What to Do About Peace Lily Root Rot? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Treatment Methods

The peace lily, formerly known as Spathiphyllum, is a herbaceous plant native to the tropical regions of the Americas. As a plant valued for both its foliage and its flowers, it can also purify indoor air to a certain extent, making Spathiphyllum very suitable for growing indoors. But the growth of any plant must match its growing habits, otherwise it will cause certain adverse consequences, such as root rot. Below, Qinnong Web will explain what to do about peace lily root rot.

1. How to deal with peace lily root rot

Once you discover that a peace lily has root rot, the first thing to do is dig it out of the soil, rinse it clean with water, and look at the condition of the rotted roots. Choose the treatment method according to the severity of the root rot; treating the cause is the key.

1. Mild root rot

If, after digging out the roots, you find that only a small part of the roots are rotted while most of the root hairs are still relatively healthy and intact, then this situation can definitely be saved. Find the cause of the root rot, correct the habits and environment that are unfavorable to its growth, and then just care for it normally as usual.

2. Severe root rot

If, when you dig it out, you find that very few roots remain and the rot is fairly severe, but there are still a small number of healthy roots growing and they feel relatively firm to the touch, then there is still a chance to save it. At this point you need to cut off all the rotted roots, then disinfect with a 1000-fold diluted potassium permanganate solution. Only after disinfection can it be replanted. Note that the original soil cannot be used; you must repot it with fresh soil.

3. Rot

If the roots have completely turned black and soft, and even the part where the roots and stem meet shows signs of rot, then this situation basically signals the death of the plant. Of course, you can also try treating it with the methods above, but whether it can be saved is then up to fate.

2. Causes of peace lily root rot

Now that we know how to deal with peace lily root rot, we cannot help but ask: why do peace lilies get root rot? In fact, knowing the causes of peace lily root rot is far more important than knowing how to deal with it afterward. Knowing the causes helps us even more in preventing peace lily root rot. Below, let us learn about the causes of peace lily root rot.

1. Poor air permeability

Poor air permeability here has two meanings. The first is that the flowerpot used to grow the peace lily is not breathable. The pot for growing a peace lily must be one with relatively good air permeability, with holes in the bottom, so that water can seep out in time. The second meaning is that the growing soil must also be fertile, loose, and relatively breathable. If water cannot seep down immediately after watering a peace lily, then such soil is certainly not acceptable either.

2. Overwatering

Overwatering is the main cause of root rot in most plants. If the peace lily's potting soil is wet and it is watered too much, so that the roots are soaked in water 24 hours a day, then root rot will certainly occur. You may not know that if there is standing water in the pot and it does not seep down for a long time, the plant's roots will become swollen from soaking.

3. Overfertilizing

Overfertilizing is also a major cause of peace lily root rot. Many people, afraid that the peace lily will not develop well, keep fertilizing it again and again, with large amounts and high concentrations, which easily burns the roots and leads to peace lily root rot. If the peace lily root rot is caused by fertilizing, then you must repot it with fresh soil. If root rot has not yet occurred but you have noticed that you have overfertilized, then you can reduce the fertilizer concentration in the soil by watering and loosening the soil.

The above is Qinnong Web's summary of the treatment methods for peace lily root rot and an introduction to the causes of root rot. We hope it will be helpful to everyone. The peace lily is a very easy plant to grow, and it can also be grown hydroponically. If root rot occurs, it can also be propagated by hydroponics.