How to Grow a Peace Lily? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions

The peace lily, also known as spathe leaf taro, sail plant, peace taro, lily intent, and white crane taro, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous foliage plant in the order Alismatales, family Araceae. The peace lily is one of the common green plants placed in offices and homes. Today we will introduce the care methods and precautions for growing peace lilies.

Peace Lily Care Methods

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 prepared by mixing leaf mold, peat soil, and a small amount of perlite; add a small amount of organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer when planting.

2. Time: Do this in spring from March to May when repotting, or in autumn.

3. Division: Select robust two-year-old plants for division propagation. Lift the entire peace lily out of the pot, cut the rhizome apart from the base of the plant clump, and ensure each clump has at least 3 to 4 leaves.

4. Potting: Reinsert the divided plants into the pot and place them in a semi-shaded spot to recover after planting. Wait for them to take root. Note here that when cutting, a portion of the stem must be included, then coat the wound with wood ash to prevent rot. Once the root system returns to normal, proceed with regular care.

5. Light: Light is very important for plant growth. Peace lilies need good light in winter and early spring, but shade should be gradually provided as light intensity increases. If the plant is enjoyed in a shaded spot, it must not be placed directly in the sun for exposure, as this is very bad for the peace lily's growth.

6. 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 to 16°C, and the daytime temperature should be around 25°C.

7. Watering: During the growth period, the peace lily's potting soil should be kept moist frequently, but it must not be watered excessively. Too much watering will keep the potting soil wet for a long time, easily causing root rot and yellowing and withering of the plant.

8. Fertilizing: Do not apply concentrated fertilizer 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. This generally will not cause fertilizer burn, and the peace lily will grow very lushly.

9. Pests: Plants are most susceptible to pests during the growth period. Regularly spray acaricides specifically for controlling mites, such as dicofol, hexythiazox, and pyridaben.

10. Repotting: Repot once every 1 to 2 years. Along with repotting, prune the root system, remove some old roots and overly long roots, pick out the old soil, and replace it with new potting soil to promote flowering of the peace lily.

Precautions for Growing Peace Lilies

1. Because peace lilies grow quickly and have a relatively high fertilizer requirement, liquid fertilizer must be applied once every 1 to 2 weeks during the growing season;

2. At the same time, provide sufficient water and keep the potting soil moist frequently. During high-temperature periods, water should also be sprayed on the leaves and ground to increase air humidity. If the surrounding environment is too dry, new leaves will become smaller and turn yellow, and in severe cases will wither, yellow, and fall off. In late autumn and winter, watering should be reduced, and it is enough to keep the potting soil slightly moist;

3. It requires semi-shade or scattered light conditions, and during the growing season it must be shaded by 60% to 70%. If the light is too strong, the leaves are easily scorched and burned, and the leaf color becomes dull and loses its luster; if the light is too dark for a long time, the plant will grow poorly and be less likely to bloom;

4. It is a heat-loving species. Long-term low temperature and dampness can easily cause root rot and yellowing of the aboveground parts, so in winter pay attention to cold protection and insulation while keeping the potting soil moist.