Peace Lilies: How to Grow and Care for These Indoor Plants

A tropical blooming plant belonging to the Spathiphyllum genus is the ‘peace lily’. Many people grow peace lilies inside when they are outside of their hardiness zones. Within the genus, there are several varieties of peace lilies. However, peace lilies typically have very big, glossy, oval leaves. Although when grown indoors, this might change, they usually bloom in the spring. Two times a year, a robust peace lily can bloom, producing many months' worth of blossoms.

Peace lily varieties

Due to extensive hybridization, there are several well-liked varieties of peace lilies. They come in a variety of sizes, from little to enormous, and from deep green with snow-white blossoms to beautiful plants with golden leaves. Popular varieties of peace lilies include the following:

• Spathiphyllum 'Power Petite': A diminutive variety that barely reaches a height of 15 inches

• 'Mauna Loa Supreme': A highly popular type that can reach heights of 3 to 4 feet and has up to 9-inch-wide leaves.

• ‘Sensation’: The biggest peace lily variety grows up to 6 feet tall and has wide, 20-inch leaves.

• "Mojo": An eye-catching, substantial variety with vivid green foliage.

• "Golden Delicious": A variety that has magnificent golden-green new growth.

• "Starlight": A variety with wavy borders on its small leaves. Additionally, it is renowned for its many blooms, with up to 20 blossoms on a single plant.

Methods to Plant Peace Lilies

Although peace lilies thrive in containers, they don't like to sit in pots that are much bigger than their root balls. How to plant one, in brief:

1. Decide on a container that has adequate drainage and is no bigger than one-third the size of the peace lily's root ball.

2. Half-fill the container with potting mix, which doesn't contain bark or compost, which are both known to serve as havens for troublesome fungus gnats. Additionally, the mixture contains coconut coir, which facilitates simple soil rewetting.

3. Insert the plant so that the top of the root ball is approximately an inch below the top of the rim of the container (to leave room for watering).

4. Add additional potting mix to the area around the root ball.

5. Place a saucer under your peace lily and transfer it to its new location after watering it until moisture starts to drip out of the pot's bottom.

How to Propagate Peace Lilies

The peace lily is often multiplied by splitting clumps during repotting procedures, which can be carried out at any time of year. Look for little offshoot crowns next to the parent plant to determine whether the plant is ready to be divided. This is how:

• The entire plant should be taken out of its container before the surrounding crowns are separated or chopped off. You can also just cut a piece of the main root ball off. Any component with at least two leaves and associated roots have a good chance of flourishing.

• Fresh potting soil that is damp but not waterlogged should be poured into a 6-inch container.

• Plant the clumps in the container right away, and give them plenty of water.

• Keep the plant in a warm, well-lit area. In less than a month, the roots should grow back.

Peace Lily Care

Since most American climates are unsuitable for growing plants outdoors, peace lilies are often cultivated as potted indoor plants. If your peace lilies are in pots, you can transfer them outside for the summer. However, it is a good idea to bring them back inside as the temperature drops.

Indoor peace lily maintenance is not that difficult. Give your plant filtered sunshine, relatively wet soil, and regular temperature changes.

Light

Sunlight is required by peace lilies, but not direct sunlight. In their natural environments, they are plants that like shade. However, indoor peace lilies require a little more filtered light. (Some species are more resistant to light than others.) The best window in your home to display a peace lily is one that faces east.

Soil

A rich, loose potting mixture with a lot of organic materials is what soil peace lilies like. You'll have the most success with soil that closely resembles the tropical canopy conditions where these plants naturally grow when the soil is dense with decomposing plant matter. Choose a well-draining combination because the plant is also quite sensitive to too-damp soil conditions.

Water

Instead of being overwatered, peace lilies like to be underwatered. The size of the container and how quickly the soil drains will determine how frequently you need water a peace lily, but in general, water when the top inch of soil has become dry. Reduce watering over the winter, but never let the soil get entirely dry. Use filtered water if the water in your home is heavily chlorinated. As an alternative, you can leave tap water out for a few days to let the chlorine vaporize.

Temperature and Humidity

These plants favor warm, damp environments. Avoid drafts and temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit; if the plant is subjected to sustained cold temperatures, it will perish. Your peace lily should be kept between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout the summer growing season, mist the leaves once a week with softened or distilled water to increase humidity.

Fertilizer

Frequent feedings are beneficial to peace lilies since they provide the healthiest plant and the best seasonal blooming. Feed your plant once a week throughout the summer, or start the season with slow-release pellets. During the winter, you don't need to fertilize the plant.