Spathiphyllum - Bloomin' Blog

Will Dividing A Peace Lily Kill Flowering?

November 16, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: Peace lily won’t flower
Hi.
I had a peace lily that was healthy, and flowered lots. One day (about a year ago) I decided it was pot bound, and as it divided easily, split it into several ‘new’ plants and repotted each of these. All have done well, continues to grow and look healthy – dark green glossy leaves, but none of them have flowered. all the plants have different conditions (given away to family and friends) and I’ve tried moving mine between rooms to try different light levels.

What do I need to do to get the plant to flower? or did dividing it ‘kill’ the flowers? Sarah

Plant Expert Reply:

Dividing the peace lily did not kill the ability of the plant to flower. The natural cycle of a peace lily is a 3 to 4 month blooming period per year. Hybrid varieties may have different blooming cycles that occur more often or they have been chemically manipulated (with a hormone called Gibberellic acid – GA ₃) to bloom.

Light and humidity are the natural factors that inhibit or stimulate the blooming of a peace lily. In your case, another factor maybe a contributing factor – maturity. One of the reasons peace lilies have been hybridized is that the original Spathiphyllum needed maturity and size before it would bloom. This often meant more than a year’s growth before the plant would bloom. You plant may simply lack maturity. You didn’t say how long it has been since you divided the peace lily. If it has only been a few months give it a little more time. When the plant has “matured”, it should bloom.

In the mean time, I would make sure the plant is receiving the right amount of humidity and light. You can find more Peace Lily Care information on the Peace Lily page on FSN. If you want to learn more about peace lily blooming, read Making Peace Lilies Bloom.

Good Luck and keep me posted.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Blooming Problems, Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum

Help! I Butchered My Peace Lily

October 27, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: I split and transplanted my peace lilly plant. It didn’t do well so I cut it way back and now it isn’t growing at all. Will it ever grow back, or should I throw it out? How do you start new plants if you want to start from some slips? M Moe

Plant Expert Reply:

Have you or a friend ever died your/their hair, decided it wasn’t just right and then cut your/their hair off to correct the bad dye job, only to be further frustrated by the time it takes for the hair to grow back? I ask because at some point in all our lives this scenario has happened. What is the one thing that could have prevent all the problems? PATIENCE.

Patience is what your peace lily needs. After you split and transplant a peace lily, it will look a little rough. Provided you didn’t plant the peace lily too deep, it will rebound and form new growth in a few weeks.

If you cut all of the peace lily foliage off, the plant will struggle to complete the photosynthesis process which all plants need to survive. This doesn’t mean that the peace lily won’t survive. It does mean that the road to health and beauty will be much longer. Again, it will need patience.

As long as the plant has not turned black, mushy or smell, it should form new leaves and recover. Make sure the roots stay moist but not soggy. The plant will not use as much water as it did when it had leaves. You can give it a light solution of vitamin b1 or fertilizer to help stimulate growth. Be careful not to give it too much fertilizer since the plant is already stressed.

The way to propagate peace lilies effectively is by splitting them. As long as the piece you separate from the mother plant has a good root system and healthy foliage, it can be planted to start a new peace lily.

So give your peace lily a little time. You may be pleasantly surprised in a couple weeks with new healthy foliage. Good luck and keep me posted. If your plant doesn’t make it you can always order a peace lily from your local florist.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Peace Lily, Plant Propagation, Plant Transplanting, Spathiphyllum

Propagating Peace Lilies

October 26, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

Ask The Expert: I read your article on Peace Lily – (Spathiphyllum clevelandii) but didn’t see anything on how to propagate it.

Is it similar to a Hosta, (plantain )lily?

Thanks, JH

Plant Expert Reply:

Yes it is basically the same process. You create new peace lily plants by dividing them. Propagate by removing the peace lily from it’s container; then take a sharp knife and cut the plant from the roots to the top of the plant – this will ensure that each plants has an ample amount of roots. Take the divide pieces and follow the re-potting instructions. The new container will need to be same size as original container.

Peace Lily Re-potting Instructions

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) should be re-potted when the root growth has overfilled the container. Use a humus rich potting soil to repot the peace lily. To help the roots to retain soil and prevent the root tearing, re-pot the plant when the soil is somewhat moist. For determining pot size follow this rule of thumb; use a pot that is 1½ times the size of the previous pot. When placing the peace lily in it’s new pot, keep the plant level the same as it was in the old pot (fill the pot so that the top of the root-ball is at the same level as before). After re-potting, water slightly to remove any air bubbles that might have occurred and wait a couple of weeks before fertilizing.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Plant Propagation, Spathiphyllum

What Should I Do About Yellow Leaves On Peace Lily?

October 5, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 4 Comments

Ask the Expert: Peace Lily care
I purchased a peace lily about 4 weeks ago for my office. It is not in direct sunlight, I have been watering it regularly to keep the soil moist, and spray the leaves. However, the leaves are CONSTANTLY turning yellow. Everyday there are new yellow leaves appearing. Any suggestions? How often should I be watering the plant. Lisa

Plant Expert Reply:

I believe your plant is receiving too much water. Peace lilies generally get by with once a week watering. If they are in a climate that is cooler or has low light levels, the peace lily (Spathiphyllum) can go even longer between watering. The first thing to check is drainage. Make sure your container allows the plant to drain off excess water. Once the water issue is corrected it will take a couple of weeks for the plant to fully recover. The first sign of recovery will be new green leaves. Good luck and keep me posted.

This plant problem diagnosis was brought to you by Flower Shop Network.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Plant Care Problems, Plant Care Questions, Spathiphyllum

What Causes Black Leaves On A Peace Lily?

