How to Grow Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum) and What to Watch Out For When the Leaves Droop and Turn Yellow

Peace lily, also known as Spathiphyllum, white anthurium, spathe lily, and peace lily, is called “peace lily” among gardeners because of its auspicious meaning, and is often used for indoor greenery and decorative arrangements. Below I will introduce in detail the cultivation methods and precautions for peace lilies. Wishing everyone a smooth and prosperous new year.

The peace lily has large, deep green, lush leaves with excellent ornamental effect, making it a fine choice among indoor foliage flowers. After being introduced to our country, it has been widely cultivated in the south, and is now also cultivated in the north. The peace lily is a medium-sized foliage flower, dignified and elegant, suitable for placement in hotel and restaurant lobbies and conference rooms, and also suitable for home living rooms, with excellent ornamental effect.

Cultivation Methods for Peace Lilies

1. Propagation

Division propagation: Best done in May to June; lift the entire plant out of the pot, cut the rhizome apart from the base of the clump, with each division having at least 3 to 4 leaves, then replant and place in semi shade to recover.

Seed propagation: After flowering, hand pollination can produce seeds. Seeds must be sown immediately after collection; the germination temperature is 30°C, and germination occurs 10 to 15 days after sowing.

Tissue culture propagation: Using young inflorescences and lateral buds as explants, after disinfection they are inoculated onto MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid; after 40 to 45 days, callus tissue and adventitious buds form. The adventitious buds are then transferred to MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid, and after about 30 to 40 days roots are induced, forming complete plants.

2. Light

The peace lily is relatively shade-tolerant, so it is suitable for growing in semi shade environments, and direct sunlight must be avoided. According to experiments, about 60% scattered light can meet the growth needs of the peace lily, so it can be grown year-round indoors in a spot with bright scattered light. If placed under strong light, the leaf surface will turn yellow, and it may even be directly sunburned. In northern winter greenhouse cultivation, shading may be omitted or reduced; if the light is too dim for a long time, the peace lily will be reluctant to bloom.

3. Temperature

The peace lily likes high temperatures and is especially afraid of cold; its most suitable growth temperature is 20—28°C. Once winter arrives, it must be brought indoors. The lowest temperature it can withstand is 10°C, so attention must be paid in winter. Relatively speaking, cultivation conditions in the north are too poor; if the peace lily is kept at low temperatures for a long time, the roots will rot, the leaves will fall off or turn scorched yellow, and in severe cases it may even die.

4. Soil

Soil is the foundation of cultivation. Potted peace lilies require loose soil with good drainage and aeration; heavy clay soil must not be used. Generally, leaf mold, peat soil, and a small amount of perlite can be mixed to prepare the substrate, and a small amount of organic fertilizer can be added as a base fertilizer when planting.

5. Watering

The peace lily has a relatively high water requirement and the potting soil must be kept moist at all times. However, it must not become waterlogged; once watered too much, a large amount of water accumulates in the pot, which easily causes root rot and the plant to turn yellow and wither. In summer and during droughts, water should be sprayed frequently on the leaves and ground to increase air humidity, which helps its growth. In winter, watering should be controlled, with the potting soil kept slightly moist as appropriate.

6. Fertilizing

Because the peace lily grows quickly and has a relatively high fertilizer requirement, liquid fertilizer must be applied once every 1 to 2 weeks during the growing season. Fertilizer should be applied thinly; do not apply concentrated or raw fertilizer, and after applying solid fertilizer, water once with clear water. It is best to use dilute fertilizer water instead of clear water for watering, as this generally will not cause fertilizer burn and the plant will grow luxuriantly.

7. Diseases and Pests

This is a common problem for home-grown plants, and it can be avoided as long as care is proper. If harmful mites cause damage, the leaves will show symptoms such as wilting, loss of luster, and yellow withering, and acaricides can be sprayed for control, such as dicofol, hexythiazox, and pyridaben.

Cultivation Methods for Hydroponic Peace Lilies

1. The peace lily is relatively shade-tolerant, so it can be grown year-round indoors in a spot with bright scattered light (do not place it in direct sunlight). Keep the indoor temperature at 14-15°C at night and around 25°C during the day; it is not tolerant of high temperatures.

2. As for water requirements, the water should be kept close to indoor temperature. Therefore, freshly drawn tap water cannot be used; if used, it is best to let it settle for about 24 hours.

3. The water must not completely cover the plant's root system; the water level should be about two-thirds of the root length.

4. Change the water once every 7-10 days in summer, and once every 15-20 days in winter; changing the water too frequently will affect the plant's growth.

5. To prevent the leaves from turning yellow, we can add a little hydroponic plant nutrient solution (the kind for keeping fish and plants together) to the water. In this way, a few small fish can be kept in the water (generally 2 is enough), and the fish feces can also provide the nutrients the plant needs. Add 5-10 drops of nutrient solution per 500 mL of water.

6. When changing the water, clean the plant's roots thoroughly. If any rotten roots are found, cut them off promptly (dip the scissors in alcohol to disinfect them before cutting), and finally clean the container holding the plant as well.

Precautions for Growing Peace Lilies

1. Peace lilies need relatively high growing humidity; if the air is too dry, the leaves will wilt.

2. Master the appropriate light level. Generally speaking, growing peace lilies requires at least 73% shade; in summer, 80% shade is better. If the light level is too low, the leaf color of the peace lily will fade and growth will be stunted.

3. Peace lilies are easy to grow, but their demand for magnesium is much higher than that of many other foliage plants. When magnesium supply is insufficient, the edges of the old leaves of the peace lily will turn withered and yellow.

4. Controlling root rot is crucial; if the plant is infected with root rot, its root system will turn black and cause the old leaves to wither and drop, and in severe cases cause the plant to die.

5. Spraying gibberellic acid to artificially induce flowering: different varieties flower at different times. Note that too high a concentration of gibberellic acid can cause the plant's flowers to become deformed.

6. Choose a container of appropriate size according to the variety.

Peace Lily Yellow Leaves, Wilting, and Drooping

The peace lily is lush and verdant all year round, and can be enjoyed both for its leaves and its flowers; its green leaves are especially popular with everyone. But sometimes problems of yellowing and wilting leaves occur. What causes them? The main causes include improper watering, unsuitable soil, improper acclimatization after repotting, and an unsuitable growing environment.