Almost everyone has either owned or heard of the battle-tested peace lily. It can endure an unusual amount of neglect and abuse. When it needs water, it will lie down until you feel sorry for it and throw some water at it. Then it bounces back like nothing ever happened. Such a drama queen! The reality is that the peace lily is one of the easiest houseplants to maintain and care for. Despite this, many of them perish every year at the hands of someone who doesn’t speak their language. They give you signals and signs, and you feel helpless because you can’t figure out what they need. Well, we want your peace lily to be happy. So, here is a story about the life and love of Lily Peace. She is quite the character.
Where is it from
Lily Peace comes to us from Central America. This plant became accustomed to the warm, humid climate and bright, filtered light of the forests. Her plant family also includes the Monstera plant.
The plant’s scientific name is ‘Spathiphyllum wallisii’. The tall, stately white blooms seemed to resemble white flags, which are an enduring sign of peace. Plus, they somewhat resemble a lily of sorts. Peace-Lily!
How does it survive
It seems logical now that Lily is tame; the plant still loves warm temps and bright filtered light. However, direct sunlight will easily sunburn this plant. If you had to choose between lower light conditions or direct sun, the lower light would be more adaptable. Peace Lily is a happy camper if the roots stay moist and fertilized with general-purpose plant food. Peace Lily isn’t a fan of drafty locations, so keep it protected from open doors and heaters, or the plant will lose its glossy green appearance.
Correcting your mistakes
Water and light top Lily’s wish list, but that’s not where it ends. Lily likes to have spent leaves and blooms cut as soon as they start to fade. Cutting them as close to the soil as possible is the best practice. You will be rewarded with lush new growth. Key signs that something is wrong, are brown tips and edges and poor watering habits. Be sure always to water enough to leach the soil yet not leave it standing in water. The best practice is to elevate the pot in a drip pan or eliminate the excess water after watering.
If you have to water more often, it may be time to repot. Hopefully, we have helped you navigate the ins and outs of this plant; it’s beautiful. A Peace Lily can last for many, many years.