Plant or replant your lilies in a container twice as large as the root ball (typically 6–12 inches in diameter) with well-draining, all-purpose potting soil. The soil should be able to hold moisture and dry out slowly over time (see how much soil you need to fill your pot!). Peace lilies don’t like to dry out entirely, but they also won’t do well if kept in soil that’s constantly wet, as this fosters root rot fungus.

Repotting the peace lily plant every few years in the spring is suitable for the peace lily, as it will appreciate the refreshed soil.

How to Repot a Peace Lily

Eventually, the peace lily may grow too large for its pot, at which point it can be divided. Remove the plant from its pot and split it into smaller plants, being sure to leave several leaves per clump. Peace lilies grow from rhizomes, so they can tolerate a bit of tough treatment during division.

Learn more about repotting houseplants.

How to Propagate a Peace Lily

Propagating a peace lily is a great way to expand your plant collection or share one with a friend. The easiest and most reliable method is division, since peace lilies grow in clumps that can be gently separated into new plants.

Start by removing the peace lily from its pot and gently loosening the soil around the roots. You’ll notice that the plant has several “crowns,” or clusters of leaves, each with its own root system. Identify a healthy section with at least a few leaves and strong roots. Using clean hands or a sharp, sanitized knife, carefully separate it from the main plant—trying to keep as many roots intact as possible.

Once separated, plant the division in a pot with fresh, well-draining potting mix. Water it thoroughly, then place it in a spot with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil lightly moist (but not soggy) for the first few weeks to help the plant establish itself.

Peace lilies typically bounce back quickly after division, and within a few months, your new plant should be thriving. Propagating not only creates more plants but also helps keep older peace lilies healthy by reducing crowding in the pot.

Growing

Peace Lily Care

Perfect for busy plant parents, total beginners, or anyone whose home doesn’t get a ton of sunshine, Spathiphyllum plants are surprisingly easygoing. They don’t mind lower light, and if you forget to water them once in a while, they’ll usually forgive you. These plants look right at home in offices, apartments, or any cozy, shaded corner—bringing fresh green leaves and graceful white blooms without demanding much in return. Once you get the hang of peace lily care, you’ll find they’re the kind of plant that quietly gives back all year long.

Lighting

Place peace lilies in indirect but bright sunlight. An east-facing window is perfect, as the plant will be exposed to the bright morning sun. A north-facing window would also be a good choice for a peace lily.
Keep peace lilies out of areas where they’ll get direct sunlight all day (such as in a south-facing window), as it may dry them out too much.

Watering

The dryness of the soil is what counts. Keep the soil lightly moist to the touch but not overly saturated. Peace lilies can tolerate short periods of dry soil, but their leaves will develop brown tips if they don’t have enough water or humidity.
- Tip: One nice thing about peace lilies is that they will tell you when they’re thirsty: the plant’s leaves start to droop. When the plant starts to look less “perky” than usual, test the soil with your finger. If it feels dry, it’s time to water again. They can be a bit dramatic; don’t panic if they start to wilt.
Peace lilies are sensitive to chemicals commonly found in tap water, such as fluoride, which may cause brown leaf tips. Use filtered, room-temperature water or distilled water if possible.
Learn more about watering houseplants.

Humidity

Peace lilies enjoy high humidity. Misting their leaves or placing their pot atop a moistened tray of gravel can help to increase humidity around the plant.

Fertilizing

Peace lilies are not heavy feeders, so fertilize only occasionally. To encourage spring and summer growth, fertilize every 6 weeks or so with a balanced houseplant fertilizer starting in late winter.

Temperature

Peace lilies are tropical plants; they do best in temperatures between 65° and 75°F (18 to 23°C) during the day and about 10°F cooler at night.
Keep these plants away from the furnace or a drafty window or door.

Other Peace Lily Care Tips

The large leaves of peace lilies tend to collect a lot of dust in the home. Gently wipe them down with a wet paper towel occasionally; a thick layer of dust can inhibit photosynthesis.

