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

Celina1 Fri, 09/11/2015 - 20:34

Hi. I've had this peace lilly for a while and really like it as it's easy to maintain. Have not had any issues with it so fa and was very excited when it bloomed this spring/ summer for the first time (after 2 years I've had it!). I have just repotted it into a much bigger pot. It used to be in a 7" one and I've just bought a 10.5" to repot it into. I didn't know it was not advised to change the pot to a much bigger size, I thought actually I was treating it to it ;) anyway, the leaves seem to have drooped and it looks a bit sad.. I have watered it a lot today until the water started dripping down the bottom (I've only found this website today, trying to find advice) and it seems it has perked up a bit. The leaves seem quite weak when I touch them though, they used to be quite sturdy and shaped, now just seem a bit lifeless. Would you advise to repot it again into a bit smaller pot or should I leave it for now and see how it gets on? Thank you for your advice in advance, Celina

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 09/15/2015 - 15:02

Leave the lily in the bigger pot. It should do fine. Do not overwater, just keep the soil moist.

Krystal W Sun, 09/06/2015 - 19:29

Hi my mother passed away about a year ago and I got a peace lily plant that she had for a couple years. When I got it was almost dead I just got it coming back to life .So my cats broke the pot that it was in it was already struggling before that. I just got it to starting to sprout leaves. it is now turning into fall and I had to repot it I obviously got new soil about the same size pot and I was just want to know if anybody has had the same issue and what am I too expect what can I do to prevent it from dying on me further, is there anyone that can help?

Tiffanie Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:08

My peace lily has lot all the big leaves and has grown a bunch of little leaves to where it is very overcrowded and including stems may only be getting 6-12 inches tall. It was a big gorgeous plant when I bought it and have just had so much trouble keeping it alive. I can't even take care of an "easy to grow" plant :( Leaves do look nice and healthy as far as I can tell. I believe it had said indirect bright light but usually it doesn't get much as when it does it gets sad and then when it doesn't, sad again. Tried putting out on front porch in shade but so light would be bright and again, sad. What gives?? I am using tap water...maybe the fluoride? What do you suggest? I'm new with plants and willing to learn!

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 07/31/2015 - 11:02

When you get smaller leaves, this often suggests that you need to re-pot. In the winter when it's dormant, withhold water until it's dry. Repot in rich soil (a mix of loam, peat moss, and sand). You could also divide at this time. When it resumes growth, keep the soil moist, not soggy or too dry. Usually this is once per week. At first, fertilize it about every other week with houseplant fertilizer; you can dilute this with water. Place the plant in strong, indirect light. Once it seems settled, fertilize once a month, except winter.

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 07/31/2015 - 11:08

Also, don't forget to remove fading blooms. If you do leave the flowers, the leaves will start coming out smaller. When you remove the flower, you also need to cut off the stalk as low as possible without cutting the leaf. Cut don't twist or pull.

If you do have chlorine in the water, we'd suggest that you let the plant's drinking water sit out overnight, then water in the morning.

All the best with your peace lily!

Ronica Hughes Tue, 07/28/2015 - 14:28

My todler has knocked over my peace lilly alot the leaves turned brown and I removed them and now there are no leaves at all. So is it dead or can I try to save it?

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 07/29/2015 - 09:58

Hopefully you removed the leaves by snipping at the base of the stem. Try relocating it to a bathroom setting with indirect light for a while if you can; that's often good for perking up the Peace.

M Gabriele Fri, 06/26/2015 - 07:30

I'm trying to save a large peace lily for a friend. I got it Monday and gave it 1 1/2 cups. It was underwatered to the point of dehydration. It still drooped on Wednesday so I gave it another cup. It looks so much better. I've cut the dead leaves off. Some of the remaining leaves are still a bit curled and closed, but I'm nervous with over watering it. Is it ok if I keep giving it a cup a day? Should I just spritz the leaves now? How much is too much water? I'm trying to get it to the point of just watering it once a week. Once I get the plant healthy and the system down, I plan to give it back to her. Also, I had placed the plant by my front porch window, so there is no direct sunlight. Is this ok or should I move it further into the room?

Jm Thu, 07/09/2015 - 20:40

They do not like too much Sunlight.It should do well near the window, just not directly in front

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Peace Lily Care Tips: How to Grow Spathiphyllum Plants