Growing guide
How to grow peace lilies
One of the most popular of all houseplants, peace lilies have elegant white flower-like spathes that stand on tall stems above the glossy tropical foliage. Easy to grow, serene and calming, they even help to purify the air, so no home should be without one.
Quick facts
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Popular, low-maintenance houseplants
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The elegant white blooms stand out well against the dark green foliage
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These tropical plants like warmth, humid air and indirect light
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Water regularly but moderately, letting the compost dry out each time
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They improve indoor air quality by removing toxins
All you need to know
What are peace lilies?
Peace lilies have long been popular as houseplants, being easy to grow and visually spectacular, with elegant white flower-like spathes held above lush clumps of glossy, dark green foliage. These evergreen plants come from tropical forests in Central America and Colombia, so need warmth and indirect or filtered light. They prefer moderate
The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere. Different plants require different levels of humidity. Houseplants that need high humidity are best grown in a steamy bathroom, misted regularly or the pot placed in a saucer of damp pebbles. In a greenhouse, humidity can be raised in hot weather by damping down (wetting) the floor, overhead watering or misting. However, high humidity can cause fungal problems, in which case open vents to improve ventilation.
Although known as peace lilies, they aren’t related to lilies, but instead belong to the arum family (Araceae) and have the typical arum ‘flower’, comprising a large petal-like spathe, surrounding a spike, or spadix, which holds the tiny true flowers. The spathes resemble white flags, a symbol of peace, which is the origin of the plant’s common name. They are mainly produced in spring and summer, lasting for several months before fading to green. Many other popular houseplants are members of the arum family – see our guide to amazing arums.
Peace lilies have an elegant, calming presence, and provide the added benefit of removing harmful chemicals from the air, so they will improve your living space in many ways.
Watch our quick video guide to growing peace lilies:
TAKE CARE
Peace lilies, like many of their fellow arums, are poisonous, so wear gloves when handling them and position them out of reach of children and pets.
Choosing peace lilies
The most widely sold and popular peace lily is Spathiphyllum wallisii. There are also several cultivars available, including:
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‘Chopin’ – with slender white spathes up to 50cm (20in) tall
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‘Bellini’ – widely available, and grows to 50cm (20in) in height
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‘Mauna Loa’ AGM – reaching 90cm (3ft) tall, with large pure white spathes up to 10cm (4in) long
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‘Variegata’ and ‘Gemini’ – both have irregular white splashes on the foliage, on compact plants only 30cm (1ft) tall
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‘Sweet Lauretta’ – up to 1m (3⅓ft) tall, with large, wide leaves and lightly scented blooms
Peace lilies are a great houseplant choice, as they not only look good, but have also been proven to remove harmful pollutants from indoor air – find out more in our video guide:
Buying peace lilies
As they’re one of the most popular houseplants, peace lilies are available from most garden centres and other houseplant retailers all year round. For the more unusual species and cultivars, try larger online houseplant stockists.
When buying in person, select healthy-looking plants with plenty of new growth, glossy green leaves and no damage, browning or yellowing. These are tropical plants, so in winter take care to protect them from the cold when taking them home.
Buying: garden centre plants
Buying: mail order plants
Houseplant 101: Episode Three
To repot, select peat-free multi-purpose compost and mix in perlite to improve the drainage – ideally at a 3:1 ratio. The new pot should be only a few centimetres larger than the current one, to avoid overpotting. Using a much larger pot can mean the excess compost stays damp for too long, potentially leading to root rot.
Repotting peace lilies is easy – see our simple guides:
Houseplant 101: Episode Seven
How to repot a plant
Peat-free compost choices
Location
Keep peace lilies in bright, indirect light – near a window but not in direct summer sun – to ensure strong growth and flowering. Plants will survive in deeper shade but will rarely flower and will grow very slowly.
Average room temperatures are fine, anywhere between 12–24°C (55–75°F), but keep plants away from hot radiators and cold draughts.
Peace lilies are poisonous, so always position them out of reach of children and pets.
Watch our video guide to choosing the right location for houseplants:
Watering
Water peace lilies throughout the growing season, from April to October, once the top few centimetres of compost have become dry. Reduce watering slightly in winter when growth slows down. The fluoride in tap water can damage the foliage, so use rainwater or filtered water whenever possible.
If the compost dries out very quickly after watering, this may be a sign that your plant is rootbound and in need of a larger pot. Repot it in spring – see Planting, above.
See our watering guides for more advice:
Houseplant 101: Episode Four
How to water containers
Water: collecting, storing and re-using
Water: using softened and other types
TOP TIP
Each time you water your peace lily, turn the pot by a quarter, to prevent it growing towards the light and becoming lop-sided.
Humidity
Peace lilies prefer moderate humidity – their leaves may start to turn brown if the air is too dry. So stand the pot in a saucer over a tray of damp gravel – the water will slowly evaporate, raising the humidity around the plant. You can also mist the leaves and/or wipe them with a damp cloth regularly. For more tips on increasing humidity for tropical plants, see our quick video guide:
Feeding
To boost leaf production and flowering, apply a general liquid fertiliser every few weeks throughout the growing season, from April to October.
Peace lilies are generally healthy, tolerant and trouble-free, but bear in mind the following:
- Keeping the compost too wet for long periods can result in root rot. Let the top of the compost dry out between waterings, and reduce watering in winter. Overwatering can also cause browning or yellowing leaves
- Lack of water can cause peace lilies to droop alarmingly, but if you water them promptly, they should soon recover with no ill-effects
- Dry air can result in leaves turning brown at the edges – so mist plants regularly and stand the pot in a tray of damp gravel to increase humidity
- Failure to flower is often due to insufficient light – position near a window in bright light, but out of direct summer sun
For more problem-solving tips, see our guides:
How to help a poorly houseplant
Leaf damage on houseplants
Discover peace lilies
Everything you need to know about choosing the right peace lily for you.
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