What to Do About Root Rot in Peace Lilies? Here's the Correct Way to Handle It

Everyone who grows peace lilies has surely encountered drooping leaves and root rot. This is a classic case of improper care leading to root rot. Below is a rundown of how to deal with root rot in peace lilies and how to properly save them.

Root rot in peace lilies can be divided into mild root rot, moderate root rot and severe root rot. Below we'll look at each level of root rot one by one and how we should respond.

After washing the roots clean, only a tiny bit of rot has appeared at the bottom, while most of the root hairs are still white. This situation is absolutely no problem, and the plant can be saved.

There are fewer roots, and the rot is fairly serious, but a small number of roots are still growing (firm to the touch). In this case, cut off all the rotted parts, disinfect, and replant. More than 80% can be saved.

The entire root system has turned black and soft, and the part where the roots connect to the stem is also badly rotted. In this case, you can only try treating a dead horse as if it were alive. Still, you must be mentally prepared, because more than 80% of these cannot be saved!

If the container itself isn't clean, how can the peace lily grow well? Bacteria breeding on the bottle walls, yellowing leaves, and root rot are only a matter of time. Especially once moss has built up on the bottle walls, how could a peace lily possibly grow in an environment like that!

Every time you change the water, thoroughly clean the container. If conditions allow, disinfect it each time with potassium permanganate solution, or scald the bottle walls with hot water.

Poor water quality, with green algae or other bacteria in the water, seriously affects root growth. In addition, the water level also has a certain effect on root growth. If the roots are completely submerged in water, they will rot due to lack of oxygen.

Cut off the rotted roots and old roots, leaving only the white roots. Because the roots of a water-cultured peace lily are soaked in water for a long time, it is very easy to tell old roots from new roots. After pruning, disinfect with potassium permanganate solution, leave it in a ventilated spot to dry for a while, and then pay more attention to the water level and water quality. Once the peace lily slowly grows new roots, there's no problem!

Note that when the peace lily's roots have wounds, try not to add nutrient solution, so as not to spoil the water quality.

If the potting soil isn't breathable and the flower pot isn't breathable, the peace lily's roots will be stuck in a furnace, making growth difficult.

The bottom of the pot for a soil-cultured peace lily must have holes; if it doesn't, change it! For soil-cultured peace lilies, choose pots made of clay or ceramic if possible; if not, change it! For soil-cultured peace lilies, choose fertile, loose soil if possible, so that water drains away immediately after watering; if not, change it!

When the peace lily's potting soil is wet and it's watered too much, the roots are soaked in water 24 hours a day, so of course they'll rot! Usually when we grow plants, we may never have paid attention to what's happening in the soil. When you overwater, take the plant out of its pot, and you'll find the roots have been soaked until they're swollen!

Take the plant out of its pot, clean away the rotted roots and leaves. If the roots are completely rotted, you can induce new roots by water culture, and once roots have grown, replant it in a pot.

Many gardeners, afraid their newly bought peace lily will go hungry, fertilize it right away, fertilize frequently, and accidentally apply too much, causing fertilizer burn. The intention behind fertilizing is good, but it's a bit too impatient for quick results!

Fertilizing should be done with care; choose mild fertilizer if possible. For root rot caused by over-fertilizing, the only solution is to change the soil and replant; if you realize you've over-fertilized before the roots rot, you can reduce the fertilizer effect in the soil by watering and loosening the soil!

Can a peace lily with root rot still be saved? What to do about root rot in peace lilies

Whether it's a water-cultured or soil-cultured peace lily, gardeners have encountered root rot. So can a peace lily with root rot still be saved? What should you do about root rot in peace lilies? Below, the editor offers some tips. Come and take a look.

Can a peace lily with root rot still be saved?

The question you're asking is like the first thing a patient says when they sit down: “Doctor, can my illness be cured?” Isn't that just asking blindly? Whether it can be saved depends on how badly your peace lily's roots have rotted!

The first type, mild root rot

Like in the picture, after washing the roots clean, only a tiny bit of rot has appeared at the bottom, while most of the root hairs are still white. This situation is absolutely no problem, and the plant can be saved.

The second type, moderate root rot

There are fewer roots, and the rot is fairly serious, but a small number of roots are still growing (firm to the touch). In this case, cut off all the rotted parts, disinfect, and replant. More than 80% can be saved.

The third type, severe rot

The entire root system has turned black and soft, and the part where the roots connect to the stem is also badly rotted. In this case, you can only try treating a dead horse as if it were alive. Still, you must be mentally prepared, because more than 80% of these cannot be saved!

What to do about root rot in soil-cultured peace lilies

1. Lack of air circulation

If the potting soil isn't breathable and the flower pot isn't breathable, the peace lily's roots will be stuck in a furnace, making growth difficult.

The bottom of the pot for a soil-cultured peace lily must have holes; if it doesn't, change it! For soil-cultured peace lilies, choose pots made of clay or ceramic if possible; if not, change it! For soil-cultured peace lilies, choose fertile, loose soil if possible, so that water drains away immediately after watering; if not, change it!

