If you love peace lilies you want to make them last and last. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are elegant and sought-after house (and garden) plants known for their graceful white flowers and glossy green leaves. They, are relatively easy to care for and can thrive indoors and out. Some peace lilies have lasted as house plants for as long as ten to twenty years! Here is my best advice as a peace lily aficionado for helping them to last for you. I hope you have a long and peaceful existence with them.
Here is a review of the plant and its origins, varieties, and care tips for growing this tropical beauty. (It is a garden plant in Zones 10-11 and sometimes 9b.)
What Is The Peace Lily Plant
The genus Spathiphyllum, is a herbaceous evergreen tropical plant in the Araceae family. So it has as its relatives, Elephant Ears, and Anthuriums. The leaves are glossy and dark green lance shapes that end at a point and begin from the ground. (There is no stem.) Its flowers appear in a type of inflorescence called a spadix, usually enclosed in a flower-like part called a spath. The genus has about 50 species to choose from. We will focus on these two plants, as well as their varieties and cultivars.
- Spathiphyllum wallisii are the smaller plants, including several dwarf varieties you can easily use indoors.
- Spathiphyllum floribundum: these are larger versions of the plant. They are dramatic indoors and out.
(So remember all peace lilies are Spathiphyllum but not all Spathiphyllum are peace lilies.)
The Peace Lily Flower
The Spath, the pretty white part that people often call a flower, is a modified leaf called a bract. It protects the flower while allowing the pollinators to get close to the pollen they want.
The part in the center, is the flower, in this case a spike covered in tiny flowers. Other plants you may know that are structured like this are the Cana Lily and the Anthurium.
Air Purifying Features Of The Peace Lily?
I have always considered this argument to be hyperbole, but it seems to be true. Here’s how; the plant takes in pollutants through the leaves and breaks them down using microbes in the soil. NASA says they are one of the top 10 air cleaning plants and I read that they can clean air up to 60%!
Toxic Properties Of The Peace Lily?
The Peace Lily is considered mildly toxic as it contains calcium oxalate crystals, They protect the plant but can irritate if eaten.
Where Did We Get The Peace Lily
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This plant comes to us from Tropical America, Mexico, Malaysia, and islands of the western Pacific. How did we get it? We are not absolutely sure who found it but credit is given to Gustav Wallis (hence the species name wallissi). Peace lilies are common to most of Central and South America and there are four varieties found in South East Asia.
Wallis was one of the early plant hunters who braved the unknown to collect plants for the plant-hungry Europeans, who were fascinated by the new exotic species. Wallis(1830-1878) traveled in South America for a large company and when they went bankrupt and left him, high and ‘dry’ in the wilds. He simply went on hunting for himself discovering and bringing home 1000 plants despite losing a shipload of them in a wreck.
If you know the original environment of any plant, that fact will tell you how to care for it. The Peace Lily is a true understory plant. It thrives on the forest floor, where they find rich, moist, organic soil under the shade of trees and larger plants. Recreate that environment as well as you can and you will succeed.
Varieties of Peace Lilies
In bloom or not we appreciate the lively green foliage while our air is cleaned.
There are many natural varieties and cultivars of this plant. I will divide them into small, medium, and large choices for your house and garden, indoors and out.
Small Peace Lily Varieties
- Power Petite Peace Lily, if your space is limited; this is the smallest of the Peace lilies with all of the features you want. Use it indoors as a house plant or out on the patio or in the garden.
- Spathiphyllum walissi Peace Lily, this plant will mature at a maximum of 3′ tall and has white to greenish white spathes.
- Piccolino Peace Lily: Is a dwarf variety with a small white flower (spathe). It is a dense, compact plant with a spreading shape. Expect the plant to mature at about 10″ tall with its flower reaching 18″ in height. Its requirements are simple.
- Little Angel Peace Lily: This one is 6-12″ high, with some leaf variation, compact stems and small white spathes. It is considered a prolific bloomer.
- Snowflower Peace Lily A house plant that appreciates partial sun and moist soil it is believed to improve humidity.
Medium Peace Lily Varieties
- Mauna Loa Supreme: The leaves are long, elliptical, and on foot-long stems. The blooms stand above the leaves and are long-lasting, in creamy white they turn green as they mature.
- Domino: Here we have a variegated leaf that ranges from dark to light green to cream. Give them bright indirect light and even moisture.
- Jet Diamond’, PPAF-I notice that Costa Farms, a popular South Florida grower offers this one as a superior version of Domino.
- Bingo Cupido: The foliage is bushy, the flower is bred to have large size, and is long-lasting.
Large Peace Lily Varieties
- Sensation Peace Lily Sp This is the largest variety you can find and has huge, lush, emerald leaves and large flowers. Under perfect conditions, it will reach 6′ tall and wide. There is a variegated version which is a little smaller.
- Bongo Bongo Peace Lily: This variety offers dark green leaves with white veins and slightly smaller than average flowers.
- White Stripe Peace Lily: Here the glossy green leaves have a bold white center vein and a small blossom.
- Picasso: Picasso produces dramatic foliage with bold white and green variations. We are advised to grow this one in pots and that the colorations are variable. Thus we buy a mostly green plant and we may get brilliant white spots or visa versa. There is a little gamble here.
- Jetty: Look for very shiny leaves and long-lasting white flowers.
- Allison Peace Lily This is a fast-growing, low-maintenance plant and can be grown in a water garden.
