Why is my peace lily not blooming?

Usually not enough light. The RHS says peace lilies survive in deep shade but rarely flower and grow very slowly there. Move it closer to a window, out of direct summer sun.

Why is my peace lily drooping?

Most often it needs water. The RHS notes that peace lilies droop dramatically when dry but recover quickly once watered. Try not to wait for wilting every time, since NC State Extension lists underwatering as a cause of brown leaf tips.

Why are the tips of my peace lily leaves turning brown?

Common causes are dry air, underwatering, too much sun and overfertilizing. Raise humidity, water consistently, and feed at a quarter of the label rate.

Is Spathiphyllum wallisii the correct name for a peace lily?

Spathiphyllum wallisii is an accepted species in Kew's Plants of the World Online, and the RHS calls it the most widely sold peace lily. Many peace lilies in stores, however, are cultivars listed under the genus name only, such as Spathiphyllum Chopin.

How often should I water a peace lily?

The RHS recommends watering once the top few centimeters (about an inch) of potting mix have dried, mainly from April to October, and watering less in winter.

Peace Lily Care (Spathiphyllum): Light, Watering, Brown Tips and Blooms

Q: Are peace lilies toxic to cats?

Yes. The ASPCA lists peace lilies as toxic to cats and dogs because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth pain, drooling and vomiting. Unlike true lilies, they do not damage a cat's kidneys.

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a houseplant with glossy, dark green leaves and white, sail-like “flowers.” It is one of the easiest flowering houseplants to grow: it handles lower light than most and tells you exactly when it needs water. Despite the name, it isn’t a true lily.

How to identify a peace lily (and what it’s really called)

Peace lilies form clumps of lance-shaped leaves on long stalks. The RHS describes a clump of glossy, dark green leaves 1–2 feet tall. What looks like a white flower is actually a spathe, a white, leaf-like bract wrapped around a central spike (the spadix) that carries the tiny true flowers. NC State Extension notes that the spathes turn pale green after about 10 days and stay attractive for at least another month.

The genus Spathiphyllum belongs to the arum family, Araceae, like monstera and pothos. NC State Extension counts about 60 species from Mexico, tropical America, Malesia and the western Pacific islands.

About the name. Spathiphyllum wallisii is an accepted species; Kew’s Plants of the World Online gives its native range as Colombia to Venezuela. The RHS calls it the most widely sold and popular peace lily. But many peace lilies in stores are cultivars listed only under the genus name, with no species, such as Spathiphyllum ‘Chopin’ in the RHS plant database. NC State Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden also give care for the genus as a whole. If your tag just says “Spathiphyllum” plus a cultivar name, the care is the same.

Light

Peace lilies are famous for tolerating shade, but tolerating and blooming aren’t the same thing. The RHS recommends bright, indirect light near a window, out of direct summer sun. In deeper shade the plant survives but rarely flowers and grows very slowly. NC State Extension specifically warns against direct sun, which browns the leaf tips.

For blooms, place it a few feet from an east or north window, or well back from a south-facing one.

Watering

The RHS recommends watering once the top few centimeters of compost have dried, mainly during the growing season from April to October, and watering less in winter. The Missouri Botanical Garden advises letting the soil dry between waterings without letting the plant wilt.

A peace lily is its own watering alarm: it droops dramatically when thirsty. According to the RHS it recovers quickly once watered. Still, NC State Extension lists underwatering as a cause of brown tips, so it’s better to water before it collapses.

Water quality matters. The RHS recommends rainwater or filtered water to avoid fluoride damage, and the Missouri Botanical Garden recommends room-temperature water that has stood long enough for the chlorine to evaporate. Empty the saucer; constantly soggy soil leads to root rot.

Soil and repotting

The RHS recommends peat-free multipurpose potting mix blended with perlite at a 3:1 ratio. Repot in spring when the roots are densely packed, into a pot only slightly larger. The Missouri Botanical Garden says peace lilies should be kept somewhat pot-bound, with repotting, if needed, in February or March.

Humidity and temperature

The RHS recommends moderate humidity: set the pot on a tray of damp gravel, mist the leaves now and then, and wipe them with a damp cloth. Dry air shows up as brown leaf edges.

The RHS gives a temperature range of 55–75°F (12–24°C). The Missouri Botanical Garden and NC State Extension describe the ideal as warm, 68–85°F during the day with no more than about a 10-degree drop at night. Cold drafts between 40 and 55°F slow growth considerably, and extended periods below 40°F damage leaves, stems and roots. Keep it away from radiators and drafty doors.

Fertilizer

The RHS suggests a general liquid fertilizer every few weeks from April to October. The Missouri Botanical Garden and NC State Extension both stress that peace lilies have very low fertility needs: feed at one-quarter of the recommended strength and flush the soil between feedings. Overfertilizing and salt buildup burn leaf tips and roots.

How to propagate a peace lily by division

Peace lilies are propagated by dividing the clump. The RHS growing guide recommends spring; its plant database also mentions winter or right after flowering.

Water the plant and let the excess drain.
Slide the clump out of its pot and shake off some old soil.
Split the root ball by hand or with a clean knife into smaller sections, each with several leafy shoots and its own roots.
Pot each section in fresh mix, in a pot only slightly larger than its roots.
For the first few weeks, keep them in bright indirect light and water carefully until new growth appears.

Peace lily varieties

Cultivars differ mainly in size. NC State Extension lists ‘Mauna Loa’ and ‘Sensation’ among the large ones and ‘Petite’ as a compact option. There are also variegated cultivars; NC State Extension mentions ‘Domino’ and ‘Gemini’.

Common problems

Symptom	Cause	Fix
No flowers	too little light	move closer to a window, out of direct sun
Whole plant droops	underwatering	water thoroughly; it bounces back quickly
Brown tips and edges	dry air, underwatering, direct sun, overfertilizing	raise humidity, water consistently, feed at quarter strength
Yellowing, rot at the base	constantly wet soil	let the top dry, empty the saucer
Damaged leaves after winter	cold below 40°F, drafts	move somewhere warmer, away from cold glass
White cottony clusters in leaf joints	mealybugs	see mealybugs
Brown bumps on leaves and stems	scale insects	wipe off and check leaf undersides

NC State Extension names mealybugs as the most common indoor pest. Otherwise, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the RHS describe peace lilies as fairly resistant to pests and diseases.

Are peace lilies toxic to cats and dogs?

The ASPCA lists peace lilies as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. They contain insoluble calcium oxalates; chewing causes oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. The ASPCA also stresses that, unlike true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis), peace lilies do not damage a cat’s kidneys.

NC State Extension rates the severity as medium and includes children among those at risk. The RHS says the plant is harmful if eaten and irritates skin and eyes. Wear gloves when dividing or repotting, and keep it out of reach of kids and pets.