Peace Lily

Growing & care

• Light: medium to low indirect. Tolerates rooms with no direct sun. Bright direct light bleaches leaves.
• Water: when the leaves begin to droop slightly — peace lily is unusually communicative about thirst and bounces back fast. Water with room-temperature distilled or filtered water; fluoride and chlorine cause brown leaf tips.
• Soil: any well-drained potting mix.
• Pot: slightly snug; peace lilies bloom more reliably when modestly root-bound.
• Humidity: 40%+ ideal; mist or place on a pebble tray in dry rooms.
• Fertilizer: monthly during spring/summer at half strength; skip in winter.

Propagation

Divide established clumps in spring when the plant becomes crowded. Lift the entire root mass, rinse off soil, and separate at the rhizome with a sharp knife — each division needs at least 2–3 leaves and visible roots. Seed propagation is not practical for home growers.

Common problems

Brown leaf tips trace to tap-water chemicals or low humidity more often than under-watering — filter water and run a humidifier in winter. Yellow leaves indicate overwatering or normal aging of oldest leaves. Lack of blooms usually means too little light; move closer to a window. Despite the name, peace lily is not a true lily and does not cause kidney failure in cats — but it does contain insoluble calcium oxalates that cause oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting in dogs and cats. Keep out of pet reach.