How to grow Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum wallisii · Spathiphyllum, white sail plant

Evergreen houseplant from tropical America with glossy dark green leaves and white spathes that turn pale green as they age. One of the few foliage plants that flowers in fairly low light.

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Family	Araceae
Light	Shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 16 °C
Where it grows	At home

When to plant

Sow straight into the bed after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 6 days	18…29 °C	balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 63 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 112 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 161 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 12 days	16…24 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Grows and flowers best in bright, indirect light; keep out of direct sun, which scorches the leaves. It survives in deeper shade but then grows slowly and rarely flowers.

Soil

Any well-drained potting mix rich in organic matter. Use a pot only a few centimetres larger than the old one; too big a pot stays wet and the roots rot.

Care

Keep the compost moist but not soggy and water once the top few centimetres are dry; water slightly less in winter and never leave the pot standing in water. Brown leaf tips come from dry air, direct sun, too little water or too much fertiliser. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at one-quarter strength every 6–8 weeks in spring and summer only. All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, causing burning of the mouth, drooling and vomiting.

Pests and diseases of Peace Lily

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.