Growing Peace Lilies Indoors And Making Them Last A Long Time
The peace lily, while not a lily at all, is an attractive live accent in any house. Reasonably cared for, the plant should last 3-5 years for you and you can propagate from your plant and have new plants. Each bloom is long lasting, you will have them for about one month and the shining green foliage is always with you. They will clean your air while they charm you.
- Light: Peace lilies prefer bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light conditions. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves. Try a spot near an east-facing window.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Peace lilies are sensitive to chlorine, so use filtered or distilled water if possible. Use a watering can or a softly flowing faucet (with filtered water). Water the pot until you see drips from the bottom and then drain the planter. Do not let it live in standing water.
- Humidity: They thrive in high humidity. Mist the leaves regularly or place the pot on a tray with pebbles and water to increase humidity.
- Temperature: Maintain a temperature between 65-80°F (18-27°C). Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes. Limit the nighttime temperature drop to about 10 degrees.
- Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer).
- Life span, we say three or more years but they have lasted a decade or more. Remember also that you can separate your plants as they grow and produce new plants.
Growing Peace Lilies Outdoors And Making Them Last A Long Time
The peace lily is considered hardy in Zone 10-11. I have seen this plant growing in my former neighborhood in Zone 9b also, in west-central Florida. The plants grew in part sun and looked beautiful along the oak-shaded streets. I find no recommendations for that zone but there you are!
(Note the colorful background of coleus plants.)
- Location: Choose a shaded or partially shaded spot in your garden. Avoid direct sunlight, which may burn the foliage.
- Soil: Plant in well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Amend the soil with compost if needed. The plant will appreciate a soil pH of 5.8-6.5.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, similar to indoor care. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Temperature: Peace lilies can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-12. They prefer warm, humid conditions.
- Protection: Protect from strong winds and heavy rain, that can damage the leaves and flowers.
- The plant is not salt tolerant. This may be a problem in coastal areas.
How To RePot Your Peace Lily
Indoors or out your potted peace lily will grow and need a bigger container.
Here are the steps in repotting. Late winter or early spring is prime time for repotting and separating.
- Choose a container with a generous drainage hole and tray for indoors. Find a container 2″ larger than the original.
- Choose a well-draining potting mix, one containing sand will provide needed drainage.
- Water the plant after moving it.
- Fertilizer, wait several weeks before fertilizing the newly moved plant.
- Consider using pebbles in the tray.
Does Your Plant Need To Be Separated?
As plants grow and their root systems become complex and crowded we can improve the plant’s health by dividing it. In addition, we create more plants.
To split a peace lily, you can follow these steps:
- Plan ahead, collect your planters, fresh soil, and tools. Water your large plant the day before you split it.
- Gently remove the plant from its pot. Tap the bottom and sides of the pot, with tightly fitted plants you can use a dowel or stick to move it through the drainage hole.
- Move the root ball gently, lay the plant on its side, carefully remove excess soil so you can see the root sections. You can often see natural places to divide the plant, only separate a section which has both roots and leaves.
- Cut the root section vertically with a clean sharp knife. Always disinfect the tools.
- Pot your new plants, giving them fresh soil and watering them as above.
When Things Go Wrong With Peace Lilies
When anyone complains about their peace lilies these are the usual problems.
Here are some things that can go wrong with a peace lily plant:
- Watering :Peace lilies are more tolerant of underwatering than overwatering, which can cause the leaves to wilt and turn yellow or brown around the edges. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which can be identified by yellow leaves and a heavy pot. To avoid overwatering, you should avoid watering on a schedule, water when dry and make sure the water goes deep.
- Sunlight: Peace lilies prefer medium, indirect sunlight, and too much or too little direct sunlight can cause yellow leaves. Try different locations until you find the perfect one.
- Humidity: Peace lilies prefer high humidity, and low humidity can cause the leaves to turn brown or yellow, become hard and crispy, or droop. You can increase the humidity by misting the plant regularly, placing a humidifier nearby, or using a pebble tray. Group together plants that like humidity.
- Temperature :Peace lilies prefer temperatures between 18-26°C (64-79°F), and temperatures, too low or too high can prevent them from flowering.
- Pests: Peace lilies are generally resistant to most common houseplant pests, but they can be susceptible to mealybugs and scale, which feed on the leaves’ sap and can cause the leaves to droop and eventually fall off. Look your plants over every day, as you would in the garden. Look at the top of the leaf and the bottom. Check the stems.
- Nutrients: Too much fertilizer can burn the roots and prevent the plant from absorbing nutrients, while too little can cause the leaves to die.
- Be observant and identify problems early and your plants will last.
Resources For You
When a plant has an association I will list it. I find none for this plant but here are some expert discussions.
This discussion of Peace Lilies with good photos comes from Costa Farms a Florida Based breeder.
From the popular GardenersWorld, this is a guide to care with a short list of UK-based vendors.
From the University of Florida is this plant review.
Summary,
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.) are popular houseplants known for their elegant white blooms and glossy, dark green leaves. With their backgrounds in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, these plants thrive in low-light conditions, making them ideal for indoor environments. Peace lilies are relatively easy to care for, requiring moderate watering and indirect sunlight. They are also known for their air-purifying qualities, as they can remove toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
Also as tropical plants with beautiful green foliage and creamy white spathes it can be used outdoors in hardiness Zones 10-11.
The peace lily will always make a welcomed gift whenever you need one. These plants typically bloom in the spring, but you can have blooms twice a year with proper care. To keep a peace lily healthy, it’s essential to maintain consistent moisture in the soil without overwatering, as well as to provide a humid environment. Regularly misting the leaves can help replicate their natural habitat.
With low maintenance needs and their elegant appearance peace lilies are a wonderful addition to your home or garden.