Why Won't the Peace Lily Bloom? Causes and Solutions
The peace lily, also known by some as the “white sail plant” or “smooth sailing,” is a common potted plant that is loved by many for its very auspicious symbolism. Recently, many friends have been asking this question: why won't my peace lily bloom? Or it blooms very little, with very small flowers, and the flowers are not white but greenish? Let's take a look below at the causes and solutions for a peace lily not blooming.
I. Causes of a Peace Lily Not Blooming
1. Improper watering
Too much or too little water will both affect the growth of the peace lily. If the potting soil becomes waterlogged, it easily causes root rot and the plant to turn yellow and wither, affecting the plant's growth, and it will not bloom. But if the growing environment is too dry, new leaves will become smaller, turn yellow, and even wither. During the growing season, keeping the potting soil moist is sufficient.
2. Unsuitable lighting
The peace lily is fairly shade-tolerant; as long as there is about 60% scattered light, it can meet its growth needs. However, if the peace lily is placed in too dark a spot for a long time, it will grow weak and be unlikely to bloom. And if the sunlight is too strong and direct, the leaves may turn yellow, affecting growth and being unfavorable for blooming.
3. Temperature too low or too high
The peace lily can tolerate relatively high temperatures but not low temperatures. When the temperature is low, it is not easy for it to bloom. To make it bloom, it must be kept above 20°C, but the temperature must not be too high either; exceeding 35°C will affect the growth of the peace lily, and it will not bloom.
4. Insufficient nutrients
During the growing season, the peace lily grows rapidly and needs a relatively large amount of fertilizer. If no fertilizer is applied for a long time, it is not conducive to healthy plant growth, and it will not bloom.
5. Not repotting for a long time
If the peace lily is not repotted for a long time, the soil's fertility will decrease, slowing its growth rate. Moreover, the soil easily becomes compacted, with poor aeration, which affects the respiration of the plant's root system and can also cause the peace lily not to bloom.
II. Solutions for a Peace Lily Not Blooming
1. Substrate selection
Potted peace lilies require loose soil with good drainage and aeration; heavy clay soil must not be used. Generally, a substrate can be made by mixing leaf mold and peat soil with a small amount of perlite; when planting, add a small amount of organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer.
2. Water management
The peace lily prefers a moist environment. During the growing period, the potting soil should be kept moist at all times, but avoid overwatering and having the potting soil moist for a long time, otherwise it easily causes root rot and the plant to turn yellow and wither. In summer and dry seasons, frequently spray water onto the leaf surface with a fine-nozzle sprayer, and also sprinkle water on the ground around the plant, to keep the air moist, which is very beneficial to its growth and development. When the climate is dry and air humidity is low, new leaves will become smaller and yellow, and in severe cases wither, turn yellow, and fall off. In winter, watering should be controlled, with the potting soil kept slightly moist as appropriate.
3. Temperature control
The peace lily is a heat-loving species and should be cultivated in a high-temperature greenhouse. The most suitable daytime and nighttime temperatures for the peace lily are 20°C to 21°C, and the maximum should not exceed 24°C. If the daytime temperature is relatively high, as compensation, the nighttime temperature can be appropriately lowered. For example, if the daytime temperature is 27°C for 6 hours, then at night the temperature should be kept at 9°C for 6 hours. Other situations can be deduced by analogy. Pay special attention that if the peace lily is kept in a low-temperature state for a long time, it easily causes the leaves to fall off or turn scorched yellow.
4. Lighting control
The peace lily is fairly shade-tolerant; as long as there is about 60% scattered light, it can meet its growth needs, so it can be kept year-round indoors in a spot with bright scattered light. In summer, 60% to 70% of the sunlight can be shaded out; strong direct light must be avoided, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow, and in severe cases sunscald will occur. In northern regions in winter, greenhouse cultivation can go without shading or with little shading. If the light is too dim for a long time, it is not easy for it to bloom.
5. Fertilization management
Since the peace lily has relatively many tillers, it can be fertilized somewhat more. In the vegetative growth stage, the N:K ratio of the nutrient solution sprayed is 2:1; in the reproductive growth stage, the N:K ratio of the nutrient solution sprayed is 1.5:1, which can make the reproductive growth of the peace lily dominant and promote blooming.