Watering, location, blooms & air purification
The Peace Lily is the houseplant that tells you when it needs water — it simply lets its leaves droop. Dramatic, but effective.
The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), also known as white sails or spathe flower, is one of the few houseplants that will bloom even in shady spots. Its elegant white bracts resemble calla lily blooms and bring light into dark corners. In the Netherlands, the Peace Lily is among the top 5 best-selling houseplants.
What makes the Peace Lily especially lovable: it communicates. When it needs water, it dramatically lets all its leaves droop. As soon as you water it, it perks back up within a few hours. No other plant gives such clear signals.
Quick profile: Peace Lily
Botanical name: Spathiphyllum
Origin: Tropical America, Southeast Asia
Family: Araceae (arum family)
Hardy: No (min. 15°C)
Location: Partial shade to shade
Watering: Regularly, keep evenly moist
Blooming season: spring – summer
Difficulty: easy
Watering a Peace Lily
Watering a Peace Lily is easy because the plant tells you when it needs water. Still, you shouldn’t let it get to the point where it goes completely limp every time — that stresses the plant over time.
The soil should stay evenly moist, but not wet. In summer, water two to three times a week; in winter, once a week. The Peace Lily likes more moisture than most houseplants — it comes from the tropical rainforest, where it grows on the forest floor in damp soil.
High humidity is important. Mist it regularly, especially in winter when indoor heating dries the air. Brown leaf tips are almost always a sign that the air is too dry.
Peace Lily location
What makes the ideal spot for a Peace Lily so special: it’s one of the few flowering houseplants that also thrives in partial shade and even full shade. A north-facing window, a bathroom with a window, a dark corner in the living room — the Peace Lily can handle it.
It can’t tolerate direct sun — the leaves burn quickly. Indirect light is ideal. The brighter the spot (without direct sun), the more it will bloom.
Why isn’t my Peace Lily blooming?
If your Peace Lily isn’t blooming, it’s usually due to one of these reasons:
- Too little light — even though the Peace Lily tolerates shade, it needs a bit more light to bloom. Move it to a brighter spot (but not into direct sun).
- Too little fertilizer — feed every two weeks from March to September with liquid fertilizer (half strength).
- The plant is too young — very small Peace Lilies do not bloom yet. They only start producing flowers once they reach a certain size.
- No temperature difference — a slight drop in temperature during winter (16–18°C instead of 22°C) can encourage flowering.
Tip: The white bracts turn green after a few weeks — this is normal and not a sign of disease. Once they are completely green and no longer attractive, you can cut them off. The plant will produce new blooms.
Peace Lily and Air Purification
The Peace Lily is one of the stars of the NASA study: it filters formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, ammonia, and xylene from the air — more pollutants than almost any other indoor plant. It also increases humidity through transpiration, which feels especially pleasant in heated rooms during winter.
Combined with Sansevieria (active at night) and pothos (a formaldehyde specialist), it makes an excellent trio for cleaner indoor air.
Repotting and Propagating the Peace Lily
Repot into a slightly larger pot every two to three years. Regular potting soil works well. When repotting, you can also divide the plant — each section with roots and leaves can be planted separately. This is the easiest way to propagate a Peace Lily.
Note: The Peace Lily is mildly toxic — all parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate. Keep it out of reach of children and pets, especially cats. The plant sap can cause skin irritation.
Indoor Plants at MoBlumen Vienna
Peace Lily, Monstera, orchids, and more — delivery in Vienna.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Peace Lily
Almost always a lack of water. Water it — the leaves will perk up again within a few hours. If the leaves are still drooping even though the soil is moist, it may be root rot caused by overwatering. In that case, take the plant out of the pot and check the roots.
That is completely normal. The white bracts turn green after a few weeks because they store chlorophyll. This is the flower’s natural aging process. Cut them off and wait for new blooms.
Yes, absolutely. It filters pollutants from the air and increases humidity. However, if you are sensitive to pollen, remove the blooms as soon as the spadix turns yellow and starts releasing pollen.
Fresh Flowers at MoBlumen Vienna
Indoor plants, bouquets, and more — delivery in Vienna.
