How to Grow and Care for Peace Lily, Including Propagation and Hydroponic Methods
Peace Lily Growing Habits
It prefers high temperatures and high humidity, and is also fairly shade-tolerant. The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) has relatively large leaves and is quite sensitive to humidity. It fears intense direct sunlight, so provide 60-70% shade in summer; however, if light is insufficient for a long time, it will not bloom easily. A fertile loam rich in humus is best for the soil. The optimal growing temperature is 22-28°C; from March to September it is 24-30°C, and from September to March of the following year it is 18-21°C. In winter the temperature should not fall below 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%; they can tolerate a dark environment for 30 days.
Peace Lily Propagation Methods
Division
Division propagation of peace lily is best carried out in May-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 replant and place in semi-shade to recover.
Seed sowing
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 are prone to rotting. After disinfection, inoculate onto an augmented culture medium, and after 45 days callus tissue and adventitious buds grow. [4]
Tissue culture
Using young inflorescences and lateral buds of the peace lily as explants, after disinfection they are inoculated onto MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid. After 40-45 days, callus tissue and adventitious buds grow. The adventitious buds are then transferred to MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid, and after 30-40 days roots are induced, forming complete plantlets.
Peace Lily Growing Methods
Peace Lily Potting Methods
1. Potting soil: Potted peace lily (Spathiphyllum) requires 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. When planting, add a small amount of organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer.
2. Light: It is suited to shaded or scattered light conditions. During the growing season, 60%-70% shade is required. It can be kept indoors year-round in a spot with bright scattered light.
3. Temperature: The peace lily prefers high temperatures 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.
4. Humidity: The most suitable relative humidity for peace lily growth is 75%-85%. Frequently spray water onto the leaf surface with a fine-nozzle sprayer, and sprinkle water on the ground around the plant to keep the air humid, which is very beneficial to its growth and development.
Peace Lily Watering Methods:
1. The best watering method is overhead spraying, but the seedbed must have good drainage.
2. In summer and dry seasons, frequently spray water onto the leaf surface with a fine-nozzle sprayer, and sprinkle water on the ground around the plant to keep the air humid, which is very beneficial to its growth and development.
3. In winter, control watering and keep the potting soil slightly moist.
4. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist at all times, but avoid overwatering.
Peace Lily Fertilizing:
Apply fertilizer lightly; do not use concentrated or raw fertilizer. After applying solid fertilizer, water once with clear water. It is best to use dilute fertilizer solution instead of clear water for watering. This generally will not cause fertilizer burn, and the plant will grow luxuriantly.
Peace Lily Hydroponic Methods
1. Light:
The peace lily is fairly shade-tolerant, so it can be kept indoors year-round in a spot with bright scattered light (do not place it in direct sunlight).
2. Temperature:
Keep the indoor temperature at around 25°C during the day and 14-15°C at night; it is not tolerant of high temperatures.
3. Water:
The peace lily has relatively high water requirements. The water should be kept close to the indoor temperature, so freshly drawn tap water cannot be used directly. If using it, it is best to let it settle for about 24 hours first. The water must not completely submerge the plant's root system; the water level should be about two-thirds of the root length.
4. Changing water:
In summer, change the water every 7-10 days; in winter, change it every 15-20 days. Changing the water too frequently will affect plant growth. When changing the water, rinse the plant's roots clean. If any rotten roots are found, cut them off promptly (dip the scissors in alcohol to disinfect them before cutting). Finally, wash the container holding the plant clean as well.
5. Nutrition:
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. This way, a few small fish can be kept in the water (usually 2 is enough), and the fish droppings can also supply the nutrients the plant needs. Add 5-10 drops of nutrient solution per 500 ml of water.
Peace Lily Growing Precautions
1. When the climate is dry and air humidity is low, new leaves will become smaller and turn yellow, and in severe cases wither, turn yellow and drop off.
2. If the peace lily is kept in a low-temperature state for a long time, it easily causes leaf drop or a scorched-yellow appearance.
3. If the light is too strong, the leaves are easily scorched and withered, and the leaf color becomes dull and loses its luster.
4. If the light is too dim for a long time, the plant will grow weakly and will not bloom easily.
5. Prolonged low temperature and dampness easily cause root rot and yellowing of the above-ground parts, so in winter pay attention to cold protection and insulation while keeping the potting soil moist.
