Ask the Expert: why RE THE LEAVES ON MY PEACE LILLY TURNING BROWN

TURNING BROWN ALL OVER AND DRYING Christeen Baker

Flower Shop Network's Plant Expert Reply:

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) leaves can turn brown: if the water used is highly chlorinated – if intense sunlight bears directly down on the leaves – if the plant has not been kept evely moist.  Only To detyou will be able to determine which of these factors is the culprit.  To remedy the situation:

If chlorinated water is the problem, expose your open container of water to the air for 24 hours before using. Or, water your plant with distilled or bottle water.

If sunlight is the issue, move plant away from the intense sunlight.

If irregualer watering is the cause, check the plant every couple of days and water when soil begins to dry out.

With in a couple of week the plant should begin to produce new growth.

Ask the Expert: What's wrong with my Peace Lily?
I have a rather large peace lily that I have been keeping on my front porch (no direct sunlight whatsoever) and the bottom leaves are beginning to turn yellow and die off.  What am I doing wrong?  Pat

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

A peace lily (Spathiphyllum clevelandii) that has been exposed to a soggy condition for an extended period will develop root rot. The first indication that a peace lily has root rot is the yellowing of lower leaves. Theses leaves will eventually fall off.

To see if the roots are rotting, you may need to remove it from the pot.  Peace lilies should be planted in a container that has the ability to drain excess moisture. You may need to repot the peace lily. Once the peace lily is placed in the proper conditions it should recover.

Ask the Expert: I need some spring flowers for a fall wedding.
My best friend is getting married Oct 10 2010.  She wants black callas, solid white daffodils, and red sweet peas in her bouquet.  The daffodils is her dads birth month flower and the sweet peas are her grooms sisters birth month flower both who passed away 2 years ago.  So she wants to represent them in her bouquet.  We are trying for real flowers first and foremost so I was wondering is it impossible to get the spring flowers for an Oct wedding in South Carolina? Shanna

Plant Expert Reply:

The answer is maybe. The black callas and the sweet pea should not be a problem. These flowers are available during the fall, but they maybe a little more expensive.  Normally daffodils are only available in the spring. Don't give up hope. When you meet with your wedding florist discuss the possibility of shipping in these spring flowers in for a fall wedding. Your local florist may have a supplier who can provide these flowers. After all the floral industry is global and what we once thought of as seasonal flowers are now available year round.

If you are a florist needing seasonal availabilities of flowers check out the California Cut Flower Association Seasonal Flowers. You can find flower availability based on the month or months you need the flowers.

This wedding flower question was brought to you by Flower Shop Network

Ask the Expert: Black, Yellow and burnt leaves
I have a peace lily that sits in front of my window. I keep the blinds of my window open so that the plant can get some light because I have brown curtains and brown sheer panels at my window.  I water my plant when it feels dry and also I give it a mist. Most of my leaves are yellow at the top with a burnt tip.  Some are black on the sides.  Even the newer leaves (smaller ones) look as though they are turning. I also noticed today some of the leaves are getting holes.  I don\'t know if the holes are from the drooping or what.  I love this plant. It\'s from my mother\'s furneral. So please help me to save this plant.  P.s. I use tap water that runs through a filter on my sink. Angie

Plant Expert Reply:

I suspect that the peace lily (Spathiphyllum clevendii) is too close to the window and the intesified light is buring the leaves. Move the plant a little farther from the window.  When you water the plant make sure to saturate the soil completely.  Also, check to see if you have any insects on the plant that might be creating the holes.  Should you have an insect problem, spray the peace lily with a houseplant insecticide.

Once you move the plant away from the direct light from the window, the plant should make a full recovery. Good Luck and keep me posted.

This plant questions was sponsored by the local florists in San Antonio.

Ask The Expert: I have received a Spathiphyllum plant and it is blooming.  Some of the blooms have turned brown and wilted.  Do I clip the dead blooms off? If so,where on the stem should they be clipped? Glynda

Plant Expert Reply:

Yes, you need to clip the old peace lily (Spathiphyllum) blooms off. Follow the bloom stalk down to the base of the plant and clip it off. This will make the plant more attractive and it will send a signal to the plant that it needs to bloom again.

Ask the Expert: peace lilys
during our relocation from tennessee to georgia my 2 lilies have been in a nephews garage from june until now.  I know that the weather was in the 90's to 100's during the summer and recently it has been in the teens at night.  I would like to bring them back inside and need to know what I need to do to make them inside plants again.  They have wilted considerably and alot of the larger leaves are brown half ways.  any suggestions would be appreciated. Teresa

Plant Expert Reply:

You plants are already in shock and they will probably look worst before they look better. But, I think they will recover. Anytime you move a plant from outside in to your home check for any signs of pests. During times of stress plants are more susceptible to pests and other pathogen attacks. If you have a pest or fungal problem, you will need to get rid of them. Send me a picture of the pest or problem and I will instruct you on how to get rid of them.

To care for the peace lilies when you take them inside, begin by removing all damaged leaves. Place in an area where the plants will receive bright filtered light, natural if possible. Make sure your drain holes are working and are not obstructed. Keep the plant evenly moist. Do not over-water — the peace lilies will not need as much water as it did outside.

