What plant is the peace lily, and when is the right time to divide it?

What plant is the peace lily? Actually, the peace lily refers to what we commonly call the white sail, and we call it the peace lily mainly because it has a white spathe that looks like a sail. It is also a capable filter of indoor waste gases, with certain effects against ammonia, acetone, benzene and formaldehyde. It began to be used for potted ornamental cultivation in the early 20th century. So when should the peace lily be divided?

The peace lily can be propagated by division and by sowing. A robustly growing plant can be divided about once every two years, generally in spring when repotting, or after autumn. Division is very easy; generally speaking, it can be divided around May each year, and of course it can be done in other months too, but it is best to avoid seasons that are too cold or too hot.

Division method:

First lift the whole peace lily plant out of the pot (stop watering 2 days in advance so the potting soil is not sticky), and carefully remove the potting soil. To be safe, if it does not affect division, try to keep some soil on the roots, as this can prevent wilting after repotting.

Cut the rhizome apart from the base of the clump, with at least one leaf per clump. After dividing and planting, water thoroughly and then place it in partial shade to recover. Do not place it in direct sun and do not fertilize. Note that when cutting, you should include part of the stem, then coat the wound with wood ash to prevent rot. Once its root system returns to normal, proceed with regular care.

Tips:

In caring for the peace lily, be sure to manage temperature and soil well. The peace lily likes high temperatures and is especially afraid of cold. Its most suitable growing temperature is 20—28℃. Once winter arrives it must be brought indoors. The lowest temperature it can withstand is 10 degrees, so pay attention in winter. Relatively speaking, growing conditions in the north are too poor; if the peace lily is kept at low temperatures for a long time, it will cause root rot, leaf drop or scorched yellow leaves, and in severe cases can even lead to death.

Potted peace lilies require 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, and a small amount of organic fertilizer can be added as a base fertilizer when planting.