6. If root rot and yellowing of the plant are caused by long-term waterlogging of the potting soil, remove the plant from the pot, then air-dry it, and then repot it.
7. Pests: If harmful mites cause damage, the leaves will show poor symptoms such as wilting, faded luster, and yellowing and withering. Miticides specific to mites can be sprayed for control, such as dicofol, hexythiazox, and pyridaben. Sometimes scale insects and red spider mites cause damage; spray with 50% malathion emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution for control.
8. Diseases: Common bacterial leaf spot, brown spot, and anthracnose harm the leaves; spray with 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution. Root rot and stem rot also occur; besides paying attention to ventilation and reducing humidity, use 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 800 times dilution for control.
Peace Lily. Peace Lily Growing Methods and Precautions
Peace Lily Morphological Characteristics
Perennial herb. Plant height 30 cm-40 cm, stemless or with a short stem, with tubers or elongated rhizomes, sometimes the stem thickens and becomes woody. Leaves basal, leaf blades oblong-lanceolate, tapering at both ends, veins obvious, petioles long, dark green, sheath-like at the base, leaf margins entire or lobed.
Blooms in spring and summer. The scape is upright, rising above the leaf clump. The spathe is upright, large and conspicuous, slightly curled, white or slightly green. The spadix is cylindrical, creamy yellow. Large varieties have dark leaves, small white flowers, and slow growth. Blooming period is May-August.
Peace Lily Growing Habits
It prefers high temperatures and high humidity, and is also fairly shade-tolerant. The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) has relatively large leaves and is quite sensitive to humidity. It fears intense direct sunlight, so provide 60-70% shade in summer; however, if light is insufficient for a long time, it will not bloom easily. A fertile loam rich in humus is best for the soil. The optimal growing temperature is 22-28°C; from March to September it is 24-30°C, and from September to March of the following year it is 18-21°C. In winter the temperature should not fall below 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%; they can tolerate a dark environment for 30 days.
Peace Lily Propagation Methods
Division propagation
Division propagation of peace lily is best carried out in May-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 replant and place in semi-shade to recover.
Seed propagation
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 are prone to rotting. After disinfection, inoculate onto an augmented culture medium, and after 45 days callus tissue and adventitious buds grow. [4]
Tissue culture propagation
Using young inflorescences and lateral buds of the peace lily as explants, after disinfection they are inoculated onto MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid. After 40-45 days, callus tissue and adventitious buds grow. The adventitious buds are then transferred to MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L indoleacetic acid, and after 30-40 days roots are induced, forming complete plantlets.
Peace Lily Growing Methods
Soil:
Potted peace lily requires 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. When planting, add a small amount of organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer.
Potting:
Reinsert the divided plants into the pot. After planting, place in semi-shade to recover and wait for them to take root. Note that when cutting, a portion of the stem should be included, then apply charcoal ash to the wound to prevent rotting. Once the root system has returned to normal, proceed with normal care.
Light:
Light is very important for plant growth. The peace lily needs good light in winter and early spring, but as the light gradually intensifies, shade it gradually. If it is being enjoyed in a shaded spot, it must not be placed directly in the sun to bake, as this is very bad for the peace lily's growth.
Temperature:
The peace lily is a high-temperature-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.
Watering:
During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist at all times, but do not overwater. Overwatering will keep the potting soil damp for a long time, easily causing root rot and yellowing of the plant.
Fertilizing:
Do not apply concentrated or raw fertilizer to the peace lily. After applying solid fertilizer, water once with clear water. It is best to use dilute fertilizer solution instead of clear water for watering. This generally will not cause fertilizer burn, and the peace lily will grow very luxuriantly.
Repotting:
Repot the peace lily once every 1-2 years. When repotting, prune the root system, remove some old roots and overly long roots, pick out the old soil, and replace it with fresh growing medium to help the peace lily bloom.
Peace Lily Hydroponic Methods
1. Container:
Hydroponic peace lilies are usually placed at home, so of course a very nice and beautiful container should be chosen; the specific choice depends on personal preference.
2. Temperature:
The optimal growing temperature for the peace lily is 20-28°C, so when growing peace lilies hydroponically indoors, pay attention to controlling the room temperature well.
3. Light:
For hydroponic peace lilies, light should mainly be scattered light; it does not necessarily need to be exposed to the sun. In summer, avoid direct sunlight as much as possible.