Now for the hard part, wait. You will need to patiently wait while the plants works through the shock of being moved.  In a couple of weeks, you should start to see new growth appear.  As the new growth appears, you can give the peace lilies a very light solution of water-soluble fertilizer.  Now the peace lilies should be fully acclimated houseplants.

Ask the Expert: peace plant
my peace plant is beautiful, I am trying to keep it that way as it is from my husbands funeral, ? THE WHITE FLOWERS HAVE TURNED GREEN , they are still looking good after 2 months are they suppose to die off and when, will they grow back again? Mary

Plant Expert Reply:

As with all flowers, the peace lily blooms will eventually die. When they do follow the flower stalk to the base of the plant and cut it off.   It will rebloom again any where from a few months to a year – depending on the environment and the cultivar. To ensure you give the plant what it needs, I suggest you read our peace lily care instructions.  The key to keeping it healthy is a evenly moist soil and bright filtered light. Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: Peace lily won't flower
Hi.
I had a peace lily that was healthy, and flowered lots.  One day (about a year ago) I decided it was pot bound, and as it divided easily, split it into several 'new' plants and repotted each of these.  All have done well, continues to grow and look healthy – dark green glossy leaves, but none of them have flowered.  all the plants have different conditions (given away to family and friends) and I've tried moving mine between rooms to try different light levels.

What do I need to do to get the plant to flower?  or did dividing it 'kill' the flowers? Sarah

Plant Expert Reply:

Dividing the peace lily did not kill the ability of the plant to flower.  The natural cycle of a peace lily is a 3 to 4 month blooming period per year.  Hybrid varieties may have different blooming cycles that occur more often or they have been chemically manipulated (with a hormone called Gibberellic acid – GA ₃ ) to bloom.

Light and humidity are the natural factors that inhibit or stimulate  the blooming of a peace lily. In your case, another factor maybe a contributing factor – maturity.  One of the reasons peace lilies have been hybridized is that the original Spathiphyllum needed maturity and size before it would bloom. This often meant more than a year's growth before the plant would bloom. You plant may simply lack maturity. You didn't say how long it has been since you divided the peace lily.  If it has only been a few months give it a little more time.  When the plant has "matured", it should bloom.

In the mean time, I would make sure the plant is receiving the right amount of humidity and light. You can find more Peace Lily Care information on the Peace Lily page on FSN. If you want to learn more about peace lily blooming, read Making Peace Lilies Bloom.

Good Luck and keep me posted.

Ask The Expert: I split and transplanted my peace lilly plant.    It didn't do well so I cut it way back and now it isn't growing at all.    Will it ever grow back, or should I throw it out?     How do you start new plants if you want to start from some slips? M Moe

Plant Expert Reply:

Have you or a friend ever died your/their hair, decided it wasn't just right and then cut your/their hair off to correct the bad dye job, only to be further frustrated by the time it takes for the hair to grow back? I ask because at some point in all our lives this scenario has happened.  What is the one thing that could have prevent all the problems? PATIENCE.

Patience is what your peace lily needs. After you split and transplant a peace lily, it will look a little rough. Provided you didn't plant the peace lily too deep, it will rebound and form new growth in a few weeks.

If you cut all of the peace lily foliage off, the plant will struggle to complete the photosynthesis process which all plants need to survive.  This doesn't mean that the peace lily won't survive.  It does mean that the road to health and beauty will be much longer. Again, it will need patience.

As long as the plant has not turned black, mushy or smell, it should form new leaves and recover.  Make sure the roots stay moist but not soggy. The plant will not use as much water as it did when it had leaves.  You can give it a light solution of vitamin b1 or fertilizer to help stimulate growth.  Be careful not to give it too much fertilizer since the plant is already stressed.

The way to propagate peace lilies effectively is by splitting them.  As long as the piece you separate from the mother plant has a good root system and healthy foliage, it can be planted to start a new peace lily.

So give your peace lily a little time.  You may be pleasantly surprised in a couple weeks with new healthy foliage. Good luck and keep me posted.  If your plant doesn't make it you can always order a peace lily from your local florist.

Ask The Expert: I read your article on Peace Lily  – (Spathiphyllum clevelandii) but didn't see anything on how to propagate it.

Is it similar to a Hosta, (plantain )lily?

Thanks, JH

Plant Expert Reply:

Yes it is basically the same process.  You create new peace lily plants by dividing them. Propagate by removing the peace lily from it's container; then take a sharp knife and cut the plant from the roots to the top of the plant – this will ensure that each plants has an ample amount of roots. Take the divide pieces and follow the re-potting instructions.  The new container will need to be same size as original container.

Peace Lily Re-potting Instructions

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) should be re-potted when the root growth has overfilled the container. Use a humus rich potting soil to repot the peace lily. To help the roots to retain soil and prevent the root tearing, re-pot the plant when the soil is somewhat moist. For determining pot size follow this rule of thumb; use a pot that is 1½ times the size of the previous pot. When placing the peace lily in it's new pot, keep the plant level the same as it was in the old pot (fill the pot so that the top of the root-ball is at the same level as before). After re-potting, water slightly to remove any air bubbles that might have occurred and wait a couple of weeks before fertilizing.