Ask the Expert: help for a wilting peace lily
I’ve had a peace lily from my dad’s funeral for the last 7 1/2 yrs. It came in a pot about 12 inches originally, which it outgrew and I repotted the whole thing into a 14.5″ pot.  It grew beautifully, flowering twice a year.  It began to outgrow this pot, so I split it into 3 plants recently. One pot is 14.5″, the other two are 12.5″.  I added potting soil and some of the original dirt to all and watered it like I normally did.  The leaves wilted which I figured was due to the shock of splitting them, but now, 4 days later they are still wilted, like drooping the way they do when it hasn’t been watered.  The soil is damp when I put my finger in, but not soggy.  What can I do to help them?? Beth

Reply:

I have seen it take a week or two for a peace lily to overcome shock after it has been split and transplanted.  The key is not to panic.  As long as the soil is moist but not soggy, the peace lily will come out of the wilting phase.

One thing that you might check is the planting depth.  If the peace lily has been planted too deep this could be a problem.  The original top of the root ball should not be covered with soil.  It should always remain the top of the root ball and new soil should only be used to fill the bottom of the container and to close the gap around the sides.  If you placed extra soil on top of the root ball, you will need to remove the extra soil.  Good luck and keep me posted

Ask the Expert: How to prune or trim dead leaves and flowers?

Hi, I’m not sure what to do when a leaf or a flower dies on your houseplant?  do you pluck it off, or are you meant to cut? where abouts would you cut it so you don’t accidentally stop things growing there ever again?  Will the part you cut grow leaves or flower again?
right now, i have a peace lily with a few brown leaves and flowers which have bent right over.  Haylee

Reply:

If a leaf is dead you need to remove it, by cutting it off or simply plucking it off the plant.  The key is not to tear into the healthy flesh of the plant.  I usually cut the leaves off as close to the stem as I can.  I find cutting to be the easy way to remove leaves without fear of damaging the plant.  As for flower removal, it depends on the plant.  Most blooms on houseplants have bloom stalks.  I usually follow the bloom stalk to the bottom of the plant or at least to the stem and cut it off.  Some plants like geraniums have a bloom stalk but I don’t cut them.  Instead I follow the stalk until I feel a little bump, then I snap the stalk off at the bump.   If you are unsure of where to cut the flowers, send me a picture or tell me which type of plant it is and I will tell you where to make the cut.  For example, you need to follow the peace lily bloom stalk to the base of the plant and cut it off.

Ask the Expert: What’s wrong with my peace lilies?
I replanted a peace lily and separated it into 3 plants. They are growing fine and the lily grows periodically. However, the pigment is disappearing from the leaves. The green keeps disappearing even on new growth. What is wrong with my plants? Alice

Reply:
Alice,

We have one of two issues: nutrient deficiency or excessive light and/or temperature.

With a nutrient deficiency, the peace lily leaves will get chlorotic leaves and will develop at a slower than normal rate. To take care of this issue you will need to fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer that has trace elements. Try using Peters Professional Plant Food with micro nutrients. It will have what is needed to correct the nutrient deficiency. Be sure to dilute the fertilizer appropriately for your peace lilies. Then follow your normal peace lily plant care

With a temperature or light exposure problem, the leaves may be curled, pale, and chlorotic. The leaves may die prematurely. To take care of this problem you will need to make sure that direct light is not beating down on the plant. You must also make sure that extremely hot air is not blowing on the plant from air vents. You might want to mist the air around the plant as well.

Ask the Expert: Can you get starts off of a peace lily plant?
My sister-in-law has had me plant sitting for her and had suggested that I take a start or split the plant to keep for helping to take care of it. Is this something that is safe to do with a peace lily?  Tasha

Reply:

Tasha,

You can safely split a peace lily to get a new start.  Begin by taking the peace lily out of its pot.  Make sure you have a very sharp knife.  See if you have a natural place to separate it –  meaning a sturdy set of leaves that are not attached to the main plant.  If so, take your knife and from the bottom up cut the section you want away from the main plant.  This will ensure that you have enough roots to support the foliage.  Now place the original plant back in its container and fill in with soil.  You can now plant the new piece in a container of your choice.  Make sure the plant is plant at the same level as the original plant.  In other words, the soil line of the new plant should be right at the place where the roots and leaves join.  Water it and then begin peace lily care as usually.  Both plants might wilt slightly at first.  This does not mean they need more  water.  They are going through shock and will recover in a week or two.

The same principle applies even if you can find a good place to split the peace lily.  The key is to cut from the roots up, so that you have enough roots to support the attached foliage.

Good luck and keep me posted.