How to Water a Peace Lily: A Detailed Guide to the Latest Watering Methods
The peace lily, also known as white sail and spathe flower, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous foliage plant of the genus Spathiphyllum in the Araceae family. Native to Colombia, it grows in tropical rainforests and is one of the most popular indoor foliage plants in Europe. Watering is one of the most important factors in the success or failure of growing a peace lily. Now let us take a look together at how to water a peace lily!
How to Water a Peace Lily
The peace lily has a relatively high demand for water, and the potting soil must be kept moist at all times, but it must not become waterlogged. Once watered too much, a large amount of water accumulates in the pot, which can easily cause root rot and yellowing of the plant. In addition, in summer and during dry periods, water should often be sprayed on the leaves and the ground to raise air humidity, as this helps its growth. The best method is to water the soil thoroughly once every 7-10 days, but spray the leaves with a spray bottle every day, just enough to moisten the leaves.
How to Propagate a Peace Lily
1. Division propagation: A robustly growing plant can be divided once about every 2 years, generally in spring when repotting or after autumn. Before new shoots emerge in early spring, tip the entire plant out of the pot, remove the old growing medium, and split the rhizome at the base of the clump into several clusters, each containing more than 3 stems and buds. Replant them in new potting soil. Try to keep as many roots as possible to help the new plants quickly send out new leaves and achieve a full shape.
2. Seed propagation: After flowering, a peace lily can be hand-pollinated in a greenhouse to obtain seeds. Once the seeds mature, they can be sown immediately after harvesting. The sowing temperature should be around 25°C; if the temperature is low, the seeds rot easily, affecting seedling emergence.
Growing Conditions for a Peace Lily
1. Light: The peace lily is shade-tolerant and suitable for growing in a semi-shady environment. Direct sunlight must be avoided. If it is placed in strong light, the leaves will turn yellow and may even be sunburned directly. According to experiments, about 60% scattered light is enough to meet the growth needs of a peace lily, so it can be grown year-round indoors in a spot with bright scattered light.
2. Temperature: The peace lily likes high temperatures and is especially afraid of cold. Its most suitable growing temperature is 20-28°C. Once winter comes, it must be brought indoors. The lowest temperature it can withstand is 10°C, so attention is needed in winter. If a peace lily is kept at low temperatures for a long time, the roots will rot, the leaves will drop or turn scorched yellow, and in severe cases it may even die.
3. Watering: The peace lily has a relatively high demand for water, and the potting soil must be kept moist at all times, but it must not become waterlogged. Once watered too much, a large amount of water accumulates in the pot, which can easily cause root rot and yellowing of the plant. In addition, in summer and during dry periods, water should often be sprayed on the leaves and the ground to raise air humidity, as this helps its growth.
4. Fertilizing: Because the peace lily grows quickly and has a relatively high fertilizer requirement, during the peak growing season it must be given 1 application of organic liquid fertilizer every 7-10 days, or dilute compound fertilizer or decomposed cake fertilizer water. This not only helps the plant grow robustly but also helps it continue blooming. In northern winters, when the temperature is low, fertilizing should be stopped.
5. Soil: Potted peace lilies require loose soil with good drainage and aeration. Heavy clay soil should be avoided; sandy loam rich in humus is ideal. Generally, equal parts leaf mold and peat soil plus about 1/4 river sand or a small amount of perlite can be mixed into a growing medium. When planting, add a small amount of farmyard manure, bone meal, or fully decomposed cake residue as a base fertilizer.