Peace Lily Guide: How to Grow and Care for a Peace Lily

A peace lily is a tropical plant that is a popular houseplant. The peace lily plant is from the Spathiphyllum genus and blooms large, shell-like white flowers and large glossy dark green leaves and a large seed pod inside the flower. The peace lily is not actually a true lily but is part of Araceae family, and is a relative of the philodendron, anthurium, and alocasia flowers. Peace lilies are native to warm, humid, tropical climates in Central and South America and parts of Southeast Asia. Otherwise, they are commonly grown as indoor plants because they are not resistant to climates that dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best time to plant your peace lily is in early spring, after the last frost has passed, for a late spring bloom. You will most likely be planting your peace lily in a container so that you can bring it inside to grow at room temperature when it gets cold. As long as the outdoor temperature is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it is safe to leave outside in its container.

If you live in a tropical climate, like US hardiness zones 10 or 11, you can plant your peace lily outside. Place your peace lily somewhere with indirect light and plenty of shade. If your leaves start to get yellow and dry out, it is getting too much direct sunlight and should be moved to a shady location.

For growers looking to plant their own peace lilies, follow these simple steps:

1. 1. Choose your growing method. Peace lilies can be planted from seeds or transplanted as seedlings in pots. They are common houseplants because they grow well indoors in containers with filtered sunlight.
2. 2. Choose your container. Unless you live in a tropical climate, you will want to plant your peace lily in a container or pot. Choose a container for your peace lily that offers good drainage and that is only slightly bigger than the root ball of your peace lily plant.
3. 3. Prepare your soil. Peace lilies thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil of about 5.8 to 6.5 pH. Test the soil and loosen it to prepare to plant your seed or bulb.
4. 4. Plant your peace lily. Fill your container or pot one-third full of potting soil. If you’re repotting a peace lily, place the plant’s root ball in the pot and cover with more potting mix until the container is full. Water immediately until the water starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot. If you’re planting from a seed, plant the seed slightly below the soil about one inch deep. Water your seed immediately, and it will likely germinate in as little as ten days.
5. 5. Water your plant regularly. Water your plant regularly to keep the soil moist while ensuring the soil is still draining well. If your lily starts to droop, it can be a sign you're overwatering it. Watch for the water to run out the bottom of your container to check your soil is draining properly.
6. 6. Harvest the seeds to grow more plants. You can harvest seeds from the peace lily’s pod to propagate new plants. Trim the seed pod from the lily once the pod has turned black, and scrape the seeds from outside the pod using a spoon. You can plant them immediately or save them in an envelope for later use.

You will need to take proper care of your peace lily to ensure it keeps blooming. Here are a few tips for keeping your peace lily healthy.

1. 1. Make sure to fertilize your peace lily. A month after planting, you can begin fertilizing your peace lily with houseplant fertilizer. In the summer months, fertilize your peace lily every six weeks. You do not need to fertilize your peace lily in winter.
2. 2. Mist your peace lily with water. Too much dry indoor air can stifle your peace lily's growth, so you should mist your plant regularly with water to replicate a humid environment.
3. 3. Be mindful of too much direct sun. Choose a place for your potted peace lily that gets indirect sunlight because too much sun can dry it out. If the green foliage of your plant starts yellowing or developing spots, move the plant into the shade.
4. 4. Re-pot your plant if it gets too large. You will need to re-pot your peace lily if it has grown too large or your soil isn’t draining properly.
5. 5. Bring your peace lily inside if it gets too cold. Peace lilies will die if they’re left outside in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s even best to move them inside if the temperature dips below 55 because they naturally thrive in warmer temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The peace lily produces seeds that can be harvested to propagate new flowering plants. There is a small pod of seeds at the center of the peace lily’s bloom. The pod will appear light green when the seeds are unripe, then turn brown and eventually black. Once the seed pod has turned black, the seeds are ready to harvest. Use scissors to trim the seed pod from the peace lily flower. Then, scrape the seeds from the pod and save them in an envelope for later use.

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