Peace lilies are incredibly common indoor plants, and it’s easy to see why with their gorgeous white flowers. However, an expert cautioned that there are a few typical mistakes that plant owners frequently make when taking care of the peace lily that might ultimately lead to their death in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk.
This lovely houseplant, with its white blossoms and dark green foliage, is frequently presented as sympathy gift plants. It brings vitality and vibrancy to any space. It is a plant with many advantages and is also quite forgiving. Along with being simple to care for, peace lilies are a perfect plant for beginners. Five “common blunders to avoid killing a peace lily” were provided to Express.co.uk by Kate Lindley, product manager at Baby Bio.
Too much sunlight: While peace lilies can tolerate strong indirect light, direct sunlight causes them to quickly wilt and die.
In general, light morning sun is acceptable, but if the plant is exposed to direct sunlight and you notice brown spots, it needs further protection.
Peace lilies are delicate to direct sunlight, so be sure to pick a location in your house where it will receive strong but indirect light, advised Kate. Avoid bright, south-facing window sills as they could burn the leaves over time from prolonged exposure to hot, direct sunshine.
“Peace lilies can survive low light, but they may not bloom as spectacularly as they would in strong, indirect light,” says the author.
Not enough humidity: The houseplant expert added that while dry air is unlikely to harm the plant, it is likely to cause “dry, crisp leaves that will leave the plant looking a little worse for wear,” as peace lilies like a humid atmosphere.
In order to “create its own microclimate,” it is advised to “raise humidity levels by sprinkling once or twice a week” or to place the plants next to a tray of stones in a thin layer of water.
In humid conditions, the plant will typically grow bigger and more quickly. Try to maintain an ambient humidity level of at least 50%; indoor plants will thrive at levels as high as 60%.
Owners can also arrange plants in groups, according to Kate, which is a “wonderful way to quickly increase air humidity.”
Too cold in the environment: Because they don’t like being cold, peace lilies frequently perish when exposed to it for a lengthy amount of time. They prefer a moderate atmosphere because they are tropical plants.
According to the expert, the “optimal” temperature for peace lilies to flourish is typically regarded to be between 15 and 25 degrees.
Owners should be aware of the optimum temperature since below it, the leaves may die.
They should also be protected from frigid draughts, thus experts advised avoiding windows that might do so.
Not using fertiliser: Fertilizing houseplants is typically a smart idea because, over time, they will exhaust the nutrients in their pots and run out of food. After all, when growing naturally, plants have access to fertilizer as leaves drop off, insects perish, and plant matter decomposes around them, enhancing the soil.
In actuality, this does not take place at home. Even if some of your plant’s leaves will fall to the soil’s surface, overall, it won’t receive much in return, and the nutrients won’t be evenly distributed.
For optimum growth, peace lilies, like most plants, require a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; thus, invest in plant food that may offer the ideal balance.
Every time you water, we advise using an all-purpose feed, such as Baby Bio® Organic Houseplant Food or Baby Bio® Houseplant Food Original. Pour a few drops of it at the base of the houseplant after adding the liquid to the water.
Letting soil dry out: The peace lily expert cautioned that because peace lilies “require continually moist soil,” it’s crucial to avoid letting the compost fully dry out in between waterings as this might make the leaves wilt and finally kill the plant.
When the leaves start to droop, Kate said, “Your peace lily could need watering, but they should soon pick up after a drink.”
Give a peace lily that has been submerged in water a thorough watering by soaking it in a sink or basin for at least 10 minutes.
Just be careful not to overwater, as peace lilies also dislike sitting in too-wet soil.
