Ask the Expert: Any special care tips for a new plant?
I just purchased a peace lily at my florist. Is there any special care I should be giving it? SLS
How To Care For A Peace Lily
October 31, 2007 by
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Susi,
When you first bring a peace lily (spathiphyllim) home it will go through transplant shock. Most people panic at this and love their plant to death. Leave it alone; unless it is dry don’t water it. After about a week, your peace lily should start to recover from transplant shock.
Water your peace lily about once a week and fertilize it about once a month.
Flower Shop Network’s newsletter Caring for Peace Lilies will give you more in-depth Peace Lily Care Tips
what type of food do you suggest for an aleing lily that is 7 years old
Sissy,
It depends on what is wrong with the lily. Feeding a stressed plant is not always a good idea. If the plant is root bound or has been kept too wet – re-potting maybe the best solution. Lack of vigor could indicate a need for more light or fertilizer – in this case move the plant into more light and feed with a balanced fertilizer. A balanced fertilizer will contain all three primary nutrients N, P & K. If fertilizing with a balance fertilizer doesn’t seem to help we may need to pint-point which of the secondary nutrients it lacks.
Check for pests and disease. Insects and fungal problems can be an issue – but these can be corrected.
If you send me a picture of the lily, I might be able to make a better diagnosis. To send pictures you can go through the “Ask the Expert” feature. Be sure to reference this post.
i’ve had a peace lily for about 1 month now. I bottom water, and the plant is beautiful! however the blooms are dying off. they are green/white, then white then they turn very brown,like they’re burnt.Even the new baby blooms do this. Plz tell me what i’m doing wrong.I love this plant. Thank You Margaret
Margaret,
A couple factors could contribute to your blooming problems. Light issues and humidity issues. Usually a combination of these issues will cause a peace lily (spathiphyllum) not to produce blooms. The fact that it has brown blooms puzzles me a little bit. Are these blooms originally green and then turn brown. If so this is a natural process and the brown blooms should be removed. If not try this mist your peace lily every three to four days and give it more indirect bright light. You may want to read Peace Lily Plant Care for more tips.
As for chlorine, if you have a strong chlorine content to your water let it set out in an open container for 24hrs before you water the peace lily. Spathiphyllums do not like chlorine so that could also be a factor.
What is the proper way to “cut” the stalk when the bloom begins to turn brown. I just received a peace lily as a gift. The single flower is on an approx. 12″ tall stalk topped by what resembles a mini-sized white corn cob, which has a few dark spots near it’s tip.
Thank you for your advice.
Joe Darby
Joe,
Follow the bloom stalk to the base of the plant this the proper place to cut the stalk off.
Our peace lily is 7 years old and has suddenly become droopy. The stems or roots have becone long and extend over the sides of the pot. I don’t want to lose the plant as it is a memento from my brothers funeral. Do we need to repot or can the plant be pruned and repotted? Thank you for your help!
I would say that it is time to repot this plant. You can, at this time, divide the plant and create two separate plants. Remember the new pot will need to be half-again as big as the current pot. In other words if the original pot is 6″ it will need a 9″ pot. Good luck and keep me posted.