Find Your Ask the Expert: Peace Lily Care
The care of several new chapel plants (very low light) was recently given me. I know little about plants, but have read about the peace lily, since there is a lovely one in the chapel. The plant looks very green and healthy, despite the lowness of the light and the fact that from what I can tell, it’s been quite overwatered (daily waterings and it has even been left to sit in the excess water at times). The plant was only bought from a Home Depot about 8-10 weeks ago. Its original blooms are gone and the new blooms and brachts are much smaller and almost deformed looking (perhaps due to the light and water situation). Anyway, all this is a long winded way to ask whether I should slowly wean it off the excessive watering, or just go cold turkey and cut the watering. Or perhaps this particular plant appreciates excess water. What would you recommend? I would hate to damage the plant that was just given over to me for care. Thanks, mz
Watering Peace Lilies
October 20, 2008 by 1 Comment
MZ,
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) want a moist soil. However a soggy soil is detrimental to the root system of the plant. Normally a peace lily needs to be watered once a week. In low light levels the need for water can go as long as every two weeks.
My suggestions is to check the soil moisture every three days. When the soil becomes dry to the touch at an inch below soil level, you can water the plant. Then wait a week and check the soil. If the soil is still wet wait another week to water it. This way you will be able to evaluate the water usage of this plant. Also, trim all the spent blooms and the deformed blooms off. To do this follow the bloom stalk to the base of the plant and cut it off. On our Peace lily page we have some good caring for peace lily tips that you might want to read. To see the tips on that page you will have to scroll down the page. Good luck and please keep me posted.