Peace Lily plant and flower

How to Get Peace Lilies to Flower

Most often, if no flowers appear, the plant is not getting enough light. Peace lilies are very tolerant of low light, but “low light” doesn’t mean no light! To encourage flowering, move the plant to a brighter location where it will receive bright, indirect light for at least a few hours each day.
Green flowers, weak-looking flowers, or a general lack of flowers can also be caused by improper fertilizing. In the case of green flowers, cut back on fertilizing, as the plant may be getting too much nitrogen. In the case of weak-looking flowers or a lack of flowers, try switching to a fertilizer made for flowering plants. This type of fertilizer will have a higher amount of phosphorus, which plants need for blooming.

Pests and Problems

Brown leaf tips are commonly caused by excessive direct sunlight, over-fertilization, lack of water, and/or low humidity. Keeping the plant on a tray of moistened gravel or misting the leaves can help to increase humidity.
Yellow leaves may be caused by overwatering, underwatering, or old age (of the leaf). If the oldest leaves are yellowing and the plant hasn’t been repotted in a while, it may just need more space to stretch its roots.
Scale insects and mealybugs will happily take up residence on the plant, if given the opportunity. A thorough wipe-down of leaves with a dish soap and water solution or insecticidal soap can be effective at stopping them, though repeated applications may be necessary. Learn more about how to get rid of scale insects and mealybugs.
Droopy or wilting leaves are often the result of too much water. Often, once per week is enough. When you water the plant, wait until the moisture comes out of the drainage holes, but never leave water sitting in the saucer or water the saucer, hoping the moisture moves up the plant. If the water drains too quickly through to the saucer, then your soil is too sandy; your soil needs to be well-draining and porous, containing peat moss, fine bark, or perlite.

FAQ

Is the Peace Lily Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Yes, peace lilies are mildly toxic. All parts of the peace lily plant contain calcium oxalate, which may cause stomach and respiratory irritation if ingested in large amounts. Keep peace lilies out of reach of small children and pets who might chew on the plant. Common plants containing calcium oxalate also include philodendrons, daffodils, true lilies, and hyacinths.

Learn more about houseplants that are toxic to your pets.

Why is My Peace Lily Drooping?

Peace lilies are drama queens! When their leaves start drooping, it’s usually their way of saying, “Hey, I need something, fast!” The most common reason is thirst; peace lilies quickly wilt when the soil dries out, but they perk back up within hours after watering. Overwatering, however, can also cause drooping by suffocating roots. Other culprits include low humidity, too much direct sunlight, or root-bound conditions. Check the soil first: if it’s dry, give it a drink. If it’s soggy, let it dry out.

Can Peace Lilies be Grown in Water?

Yes, peace lilies can grow in water alone; they are often sold in vases without any soil. Ideally, the base of the plant should be suspended above the water line, either by a specially made vase insert or a layer of small river stones. This allows the roots to grow down into the water but keeps the base of the plant and its leaves from being constantly wet, which can cause rot.

How Can I Revive a Peace Lily?

If your peace lily is drooping or looking sad, start by checking the soil. If it’s dry as a desert, give it a good soak and watch those leaves start to perk up in just a few hours. On the flip side, if the soil feels soggy or smells funky, you might be overwatering. In that case, carefully trim any mushy roots and repot your plant in fresh, well-draining soil. Find a nice bright spot with indirect light; too much sun can scorch those leaves. Don’t forget to remove any yellow or dead leaves to help your plant focus on new growth. Keep the air a bit humid if you can, and hold off on fertilizers until your peace lily looks healthier. With a little TLC and patience, your peace lily will bounce back and be the star of your indoor jungle again!

Types

Specialty varieties of peace lilies are not very easy to come by in most garden centers, though they have been growing in popularity. You may have more success ordering them from an online source.

Spathiphyllum wallisii is a smaller peace lily, reaching only 12 inches tall.
‘Petite’ is smaller still, at approximately 8–10 inches.
‘Sensation’ is the largest variety available, capable of growing up to 4–6 feet in height and width.
‘Domino’, is a medium-sized variety with attractively variegated leaves.
‘Mojo Lime’, which has lime-green foliage, is another medium-sized peace lily.