2. Too much water

When the peace lily's potting soil is wet and it's watered too much, the roots are soaked in water 24 hours a day, so of course they'll rot! Usually when we grow plants, we may never have paid attention to what's happening in the soil. When you overwater, take the plant out of its pot, and you'll find the roots have been soaked until they're swollen!

Take the plant out of its pot, clean away the rotted roots and leaves. If the roots are completely rotted, you can induce new roots by water culture, and once roots have grown, replant it in a pot.

3. Strong fertilizer

Many gardeners, afraid their newly bought peace lily will go hungry, fertilize it right away, fertilize frequently, and accidentally apply too much, causing fertilizer burn. The intention behind fertilizing is good, but it's a bit too impatient for quick results!

Fertilizing should be done with care; choose mild fertilizer if possible. For root rot caused by over-fertilizing, the only solution is to change the soil and replant; if you realize you've over-fertilized before the roots rot, you can reduce the fertilizer effect in the soil by watering and loosening the soil!

What to do about root rot in water-cultured peace lilies

1. Reasons related to the water

Poor water quality, with green algae or other bacteria in the water, seriously affects root growth. In addition, the water level also has a certain effect on root growth. If the roots are completely submerged in water, they will rot due to lack of oxygen.

Cut off the rotted roots and old roots, leaving only the white roots. Because the roots of a water-cultured peace lily are soaked in water for a long time, it is very easy to tell old roots from new roots. After pruning, disinfect with potassium permanganate solution, leave it in a ventilated spot to dry for a while, and then pay more attention to the water level and water quality. Once the peace lily slowly grows new roots, there's no problem!

Note that when the peace lily's roots have wounds, try not to add nutrient solution, so as not to spoil the water quality.

2. Reasons related to the container

If the container itself isn't clean, how can the peace lily grow well? Bacteria breeding on the bottle walls, yellowing leaves, and root rot are only a matter of time. Especially once moss has built up on the bottle walls, how could a peace lily possibly grow in an environment like that!

Every time you change the water, thoroughly clean the container. If conditions allow, disinfect it each time with potassium permanganate solution, or scald the bottle walls with hot water.

Why do water-cultured peace lilies get root rot? What to do about root rot in water-cultured peace lilies

The water-cultured peace lily is called a "lazy person's flower" for being trouble-free and convenient, and its daily care is very easy. However, root rot caused by too little management happens quite often. In fact, root rot in water-cultured peace lilies is due to bacteria and the like. Usually, when it has just been put in water and hasn't yet grown water roots, change the water once a day; after the roots have grown, change it once every 7 days to half a month. Now let's take a look at what to do about root rot in water-cultured peace lilies!

Why do water-cultured peace lilies get root rot?

1. Water quality reasons: For water-cultured peace lilies, use water that has been left to stand for a few days. When roots are first forming, be sure not to add nutrient solution, to prevent the water quality from spoiling. After the roots have grown, be sure to promptly remove green algae, bacteria and so on from the water roots (by rinsing or disinfecting).

2. Water level issues: The grown roots of a water-cultured peace lily must not be completely submerged underwater; part of them must be exposed to the surface to breathe, about 1/3 exposed above the surface. If they are completely submerged underwater, the roots will very likely "suffocate" from lack of oxygen.

3. Container contamination: When water-culturing a peace lily, if the container itself isn't clean and breeds harmful bacteria, it will also cause root rot. In this case, thoroughly wash the container and soak it in potassium permanganate solution to disinfect.

What to do about root rot in water-cultured peace lilies

1. First wash the rotted roots and old roots, cut them off with a sharp knife, leaving only the white roots. Disinfect with potassium permanganate solution, then dry in a ventilated spot for one to two days.

2. Remove the yellow leaves, old leaves and rotted leaves. Fix the peace lily's roots in place with clay pebbles, with the water level just at the bottom of the roots. Right after changing the water, don't add nutrient solution yet; let it recover for a while.

3. Once the peace lily is no longer rotting, add 2 drops of water-culture nutrient solution, place it in a shaded spot, and wait for new water roots to grow. Tap water is best left to stand for several days. Change the water roughly every 3 to 4 days. If green moss appears around the glass container, clean it off.

Can a peace lily with root rot still be saved?

1. Mild root rot: When a peace lily has mild root rot, after washing the roots clean, only a tiny bit of rot has appeared at the bottom, while most of the root hairs are still white. This situation is absolutely no problem, and the plant can be saved.

2. Moderate root rot: When a peace lily has fewer roots and the rot is fairly serious, but a small number of roots are still growing (firm to the touch), in this case cut off all the rotted parts, disinfect, and replant. More than 80% can be saved.

3. Severe rot: When a peace lily's entire root system has turned black and soft, and the part where the roots connect to the stem is also badly rotted, in this case you can only try treating a dead horse as if it were alive. Still, you must be mentally prepared, because more than 80% of these cannot be saved!