant receives plenty of bright, indirect light, adequate humidity, and is fertilized appropriately during the growing season. Avoid stressors such as rootbound conditions and under-watering.

Final Tips for Thriving Peace Lilies

Location is key: Provide bright, filtered light and keep away from drafts and heaters.
Let the plant dry slightly: Always check the soil before watering.
Clean the leaves: Regularly dust and wipe leaves for optimal health and shine.
Don’t over-fertilize: Less is more with peace lilies—use a gentle feeding regimen in active growth months only.

With this guidance, your peace lily will flourish, bringing freshness, beauty, and tranquility to your home year-round.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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