How to grow peace lilies

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 concentration of water vapour in the atmosphere. This affects the rate at which plants transpire (lose water from their leaf pores), which in turn affects how much water their roots absorb from the soil. If air humidity is low, plants transpire quickly and become at risk of wilting if water is lost from the leaves faster than it can be absorbed by the roots. Different plants require different levels of humidity to thrive. Many tropical houseplants need high humidity and are best grown in a steamy bathroom, misted regularly or placed on a saucer of damp pebbles. In a greenhouse, humidity can be raised in hot weather by damping down (wetting) the floor or overhead misting.

Choosing peace lilies

The most widely sold and popular peace lily is Spathiphyllum wallisii. There are also several cultivars available, including:

• ‘Chopin’ – with slender white spathes up to 50cm (20in) tall

• ‘Bellini’ – widely available, and grows to 50cm (20in) in height

• ‘Mauna Loa’ AGM – reaching 90cm (3ft) tall, with large pure white spathes up to 10cm (4in) long

• ‘Variegata’ and ‘Gemini’ – both have irregular white splashes on the foliage, on compact plants only 30cm (1ft) tall

• ‘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: garden centre plants

Buying: mail order plants

Buying: mail order plants

Houseplant 101: Episode Three

Houseplant 101: Episode Three

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:

How to water containers

How to water containers

Water: collecting, storing and re-using

Water: collecting, storing and re-using

Water: using softened and other types

Water: using softened and other types

Houseplant 101: Episode Four

Houseplant 101: Episode Four

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.

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:

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How to help a poorly houseplant

How to help a poorly houseplant

Leaf damage on houseplants

Leaf damage on houseplants