How to care for the Peace Lily tree in all four seasons? A detailed guide to the latest care methods

The Peace Lily tree, whose scientific name is Cinnamomum kotoense, gets its name because it originated mainly on Orchid Island in Taiwan, China. The Peace Lily tree is an evergreen plant, staying green throughout all four seasons. Its bark can be used as medicine to dispel wind and scatter cold, relieve pain and dissolve stasis, invigorate the blood and strengthen the stomach; the Peace Lily tree contains abundant cinnamon oil (whose main component is cinnamaldehyde), which can release the distinctive plant fragrance of the Lauraceae family, helping to purify the air and correct odors. And because it symbolizes family happiness and peace, it is beautifully named the Peace Lily tree. Now let us take a look together at how to grow the Peace Lily tree well, and at the care methods for the Peace Lily tree through all four seasons!

I. Growing the Peace Lily tree

1. Choosing the pot and soil

In fact, growing the Peace Lily tree at home does not involve much choice of pot and soil, but you need to understand what kind of pot and soil suit its growth so that you will not be deceived by sellers when buying. For the soil, it is best to choose a loose, fertile, well-drained acidic soil rich in organic matter. You can pinch up the soil with your hand; if it has more granules and is fairly loose, it will do. Some soils contain a lot of fine dirt powder, and long-term watering easily causes the soil to become compacted, so they cannot be chosen. There are no great requirements for the flowerpot; just match the size of the plant and meet the growth needs of the Peace Lily tree. As for the material, do not choose a lightweight plastic pot, as it easily cracks.

2. Sunlight requirements

Every plant needs sunlight for photosynthesis to ensure rapid growth. As a light-loving plant, the Peace Lily tree develops a metallic sheen on its leaves in an environment with ample sunlight. But at the same time it greatly fears scorching sun, so in summer shade it promptly under strong sun, or place it in a spot indoors with poorer light. Plants of different ages also have different light requirements. For 3~5 years of growth, give appropriate sunlight and avoid scorching sun. For 6~10 years, avoid scorching sun and give more sun. That is to say, the older the Peace Lily tree, the more sunlight it needs.

3. How to water

Spring and autumn are the growing seasons, so keep the potting soil moderately moist and often spray the leaf surface with water to ensure sufficient air humidity. In winter, cut the watering amount in half. In addition, during watering you can add a small amount of ferrous sulfate solution to the water, especially in northern regions, to adjust the acidity and alkalinity of the soil.

4. Fertilizing basics

The Peace Lily tree fairly likes fertilizer. During the growing season, apply a compound fertilizer once a month. After the weather turns cool in autumn, apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to increase the Peace Lily tree's cold resistance. When winter temperatures are low, stop fertilizing. During fertilizing, if leaves turn yellow and fall off, it is because improper fertilizing has caused root rot. Water the plant or take it out of the pot for emergency treatment.

5. Pruning methods

When the branches and leaves of the Peace Lily tree are too dense, you can prune on a sunny day in April. It is recommended to shorten overly long branches and cut off diseased and weak branches to increase the plant's light penetration. When pruning, note that a certain distance should be kept from the cut to the tender bud, to avoid the branch withering after pruning. In addition, when the plant is small, you can pinch out the growing tips to encourage more branches.

6. Loosening the soil and repotting

The Peace Lily tree is usually grown in a large pot, and the plant is fairly large (except for small bonsai), so it is recommended to loosen the soil once a month to keep the potting soil loose. When loosening the soil, be careful not to break the roots when turning the soil with a tool.

Small Peace Lily trees should be repotted once a year, and large ones every 2~3 years. When repotting, replace 1/3 of the old soil and cut off dead roots to ensure normal growth of the Peace Lily tree.

II. Propagation methods for the Peace Lily tree

1. Cutting time

The cutting time for the Peace Lily tree is generally April~May in the first half of the year and September~October in the second half, with the best results at a temperature of 22~28°C.

2. Cutting method

Preparing materials: Prepare the flowerpot for cuttings; for the soil you can choose pure vermiculite, which roots faster. Disinfect the soil before cutting.

Choosing branches: You can cut healthy branches of the Peace Lily tree, preferably in the morning when there is dew or on a cloudy day. Keep the branches 10~15 cm long with 2~3 leaves. Or, in combination with pruning, use the cut branches for cuttings.

Cutting method: Soak the bottom end of the branch in rooting hormone for 2~3 hours, then insert it directly into the soil. After 4 days, water thoroughly once to ensure sufficient humidity. Morning and evening, you can suitably supplement the light. Roots will form in about 25 days. After 1~2 months, once the roots have grown to 5~6 cm, it can be potted up.

III. Care methods for the Peace Lily tree in the four seasons

1. Spring

Moving outdoors: Around Qingming Festival, move the Peace Lily tree outdoors to grow. In late spring and early summer, shade it appropriately and keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged.

Disease prevention: Moving from indoors to outdoors is a process of sudden environmental change. During this period, the Peace Lily tree may very likely develop unadapted reactions because of the change in environment, and various pests and diseases may breed. Observe the growth of the leaves in time, spray Bordeaux mixture once every half month for prevention, and promptly remove any diseased leaves found.

2. Summer

Shading: The first task in summer is shading; bright scattered light is enough. If conditions do not allow growing it outdoors, it can be placed in an air-conditioned room, but every month it needs to be moved outdoors for restorative care, gradually increasing the light.

Misting: Summer temperatures are relatively high. When the temperature exceeds 32°C, frequently spray the leaf surface to clean the leaves and ensure a certain humidity, maintaining vigorous growth.

Pest prevention: Summer is a period of high incidence of pests on the Peace Lily tree. Leaf-rolling caterpillars will appear on the leaves; spray pesticide promptly.

Care methods for the Peace Lily tree in the four seasons

3. Autumn

Water control: After the temperature drops, reduce the amount of watering, but you can often spray water into the surrounding environment. It can be exposed to some rain appropriately, but make sure the potting soil does not become waterlogged.

Additional fertilizing: When the temperature drops to 15°C, apply two consecutive additional treatments of 0.2%~0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to strengthen the plant's cold resistance and ensure it overwinters safely.

4. Winter

Keeping warm: Small Peace Lily trees are not cold-tolerant (large ones are slightly more cold-tolerant), so they need to be moved indoors promptly, with the overwintering temperature not lower than 5°C.

Water control: In winter, control watering and keep the soil on the drier side. If the indoor temperature is relatively high, you can water thoroughly once a month. Stop fertilizing in any form to avoid damaging the roots.

IV. Precautions for growing the Peace Lily tree

1. Rain exposure

For Peace Lily trees grown outdoors, appropriate rain exposure can promote growth. But after heavy rain, promptly check whether the potting soil is waterlogged, drain it in time, and loosen the soil.

2. Disease prevention

The Peace Lily tree has dense branches and leaves. During the growing period, the leaves very easily turn yellow and dry up, so spray pesticide promptly to prevent the condition from worsening. In addition, note that yellowing leaves may also indicate root rot. When spraying pesticide produces no change, promptly check the roots and take corresponding measures.

The above has focused on the growing techniques for the Peace Lily tree at various stages, as well as the care methods that should be emphasized at different times throughout the four seasons. We hope this can provide some reference and help. If any plant is to be grown well, it requires a certain amount of time and effort, and it also comes after a period of trial and exploration. Friends who like the Peace Lily tree, come and give it a try.