Peace Lily houseplants are an excellent way to brighten rooms and make your home feel more alive. With their glossy green leaves and graceful white flowers, peace lilies add a touch of elegance to any room. If you have a Peace Lily houseplant that is looking a bit sickly, don’t worry – I am here to help! This guide will walk you through the steps necessary to revive your Peace Lily and get it back on track!

About The Peace Lily:

Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum

Description: Peace lilies are not true lilies (Lilium spp.) but rather a member of the Araceae family. Their white flowers look like Calla Lillies, hence their name. If well taken care of, these tropical plants will bloom all year round!

Why I Love It: Peace Lilies are a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that will brighten up any room. Peace Lilies can reach up to 4 feet tall and be the best houseplant because they do not need much water or sunlight. This houseplant should be in your home for many reasons 1) they are beautiful, 2) they purify the air, and 3) they are SO easy to care for.

Where to Buy It: You may find it at Home Depot or your local farmer’s market, but if not, you can order a Peace Lily Plant on Amazon or Etsy.

How to Save a Peace Lily that Is Dying

Determine the Problem with Your Peace Lily

The first thing you need to do is assess the situation of your dying Peace Lily. Let’s closely examine your plant and identify the problem: Is it wilting? Are there yellow leaves, or do they have brown tips? Is it not getting enough water? Is it not flowering?

Common Conditions That Can Kill A Peace Lily

• overwatering
• underwatering
• too much fertilizer
• poor soil quality/nutrient problems/under fertilizing
• light levels: too much light or too little light
• fungal infections
• root rot
• pests
• too low temperature

Once you have determined the cause of the problem, you can take steps to fix it.

Watering Issues for Peace Lily Houseplants

The typical water issues with Peace Lilly are underwatering and overwatering.

• Under-Watered: Peace lilies will wilt dramatically when they require water. It is hard to miss the signs of a wilting Peace Lily that occurs with underwatering, but luckily it is an easy problem to fix. The peace lilies will return to life after a thorough watering, a trait that offers them a forgiving reputation. These plants are resilient, one reason they make such popular indoor plants.
• Over-Watered: Excess water is arguably the number one cause that kills houseplants. Peace Lilies are extremely thirsty and love moist soil, especially during hot seasons. However, they will drown if they do not have well-draining soil in a planter with proper drainage. An overwatered Peace Lily should be checked for signs of root rot. If you’ve ever had a Peace Lily that died suddenly, root rot may have been the cause. This problem is usually caused by too much water, which can cause the roots to decay. If you suspect root rot, check the root ball for signs of discoloration or mushiness. If the root ball is brown and mushy, root rot has likely set in, and it’s time to start with a new plant. To prevent root rot disease, be sure to water your Peace Lily only when the soil is dry to the touch.

How to Properly Water a Peace Lily

It is a good idea to have your plants on a watering schedule to ensure they all get the right amount of water. Peace Lilies must be watered once a week during the growing season. Depending on your plant size, the amount of light, and soil density, your plant needs to be watered even more frequently.

These plants will tell you when they are thirsty when their leaves start drooping. A droopy Peace Lily is a sure sign it needs water asap.

These plants thrive in moist conditions, so they should be watered frequently. However, avoiding overwatering is important, as this can lead to root rot. The best way to water a Peace Lily is to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between watering, and it’s a good idea to empty any water that collects in the planter saucer.

RELATED READING: What is Root Rot?

Fertilizing Issues

It is possible to under-fertilize or over-fertilize Peace Lilies.

• Over Fertilizing: Excess fertilizers will lead to salt build-up, toxifying the soil and inhibiting proper root growth. The symptoms of fertilizer burn can start to show as brown leaf tips. Severe levels of intoxication in the soil can lead to stunting, yellowing, drying foliage, and overall plant decline. You can remove excess soil toxicity through regular flushing. Run an extra amount of water during watering and allow the excess flow out of draining holes.
• Under-Fertilizing: Under-fertilization may not be a common issue for most plant parents because Peace Lilies are light feeders, but it does occur. The absence of certain nutrients can stress the plant with symptoms such as sluggish growth and stunted leaves. Applying fertilizer every six weeks during the growing season is ideal. Also, apply a balanced fertilizer with half the suggested strength.

Pro Tip: During winter, your Peace Lily will not need to be fertilized.

Lighting Issues

Most plants need sunlight to grow, but a few prefer low light conditions. One of these is the Peace Lily, a tropical plant native to the rainforests of Central and South America.

Too Much Light: Peace Lilies will also scorch quickly in direct sunlight. The gentle morning rays are okay, but protect them from too much direct sun. While it will tolerate some direct sunlight, too much sun will actually burn the leaves, causing them to turn brown and withered. If you think your Peace Lily is getting too much sun, move it to a shadier spot in your home or pull it further away from the window.

Too Little Light: The common symptoms of too little light are yellow or brown leaves, no flowers, small leaves, and very slow growth.

You can quickly fix lighting issues by offering the plants brighter conditions. Peace Lilies thrive best when placed in a north-facing window and do well under fluorescent lights.

Want More Flowers? Peace Lillies will frequently bloom when they get enough light. Peace Lillies will bloom frequently when they are kept in bright or medium indirect sunlight. If you notices its leaves turning yellow, it’s getting too much direct light.

RELATED READ: My Favorite Grow Light for My Houseplants

When Your Peace Lily Needs to Be Repotted

Peace Lilies will require repotting at some point in their lifetime. It’s best to repot in spring to take advantage of the growing season, but it can be done anytime if your plant is desperate for repotting.

Signs Your Peace Lily Needs to Be Repotted:

• The plant is top-heavy and unstable
• The roots are visible from the top of the soil
• The roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot
• Water drains straight through the pot without being absorbed

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to give your Peace Lily some fresh soil. Make sure you use soil that has good drainage and is light and airy. Although Peace Lilies are not overly dramatic about relocation, they need time to acclimate to new pot conditions.

Pest Infestation for Peace Lily

While the plant isn’t overall susceptible, an invasion may signify some underlying stress lowering the plants’ defenses.

The Most Common Pests for Houseplants

• Spider Mites: These tiny pests are barely visible to the naked eye but leave telltale webbing on the plant.
• Aphids: These small, pear-shaped pests suck nutrients from leaves, causing them to be yellow and curl.
• Mealybugs: Mealybugs are soft-bodied insects that appear as white, fuzzy patches on the stems and leaves of plants.
• Scale: Scale insects are small, wingless creatures that suck the sap from plants, causing yellowing leaves and stunted growth

You can easily remove individual bugs with neem oil, rubbing alcohol, or insecticidal soap. Simply put the plant in the shower with a soapy solution. Soak the leaves and crevices and ensure the solution touches the insects to kill them. Repeat the same after four to seven days until you control the situation.

Pro Tip: Before introducing any new plant to your home, you should always check for pests. These insects are often hitchhikers and can quickly spread to other plants in your collection.

Proper Growing Conditions for Peace Lily

These plants are native to tropical rainforests and need warm temperatures, high humidity, and filtered light to thrive.

Peace lilies do best in warm conditions between 65º and 80º degrees Fahrenheit. Peace lilies cannot withstand drafts or cold temperatures below 45°F.

When a houseplant gets too cold, the leaves will turn black, beginning at the tips of the leaves and progressing inward.

Conclusion

With proper care, your healthy Peace Lily will thrive and bring a touch of beauty to your home for years to come!

Follow these simple tips, and your plant will look healthy and happy again. Thanks for reading! We hope this guide was helpful. If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.