Peace Lily
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is loved for its glossy green leaves and elegant white "flowers" (which are actually modified leaves called spathes). It's easy to grow and one of the few foliage plants that will flower in low light.
Care basics
- Light: Bright, indirect light is best; keep it out of direct sun, which will scorch the foliage. It also tolerates low light.
- Water: Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and let it dry slightly between waterings. Use room-temperature water. Never let the pot sit in a saucer of water — that leads to root rot.
- Soil: Any well-drained potting mix.
- Temperature: Warm, roughly 68–85°F during the day; avoid cold drafts and temperatures below about 60°F.
- Humidity: Likes a bit of humidity; browning tips can appear in dry air.
- Fertilizer: Very little needed — a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at quarter strength every few weeks in spring and summer. Overfertilizing burns the leaf tips.
The 3 most common problems
1. Drooping or wilting leaves
This is the peace lily's signature move — it wilts dramatically when it's thirsty, then perks back up after watering. But it also wilts if overwatered and the roots are damaged. Fix: Check the soil. If it's dry, water it. If it's wet, let it drain and dry out — see our drooping guide.
2. Brown leaf tips
Brown tips come from over-fertilizing, too much direct sun, underwatering, or low humidity. Fix: Ease up on fertilizer, keep it out of direct sun, and raise humidity.
3. Yellow leaves
Yellowing can mean overwatering or underwatering, or the plant simply being due for a repot. Fix: Adjust watering, and repot if the plant is root-bound.
Also watch for fungus gnats, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale.
Pet safety note: Peace lily is toxic to dogs and cats — it contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause burning of the mouth, throat, and tongue if chewed. Keep it away from pets. (Source: ASPCA.)
A few extra tips
Peace lilies like to be slightly pot-bound, but when roots start coming through the drainage holes or circling on top of the soil, it's time to repot — moving up just one to two inches in pot size. A pot that's too big holds too much water and can lead to root rot. Repotting is easiest done during the growing season, and after repotting, loosen the root ball gently so the roots can spread into the fresh mix.
Peace lily at a glance
- Light: bright, indirect — but it tolerates and flowers in low light
- Water: keep moist but not soggy, using room-temperature water
- Temperature: warm, roughly 68–85°F, with no cold drafts
- Watch for: dramatic drooping when thirsty (but also when overwatered), brown tips (over-fertilizing, dry air, or low humidity), and yellow leaves (a watering or repotting issue)
Its habit of wilting when it needs a drink makes the peace lily easy to read — just remember to check the soil first so you don't mistake a drowning plant for a thirsty one.