October 5, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 21 Comments

Ask The Expert:
I have a Peace Lily and I am noticing that some of the leaves (at the tips) are turning black. What is causing that? I have been cutting off the black parts, is that OK?
Thank you for your time. bfh

Plant Expert Reply:

There are 3 things that can cause peace lilies to turn black.

The first is a water issue – too much or too little. With water the leaves turn brown first then black.

The second is exposure to an extreme temperature change. Exposure to extreme cold will turn the peace lily leaves black. Exposure to extreme heat or sunlight usually causes a yellow/brownish discoloration before it becomes black.

The third is a fungus called Phytophthora (aerial blight). With this fungus you need to keep water off the foliage – that is how the fungus spreads. You may need to treat both the soil and the foliage with a fungicide. Check with your local nursery & garden center for the appropriate fungcide.

This plant disease discussion was brought to you by Flower Shop Network.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Plant Care Questions, Plant Diseases, Spathiphyllum

Peace Lily Blooming Issue: Bud Won’t Open

October 1, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: why won’t the bud on my peace lily open
My peace lily the bud started to open now it is closed tighter than tight. Cecilia

Plant Expert Reply:

A severe temperature change or lack of water will cause spathiphyllum bud maturity problems. Make sure your peace lily is moist but not soggy and the air flow around the plant is remaining constant. I suggest you check for thrips. I’m not sure of thrips effect peace lilies the same as they do roses, but thrips keep rose blooms from opening. Thrips are a small slender insect.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Spathiphyllum

Peace Lily Light Requirements

August 13, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: peace lily
Does my peace lily need to have any sunlight? Right now I do not have it near a window at all. Anne

Plant Expert Reply:

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) prefers bright filtered natural light. However, the peace lily is tolerant of low light levels making it an excellent houseplant. It can be used outdoors in warm humid areas with filtered light or partial shade. Exposure to direct light may cause yellowing leaves with a burnt appearance.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions, Spathiphyllum

Proper Place To Cut Off Spent Peace Lily Bloom

August 12, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: Where do I cut off spent blooms on a peace lily?
Hi there,
I took home a beautiful peace lily plant from my father’s funeral back in October of 2008. Since then its been full and green and has had lots of blooms. My question is when you say follow the bloom stalk to the to the base of the plant and cut it, does that mean to cut the leave that it is attached to as well? I have cut off spent blooms only at the base of the stem that is attached to the leaf, as the leaf is green and healthy, by cutting the stem of the flower there I have had no damage to the leaf and the plant has been blooming more flowers. My concern is that since cutting it there it has had no more blooms in the same spot. Right now I have a bloom that will soon have to be taken off and this particular one is attached to a leaf that its stalk is attached to two other big and healthy leaves. In a nut shell: should I see blooms in the same spot where I cut the dead ones off? And am I cutting in the right spot? If I cut at the base of the plant, I dont get any more growth in that same spot the stem turns yellow and is easily pulled out. Melanie

Plant Expert Reply:

The proper place to cut the spent peace lily bloom is at the base of the plant and only the bloom stalk. Whether you cut the leaf off or not, a bloom will not develop from exactly the same spot as before. Now I am a little confused as to “stem turns yellow and is easily pilled out”. Do you mean the bloom stalk or the leaf stem? You should cut the bloom stalk so that nothing is left to turn yellow. That is why you go all the way the base of the plant where the bloom stalk orginates to cut it off. If the leaf stem is turning yellow then, you may be damaging the leaf when you cut the bloom stalk off. If the leaf stem looks damaged in any way, you need to remove it for the health of the plant. Sometimes because the way the blooms is positioned, I have to cut a leaf off as well. Trimming your peace lily will not damage it.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Peace Lily, Removing Blooms, Spathiphyllum

Peace Lily With Signs Of Root Rot

August 6, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: Will my peace lily come back to life?

Peace lily

Ok so i went on vacation about a month ago and i was gone for 2 weeks. Well my air conditioning went out in my house and my peace lily was dead when i got home. All of the leaves were dried up and black. So i cut them all off and watered the plant and left the plant alone for a month now. It looked like new growth was trying to come through and then they turn black on the tips! So now after reading about root rot i decited to take the plant out of its plastic pot that has holes on the bottom and clean the pot out. At the moment i dont have a different pot to put it in so this one will have to do for now. The roots are blackish brown color i dont know if i did the right thing but i just kinda picked at the roots to see if i could see some better looking roots and there was a few but i had just got done watering the plant and it was soaking wet. I think it was over watered now that i have read the proper way to water. So i filled the bottom of the pot with new soil and put the plant in the pot and filled around the sides. I pulled all the dead dried looking stalkes so that all that was left was green. This is what it looks like now. Do u think it will come back? Can root rot be treated in any way? Amanda

Plant Expert Reply:

I see some potential for recovery. The fact that you have a few areas of green left means the plant is still viable. However, it does sound as if you have a root rot problem. Black, mushy roots or a pungent odor from the roots all indications of root rot. Foliage that is declining is also a sign of root rot.

Your plant can recover but you will need to take care of a few things first. Remove as many of the damaged roots as possible. Do this by removing the plant from the pot and cut away the damaged roots. If your plastic pot doesn’t have drain holes, make a few in the bottom of the pot before you place the plant back in it. At this point we only want moist but not soggy soil. In a few weeks the plant should start to show signs of new growth.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions, Spathiphyllum

Planting Peace Lilies Outdoors

July 31, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: Can the Peace Lilly be planted out doors?

Plant Expert Reply:
Yes and No. Peace lilies can be planted outdoors in moist but well-drained soil under deep shade conditions. They are not hardy in any of our zones. Therefore in the United States and Canada, they can be used only as an annual planting during the late spring and summer months.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum

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