Houseplant Guides

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

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Comments

Add a Comment

Tyler In Delavan, Wi Sat, 04/15/2017 - 03:09

I wouldn't recommend using Distilled water... But rather Well Water that is bypass a water softener. If you have Well water you should have a spigot that bypasses the water softener.

Donald Ayers Mon, 04/10/2017 - 15:47

Can Peace Lily be plant outside in Nokomis, Florida and left without care? We have one but are going to our summer home in Kennebunk, Maine and can not take the lily.

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 04/11/2017 - 09:18

Peace lilies in Florida are indoor plants. Keep your peace lily in a well-lit area, but out of direct sunlight. They do like damp soil, but avoid over-watering. If you can't take this houseplant with you, you may wish to give it to a friend!

Mary Katherine Sun, 04/02/2017 - 18:23

I received a peace lily after losing a loved one in October. About 10 days ago it was over watered and started to wilt. It sat in water for about 3 days before I had realized there was excess water in the pot. I drained the water and have let it dry since then but it looks worse and worse every day. The roots appear to be healthy, the soil is still moist but not excessively so. I trimmed the dead leafs yesterday, however the remaining ones practically yellowed before my eyes today. It means so much to me and I would do anything for it to recover. It was suggested that I repot it in fresh soil using pot that is a half size up, but am reading that I could stress it out even more by doing this. Is there anything else I can do to try and improve the health of my lily?

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 04/05/2017 - 11:06

Hi, Mary Katherine: We're so sorry for your loss, but glad that you wrote. It sounds like you are on top of this situation as best you can be. You had/have a healthy plant that flourished for at least 4 months. If the roots still look OK, then there is certainly hope. Peace lilies need three main things: indirect sun; moderate, sporadic moisture; and warmth. Has anything changed with those three things? If not, it sounds like it is still too moist. Leave it alone; don't trim it, don't touch it for a week. See if it starts to rebound noticeably. If not, repot, but quickly and carefully... then put back in the same place/conditions where it prospered before. Thanks for asking, and good luck!

Sue Hendry Fri, 03/31/2017 - 12:29

I am unfortunate in that I have a bathroom with no windows; the only light is when the light is on or when the hall light is on. I have bought a Peace Lily to go in my bathroom and I believe I can tend for it adequately, after reading previous posts, but we are away for 3 weeks later in the year and wondered if I should move it into the living room where the curtains will be partially drawn for the duration. Thanks for your advice.

Bluebug Wed, 05/17/2017 - 03:52

When I've gone away for 2-3 weeks at a time I've left some water in the bottom of the plant container/tray and have left them on my living room floor - the room faces East. However I have left the curtains partially open so the plants get some light. I still have the plants after 8 years. In the case of my peace lily over time it is now been divided into 8 plants. The amount of water you leave depends on the temperature. If it's hot you leave more but if it's cold you leave little. Once you come back if there is any water left you must throw it away.

Teri Wed, 03/29/2017 - 12:24

We have had a large, beautiful blooming peace lily in our office for the past 9 years. It was a gift in remembrance of a coworker who passed away, so we really want to maintain it. A couple of years ago, I repotted it in a larger pot. Every year or so, I add Miracle Grow potting soil to maintain. Routinely, I cut back any old dying leaves and blooms and another coworker waters it when needed. However, recently, someone else began to water it also. It obviously was getting too much water and we've corrected that situation. BUT.......many of the leaf stalks around the outside bent when it was getting too much water and, four weeks after we corrected the over watering situation, they still can not stand back up. They appear healthy, just bent and hanging on the ground. The leaf stalks in the center of the plant are standing as they should and are healthy. Should I cut the bent ones back? If I do that, will it continue to grow and thicken back up? Thanks for your assistance!

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 03/30/2017 - 14:23

Hi, Teri, If the leaves have died/turned brown, you can cut them off. If they are green and appear to be "alive" but merely droop leave them alone. If they are green, they may not stand up again but they are probably still contributing to the plant.

Michelle Tue, 03/28/2017 - 11:56

I received a Peace Lily plant on 3/19/2017 and want to split it up w/my sister-n-laws? How soon can I do that? What about planting outside?

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Peace Lily Care Tips: How to Grow Spathiphyllum Plants