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Peace Lily Care Tips: How to Grow Spathiphyllum Plants

close up of a peace lily flower with greenery and foliage
Image Credit:
Georgina198/Getty Images
Botanical Name
Spathiphyllum spp.
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Shade
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Varies
Flower Color
Green
White
Plant Type
Houseplants
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Learn how to care for a peace lily, one of the most popular indoor plants. These beautiful houseplants are fairly easy to grow, but knowing how often to water peace lilies and what to do if their leaves droop or turn yellow is essential. Plus, find tips on how to repot your peace lily to keep it happy!

About Peace Lilies

Peace lilies are not true lilies. They are tropical, evergreen plants in the Arum family, native to tropical Central and South America. These plants thrive on the forest floor, receiving dappled sunlight and consistent moisture and humidity. Replicating these conditions in the home is the key to keeping your peace lily happy and healthy.

With enough light, peace lilies produce white to off-white flowers starting in the early summer and continue to bloom throughout the year in the right conditions. 

Most household varieties of peace lily grow up to 16 inches tall, but larger outdoor cultivars can reach up to 6 feet tall. Peace lilies are not cold-hardy, so they can only be grown outdoors in warm, humid climates (USDA Zones 10, 11).

Peace lily in a white pot
Photo by izzzy71/Getty Images

Planting

How to Plant Peace Lilies

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.

Wit and Wisdom

  • The peace lily is said to have gotten its common name from its white flowers, which rise timidly above its green foliage and resemble white flags of peace.
  • Despite the peace lily’s common name, it is not related to true lilies at all.
  • The plant’s attractive blooms are also the source of its Latin name, Spathiphyllum, meaning “spathe-leaf.” The flowers consist of the spathe (the white, sheath-like leaf) and the spadix (the spike of small flowers located within the spathe).
Peace Lily flower
A peace lily’s flower consists of a spathe (white sheath) and a spadix (green or off-white spike of flowers). 
Photo by W. Carter/Wikimedia

Houseplant Guides

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

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.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 03/14/2016 - 15:34

Make sure the soil is moist (not too wet or too dry). Keep the plant indoors until it perks up. When you moved it outdoors it may have been too cold or hot or the change in temp. from indoors to the outside air may have caused your problems.

 <span>Sara Marusa</span> Fri, 03/11/2016 - 09:03
my friend gave me a rather large peace lily. The bottom leaves started turning yellow. should I cut them off or should I repot the plant .
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 03/14/2016 - 15:36

Sometimes dying bottom leaves is natural, as part of the aging process. Or your plant might be suffering from low humidity, often indicated by brown leaf tips. Be sure to mist your plant every so often. Also, be sure that the plant is in indirect sunlight–direct sunlight can burn the leaves (yellow and brown areas).

 <span>Heather</span> Thu, 03/10/2016 - 23:49
I've got a peace lily that I've had since 1998 since my grandma died & with in the last month or 2. The peace lily has drooped & we have replanted it & we have used the same pot to replant it in which has been an 8 inch pot. Can the peace lily be split in half & plant again or what. We have talked with a person who works @ a greenhouse & I was informed that it needed to watered until it was heavy & I've done what she has said to do. I'm wondering what we should do about it. The leaves r brown. My friend also told us that the largest pot that we can use is a 10 inch pot. Now when we replanted it about a month ago. We had noticed that the dirt that was in the 8 inch pot was dripping wet because when we squeeze the soil, it was nothing but dripping water. My dad thought that maybe we have been over watering it but. I don't think that we r. What do u suggest.
<span>Cara</span> Sat, 03/12/2016 - 14:53
I have a peace lily that I recv'd from my grandfathers funeral 3 years ago. I found that in the begging I had been over watering it. I now water it every 3 days and use apx a 16oz cup. If your soil is dripping wet, to me you're over watering it. If you look at the info above it states to keep it moist but not over water. A general rule of thumb is that the plant will absorb what it needs. So since you have so much extra water it seems like it's to much water. Also we have our plant in a pot that's apx 12inches in diameter. I hope this helps.
<span>Kate</span> Thu, 03/10/2016 - 06:08
I've had a peace lily for about a month now. Some of the leaves are drying up even though I am keeping it watered. At first I followed the advice to water once a week but since I noticed the bottom leaves are shrivelling I started to give it some water every 2-3 days. I don't want to overwater it. But still the bottom leaves are shrivelling more and many of the bigger leaves have dry tips. What can I do???
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 03/10/2016 - 13:10

Sometimes dying bottom leaves is natural, as part of the aging process. But best guess: your plant might be suffering from low humidity, often indicated by brown leaf tips. Be sure to mist your plant every so often. Also, be sure that the plant is in indirect sunlight--direct sunlight can burn the leaves (yellow and brown areas). Brown spots on leaves and dropping leaves may indicate spider mites--check for tiny webs; if present, wash the leaves with a splash of water, and then you might try insecticidal soap. Also make sure that you haven't given the plant too much fertilizer. Overwatering can cause browning leaves--only water when the soil feels mostly dry, then water so that it flows through the drainage holes (and make sure the pot is draining properly); you are right, though, that underwatering can cause leaves or leaf edges to yellow. Be sure your plant is in temperatures above 60F; ideal temps are around 68 to 85F in day and 10 degrees less than day temp at night.

 <span>Paula Bargenquast</span> Thu, 03/03/2016 - 18:30
My mother passed a year ago. She had a green thumb. I am trying to live her legacy with having some plants. The peace lily I got from her funeral is dying. Babies are popping up daily but the bigger leaves are turning brown. HELP ME PLEASE. I don't want to loose this plant
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 03/04/2016 - 17:14

Too much or too little water can cause brown leaves. Too much fertilizer can also make the leaves turn brown. Please see our "care" section above fo more growing tips.

 <span>Jen</span> Fri, 03/04/2016 - 11:50
Have you tried moving it out of the light? Remove only the leaves with exposed bases near the bottom of the plant that have turned brown. Also to tend to the baby plants just remove the plant from the pot and kind of shake it to remove soil and reveal the roots to where the new babies are. Separate them and repot the old one and pot the new ones. My grandmother left two peace Lilly's in the dining room when she moved out of our home. The two plants had been in our dining for every family dinner and holiday I can remember. She told me has had them for 20 years. Anyway they were almost dead when I did my final walk thru before the house was knocked down, one was actually dumped on the floor. I'm not Great with plants either but I was able to save them and not only that have about 5 new plants on top of the two "heirloom" Lilly's. Don't over water them and keep them out of the direct sunlight. The floor near a window has worked for me.