Complete Guide to Growing and Caring for Peace Lilies
The peace lily is an important ornamental flower worldwide, also known as Spathiphyllum, white sail, spathe flower, lily of intent, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Spathiphyllum in the Araceae family, with emerald green leaves and pure white spathes, very fresh and elegant. It began to be used for potted ornamental cultivation in the early 20th century, and by the 1980s it was already very popular in Europe. Let us now take a look at the growing methods and precautions for peace lilies!
Growth Habits of the Peace Lily
The peace lily prefers a hot, humid, and semi-shaded environment. It is quite sensitive to humidity and afraid of strong light and sun exposure. In summer, provide 60-70% shade, but long-term insufficient light makes it difficult to bloom. The soil should be fertile loam rich in humus. The optimal growth temperature is 22-28°C, with 24-30°C from March to September, and 18-21°C from September to March of the following year. In winter, the temperature should not be lower than 14°C. When the temperature is below 10°C, plant growth is hindered and the leaves are prone to frost damage. During storage and transport of potted peace lilies, keep the temperature at 13-16°C and relative humidity at 80-90%; it can tolerate a dark environment for 30 days.
Propagation Techniques for the Peace Lily
1. Division: The best time to propagate peace lilies by division is from May to June. Lift the entire plant out of the pot, cut the rhizome apart from the base of the clump, ensuring each division has at least 4 leaves, then place them in a semi-shaded area to recover after replanting.
2. Seeding: After the peace lily blooms, seeds can be obtained through artificial pollination. The seeds must be sown immediately after collection. The germination temperature is 30°C, and germination occurs 10-15 days after sowing. If the temperature is too low during germination, the seeds tend to rot. After disinfection, inoculate them on a supplemented medium, and callus tissue and adventitious buds will grow after 45 days.
3. Tissue culture: Using young inflorescences and lateral buds as explants, disinfect them and inoculate them on MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid. After 40-45 days, callus tissue and adventitious buds grow. Then transfer the adventitious buds to MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid. After 30-40 days, roots are induced, forming complete plants.
Growing Methods for the Peace Lily
1. Soil: 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. Add a small amount of organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer when planting.
2. Division: Peace lilies are usually divided in spring from March to May, in conjunction with repotting, or in autumn. Select robust two-year-old plants for division propagation. Lift the entire peace lily out of the pot and cut the rhizome apart from the base of the clump, ensuring each division has at least 3-4 leaves.
3. Potting: Reinsert the divided plants into the pot. After planting, place them in a semi-shaded area to recover and take root. Note that when cutting, you must include a portion of the stem, then apply charcoal ash to the wound to prevent rot. Once the root system returns to normal, proceed with regular care.
4. Light: Light is very important for plant growth. Peace lilies need good light in winter and early spring, but as the light gradually intensifies, shade them gradually. If they are being enjoyed in a shaded place, they must not be placed directly in the sun for exposure, as this is very bad for the growth of peace lilies.
5. Temperature: The peace lily is a heat-loving species and should be cultivated in a high-temperature greenhouse. In winter, the minimum nighttime temperature should be 14-16°C, and the daytime temperature should be around 25°C.
6. Watering: During the growing period, the peace lily should be kept with moist potting soil at all times, but it must not be overwatered. Excessive watering will keep the potting soil wet for a long time, easily causing root rot and yellowing and withering of the plant.
7. Fertilizing: Do not apply concentrated fertilizer or raw fertilizer to peace lilies. After applying solid fertilizer, water once with clear water. It is best to use dilute fertilizer water instead of clear water for irrigation. This generally will not cause fertilizer damage, and the peace lily will grow very lushly.
8. Pests: During the growing period, the peace lily is most favored by pests. Regularly spray miticides specifically for mite control, such as dicofol, hexythiazox, pyridaben, etc.
9. Repotting: Repot peace lilies once every 1-2 years. In conjunction with repotting, prune the root system, remove some old roots and overly long roots, remove old soil, and replace with new culture soil to promote blooming of the peace lily.