A guide to the Peace Lily

Known also as the Spathe Flower or White Sails, the Peace Lily is a truly beautiful plant that is enjoying a growth in popularity in recent times. And it’s easy to see why; the combination of vibrant green leaves and stunning white spathes makes this plant a gorgeous addition to any interior. Here at TLB, we love this plant as much as you and so to help you keep this green beauty thriving, we’re bringing you this super helpful guide on how to care for the Peace Lily.

Read on to discover everything you need to know in order to keep your Peace Lily happy and learn a few fun facts along the way too!

Fun Facts about the Peace Lily

The botanical name for the Peace Lily is Spathiphyllum Wallisii; quite a mouthful! We’re grateful for the much easier-to-pronounce nickname inspired by this long name; the Spathe Flower.

The Peace Lily is recognisable by its exotic green leaves and distinctive white flowers. It is thanks to these white flowers that Peace Lilies are known as bringers of peace. The beautiful white blooms are thought to represent a white flag; the renowned symbol of a ceasefire.

Speaking of the gorgeous white flowers on the Peace Lily; the large white ‘petals’ aren’t actually the flowers, these are spathes. Take a closer look at your plant and you’ll see the tiny, white flowers on the ends of the pointed spathes.

According to the Chinese art of Feng Shui, the Peace Lily is a fantastic plant to add to your indoor jungle; they are believed to bring positive energy and an aura of calm to your home or workspace. So, add a Peace Lily to your décor for all the positive and calming vibes.

The benefits of air-purifying houseplants

Here at TLB, this is one of our absolute favourite indoor plants. As many of you will know, we regularly and unapologetically shout about the air purifying power of indoor plants and the Peace Lily is an absolute superhero on this front being a top performer when it comes to air-filtering. Not only does it look stunning but whilst it is sitting pretty in your home it’s also quietly working hard, removing harmful toxins from the air we breathe, win-win. If you love the idea of styling these hard-working beauties in your home, take a look at our full range of air-purifying plants.

A Complete Guide on How to Care for the Peace Lily

Originally from tropical rainforests in Central and South America, the Peace Lily is a wonderfully exotic, humidity-loving plant. This means it is an ideal plant for bathrooms and kitchens. He is also super resilient and easy to care for too, so a fab choice for newbie plants parents or for an office to avoid too much extra work to do.

Peace lilies are also known for their air-purifying qualities and can help remove common indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. This makes them a valuable addition to any indoor space, as they contribute to cleaner and healthier air

Read on for how to care for the Peace Lily.

How often does a Peace Lily need watering?

Perhaps one of the first questions on anyone’s mind when looking after a new plant is how often to give it a water. Despite originating from the rainforest, the Peace Lily actually doesn’t need too much water, in fact, he prefers too little to too much! An overwatered plant will develop yellow, droopy, rather sad looking leaves so it’s best to avoid this if you can. The good news is, when you know how to check if your Peace Lily is ready for a drink, you can easily avoid an overwatered plant. It’s important to allow the top inch or so of the soil to dry out before watering again. It’s advisable to water peace lilies from the bottom by placing the pot in a saucer of water and allowing the plant to soak up the moisture. Drain off any excess water after about 15-20 minutes to prevent waterlogged conditions

Does a Peace Lily need fertiliser?

As we’ve said, Peace Lilies are pretty low maintenance plants and the right amount of water in their soil tends to be enough and they don’t need frequent fertilising to keep them thriving. Feeding them with houseplant food one to two times a year should be enough to keep them happy.

How much light does a Peace Lily need?

Peace lilies are known for their tolerance of low-light conditions, making them a popular choice for indoor spaces with limited access to natural sunlight. While they can adapt to low light, they will perform best when placed in bright, indirect light. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as this can scorch their leaves. A location near a north or east-facing window is often suitable for peace lilies.

