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Peace lilies produce beautiful white flowers, but as with many plants, they don’t last forever. If you’re looking for a way to encourage new flowers to grow, Express.co.uk spoke to Morag Hill, Co-Founder at The Little Botanical about the best ways to care for peace lilies. She explained a key tip is to ensure the plant gets enough light.
Peace lilies, Latin name Spathiphyllum, are an incredibly popular houseplant and are known for having large, glossy leaves and delicate white flowers.
Morag said: “The peace lily is known as a bringer of peace; the white blooms represent the white flag which is recognised as a truce signal.
“Add a peace lily to your living space to brighten a corner, purify the air and bring some peace and tranquillity to your home.”
Peace lilies are known to filter indoor air, increase levels of humidity in the home and help people breathe better. They can also help you sleep better by absorbing airborne mould.
But for the plant to function at its best, it needs to live in the right conditions.
Morag revealed what care a peace lily needs to thrive: “They aren’t too tricky to look after and they are also a great plant for telling you what they need, for example, droopy leaves communicate they are super thirsty.
“If you do skip your watering schedule and the leaves start drooping, give them some water and this should revive your lovely plant within an hour or so.
“On the other hand, peace lilies can be prone to yellowing leaves which is a result of overwatering.
“Check the plant is draining adequately and stop watering it until the soil has dried out.
“Generally, plants need less water in the winter as they are getting less light. I would suggest doing the thumb check weekly and only water when the top of the soil is dry.”
Morag explained further what the thumb test is: “To check if your peace lily needs a drink, simply push your thumb an inch or so into the soil; if it’s still damp you don’t need to water it, if it’s dry, top it up. We advise checking the soil about once a week.
Some plants need a certain amount of light or warmth to thrive, and Morag revealed the best location for a peace lily in your home.
“Originally from tropical rainforests in Central and South America, the peace lily is a wonderfully exotic, humidity-loving plant. This means it is an ideal plant for bathrooms and kitchens.
“I would suggest keeping your peace lily away from radiators or draughts to keep them at their happiest.”
As for whether a peace lily needs fertilising or houseplant food, she said: “Peace lilies are pretty low-maintenance plants and they don’t need frequent fertilising to keep them thriving.
“Feeding them with houseplant food one to two times a year should be enough to keep them happy.”
And what about pruning a peace lily? Morag added: “When the white flowers turn brown, it is normal to trim these flowers off. Cut the stem close to the pot with clean scissors will keep the plant looking fresh and happy.
“To encourage new white flowers to grow back, ensure your lily is getting good light.”
Peace lilies flowers generally appear in the spring, but well-cared-for plants may bloom again in the autumn as well.
Blooms last for two months or more and after the blooms fade, a period of non-blooming follows.
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