Care guide
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum spp. and hybrids
Elegant white blooms, glossy leaves, and absolutely no shame about wilting theatrically the moment they are thirsty — then bouncing straight back. This guide covers the commonly grown Spathiphyllum species and hybrids sold as peace lilies.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- A dropped leaf or a little droop in the first week is just travel shock — give it a calm, bright spot and time.
- Don’t repot for at least 4 weeks. It ships happy in its nursery pot — just sit that inside your decorative cover.
- Check the plant-specific watering guidance below before giving it a drink — different plants prefer very different levels of dryness.
Light
One of the better flowering houseplants for indirect or lower-light positions — it flowers best in bright, indirect light but stays handsome in shade. Keep it out of direct sun, which yellows and scorches the leaves.
Watering
Peace lilies like to stay lightly moist — not wet, never bone dry for long. Check weekly and water when the top of the compost has just dried. If you forget, it will wilt dramatically to tell you — water it and it usually recovers within hours.
Humidity & temperature
It’s a tropical understorey plant, so it appreciates a bit of humidity — bathrooms and kitchens are happy homes. Keep it above 16°C and away from cold draughts, which stop it flowering.
Feeding
Feed monthly from April to September with a balanced houseplant feed at half strength — peace lilies are light feeders and overdoing it browns the leaf tips.
Repotting & size
Repot in spring when roots densely fill the nursery pot or watering becomes difficult, going up just one size. Peace lilies tolerate being slightly snug, but do not need to be rootbound to flower. A standard peat-free houseplant mix is ideal.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
Whole plant wilting
Cause
Thirst — the peace lily’s signature move.
Fix
Water thoroughly and let it drain; it should stand back up within a few hours. Try to catch it before the collapse next time — regular wilting weakens it.
No flowers
Cause
Not enough light, or the plant is between flowering flushes.
Fix
Move it somewhere brighter (still out of direct sun) and be patient — flowers come in waves, mainly spring and summer.
Brown leaf tips
Cause
Dry air, tap water minerals, or overfeeding.
Fix
Raise the humidity, try rainwater, and ease off the feed. Trim tips cosmetically if you like.
Yellow leaves
Cause
Overwatering or old age of individual leaves.
Fix
Check the soil isn’t staying soggy; the odd yellow leaf on a healthy plant is just natural turnover.
Green flowers
Cause
Too much feed or the bloom is simply ageing.
Fix
Flowers naturally green as they age — snip spent ones at the base. Reduce feeding if new blooms open green.
Black-edged leaves
Cause
Cold damage from a draught or a chilly windowsill.
Fix
Move it somewhere steadier and above 16°C — new growth will come through clean.
Meet the plant
About Peace Lily
Common names include: peace lily, spathe flower, white sails.
- The white ‘petal’ isn’t a flower at all — it’s a modified leaf called a spathe sheltering the true flower spike.
- It’s one of the few houseplants that flowers happily in lower light.
- Its wilt-and-recover habit makes it a great communicator - though the leaves contain irritating calcium oxalate crystals and should be kept away from pets.
Shop this plant
Seasonal care tips, four times a year
What to change as the light changes — no spam, ever.