Positioning and humidity for a peace lily

In its tropical, natural habitat, this stunning plant would enjoy steamy conditions thanks to its rainforest setting. Make your green beauty feel at home by placing him in an area of high humidity like a kitchen or a bathroom. If your chosen spot isn’t as humid as you’d like, mist him regularly, especially in the summer months or if you like the idea of a gang of plants in your home, place them close together and amazingly they will act as humidifiers for each other – the wondrous power of plants never fails to amaze us! To keep your Peace Lily thriving and to encourage those gorgeous white flowers to bloom, keep him away from draughts and radiators.

Are peace lilies pet-friendly?

Sadly, the Peace Lily isn’t a pet-friendly plant so if you have some furry friends keep your plant in a spot that’s out of their reach. We take the well-being of pets seriously at TLB and we wouldn’t want you to inadvertently harm yours with a misplaced houseplant. For that reason, we always include information about pet suitability in every one of our plant profiles. Alternatively, take a look at our range of pet-friendly houseplants, we’re sure you’ll find something here to make you and your furry friend happy.

Shop Peace Lilies at The Little Botanical

We have a stunning range of Peace Lilies here at TLB, from big statement varieties to gift sets and living walls. Have a browse below at what we have to offer, we’re sure you’ll find something you’ll love for your space.

The Big Peace Lily

Make a stunning statement with our Big Peace Lily. Standing up to 60cm high, this beautiful botanical will add a gorgeous pop of green to any area of your home. Choose between our stylish grey ceramic or our signature handwoven belly basket. This will instantly make your desk area stand out or your living room shelf feel a more relaxing space.

Peace Lily in Almond Stoneware

If you’d prefer a smaller Peace Lily, our medium-sized version is a great choice and can be styled beautifully on a shelf, sideboard or tabletop. Available in a choice of three pots; we particularly love our almond stoneware ceramic for a modern, minimalist feel that really lets this gorgeous green beauty take centre stage.

Houseplant and Coaster Gift Set

This fabulous gift set pairs the Peace Lily in a charcoal pot with the stunning Devil’s Ivy in an almond pot and a set of two large and sustainable mango wood coasters. A perfect, easy-care gift for a lucky plant-loving friend, especially if they’re new to the joys of plant care… or keep it for yourself, we won’t tell!

Living Wall with Houseplants

For a bang-on-trend, super stylish addition to your indoor jungle, check out our living wall. With a range of houseplants supplied, including, of course, the Peace Lily, this is a fab option for bringing all the jungle vibes to your home. And, the clever PlantBox design has a unique watering system, making it super simple to care for this vertical indoor garden too.

Peace Lily FAQs

Why is my Peace Lily not flowering again?

If your Peace Lily isn’t flowering, try moving it to a brighter spot in your home so it gets a little more light, but avoid direct sunlight as this will scorch the leaves. You could also try a little plant food too.

Why are the leaves yellow on my Peace Lily?

The most likely cause of yellow leaves on your Peace Lily is overwatering. The best course of action is to move your plant to a shady spot, check it is draining adequately and stop watering until the soil has dried out. To check whether your plant needs water, put your thumb about an inch into the soil around the plant. If the soil is dry, give your plant a drink.

Although less common, another possible cause of yellow leaves on your Peace Lily is a lack of nutrients. You can usually tell if this is the cause by looking at the veins on your plant; if they are still green, then the yellow leaves are probably being caused by a lack of nutrients. To remedy this, you should increase the frequency of fertiliser use to once a month until the problem is resolved. Don’t be over-generous with the fertiliser though as too much can cause problems.

Why is my peace lily drooping?

Peace Lilies are excellent communicators and droopy leaves are their way of telling us that they’re thirsty. As soon as you spot the leaves drooping, give them some water and this should revive your lovely plant within an hour or so.

When should I repot my Peace Lily?

When your plant has outgrown its pot, it can be re-potted into a larger one in the early spring. Make sure you use good quality potting soil and a well-draining pot.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about how to care for the Peace Lily. As ever, we’d love to hear from you if you have any more questions about looking after this gorgeous, tropical beauty or any other green beauties of course. Please do get in touch at [email protected]. Peace out plant people!

Lots of love

Team TLB xx