4. Changing water:
For hydroponic peace lilies, change the water about every 7 days in summer and about every 10-15 days in winter. Add a few drops of special nutrient solution for hydroponic flowers.
5. Fertilizing:
In daily care of hydroponic peace lilies, spray the leaf surface with clear water to keep it moist. It is best to spray foliar fertilizer once a week.
Precautions for Hydroponic Peace Lilies
Light
The peace lily needs good light in winter and early spring; do not keep it in shade. As the light gradually intensifies, shade it gradually. If it is being enjoyed in a shaded spot, do not place it directly in the sun to bake, otherwise the sudden change in environment will cause discomfort, shown as wilting, yellow leaves, or even death.
Environment
The peace lily needs relatively high growing humidity. If the air is too dry, it will cause the leaves to wilt. This can be solved by increasing misting or sprinkling water on the ground around it. Covering it with a transparent plastic bag also works, but when the light is good, ventilate it slightly or cut an opening at the top of the plastic bag for ventilation, otherwise the temperature inside the bag will rise sharply.
Care
To prevent the leaves of the peace lily from drying out, spray the leaf surface with clear water to keep it moist during daily care. It is best to spray foliar fertilizer once a week, which can both provide nutrients to the leaves and increase leaf luster, and in winter also achieve the purpose of resisting low temperatures. Use foliage plant nutrient solution. During the bud stage, spray the leaves 2 to 3 times with 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, which can promote blooming.
Pests
If harmful mites cause damage to the peace lily, the leaves will show poor symptoms such as wilting, faded luster, and yellowing and withering. Miticides specific to mites can be sprayed for control, such as dicofol, hexythiazox, and pyridaben. Common bacterial leaf spot, brown spot, and anthracnose harm the leaves; spray with 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution.
Main Value of Peace Lily
Ornamental value
The peace lily can be grown in pots, or planted in clumps or rows in flower beds, shaded spots in courtyards, by rock groupings, and at the edges of ponds for landscaping. The peace lily's flower stems are upright and elegant; potted plants decorating the living room or study are very comfortable and distinctive, appearing elegant and handsome. In the south, placed in small courtyards, by ponds, or at wall corners, it has a unique style. In addition, the peace lily's flowers are also excellent decorative material for flower baskets and flower arrangements.
Air purification
The peace lily can filter indoor exhaust gases and has certain effectiveness against ammonia, acetone, benzene, and formaldehyde. Peace lilies grown hydroponically can regulate indoor temperature and humidity through transpiration, and can effectively purify volatile organic compounds in the air, such as alcohol, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene, toluene, nitrogen monoxide, and ozone. Among these, its purification rate for ozone in particular is especially high. Placed next to the gas stove in the kitchen, it can purify the air and remove cooking odors, fumes, and volatile substances.
Peace Lily Growing Methods and Precautions
More and more people are now growing peace lilies. Most people like its name and like their own lives to be smooth sailing. This plant, the peace lily, is also called Spathiphyllum. It is evergreen year-round, with beautiful flowers and particularly high ornamental value. So how should the peace lily be grown? In a moment I will write out the peace lily growing methods, and at the same time also write out the precautions for growing peace lilies to share with everyone.
Peace Lily Growing Methods and Precautions1. Light for the peace lily
The peace lily is a plant with strong shade tolerance. It is suited to growing in a semi-shaded environment and must not be exposed to direct sunlight. If placed in strong light, its leaves will turn yellow or drop off. Therefore, it can usually be kept indoors in a spot with bright scattered light.
2. Temperature for growing peace lilies
The peace lily is a plant that likes high temperatures and is especially afraid of cold. When the outside temperature is between 20 and 28°C, it grows fastest. After winter arrives each year, the peace lily should be moved indoors promptly. When the temperature is below 10°C, it will show adverse symptoms such as root rot or leaf drop, and in severe cases the peace lily will die.
3. Water needs of the peace lily
This plant, the peace lily, has relatively high water requirements. Normally its potting soil must be kept moist, but waterlogging must not occur. The principle of "do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when watering" should be followed. If water accumulates in the pot, it will cause root rot and yellowing in the peace lily. In addition, in summer or dry seasons, water should be sprayed onto the peace lily's leaves promptly to keep the air humid, so that it can grow vigorously.