How to Grow and Care for Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) Indoors
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Botanical name: Spathiphyllum wallisii
Family: Araceae
Common names: Peace Lily, White Sails, Spathe Flower
Description
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) also called White Sails or Spathe Flower is one of the most popular houseplants on account of its ability to clean the air while the dark-green glossy leaves and white blooms wil brighten any space.
The bloom is a spathe which appears pale green as it begins to grow and turns white at it opens. It surrounds a spadix that is densely covered by tiny, white flowers.
White sails can grow to a height of 3 ft. which makes it very versatile. It can be grown as a table-top plant, on top of a shelf or even in a floor positioned pot.
Spathe Flowers are tropical evergreens which grow from underground rhizomes and are easy to grow even for a beginner.
Keep Peace Lily away from direct sunlight and cold draughts and ensure to keep the soil moist at all times and it will thrive.
Air Cleaning
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Spathiphyllum wallisii was found to be a good indoor air cleaner in getting rid of common VOCs like xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia from indoor air.
Origin
Spathiphyllum wallisii is native to the tropical rainforests of Central America and Southeastern Asia. In its natural enviroment, it grows in consistently humid conditions on the forest floors where it receives filtered sunlight.
Varieties
Peace Lily has many hybrids and cultivars like Mauna Loa, Sensation, White Stripe and Domino among others.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to add this spectacular plant to your collection, Peace Lilies in various sizes are readily available online at Etsy. Buy Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) online from Etsy.
Spathiphyllum wallisii Care Indoors
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and moderately humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Spathiphyllum wallisii only requires repotting when pot-bound as it blooms best when the roots are confined. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat as well as discourage pest and disease infestations. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light Requirements
Peace Lily grows best in bright, indirect light (partial shade). Keep it away from direct sunshine to avoid scorching the leaves.
White sails can also be grown under a grow light where the natural light is inadequate.
Watering
Water Peace Lily liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moderately moist.
Decrease watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time and so the plant will not require a lot of water. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Use room temperature water to water the Peace Lily as cold water can shock this tropical plant resulting in reduced growth.
Ensure that the water is chlorine-free as White sails is sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water.
To avoid getting soggy soil which can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant, ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole.
Temperature
Peace Lily thrives in average warmth with a minimum of 160C. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for the plant.
Keep the Spathe Flower away from cold and hot draughts to prevent sudden changes in temperature as they can cause reduced growth.
Humidity
Average room humidity is adequate for Peace Lily. However, if the air is too dry, the plant may develop brown leaf tips and edges.
To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
Regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and reduce infestation by pests.
Fertilizer (Feeding)
Feed Spathiphyllum wallisii monthly during the growing season with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer to encourage flowering. Withhold feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.
Peace Lily is sensitive to chemicals that may be accumulated in the soil therefore, regularly flush out excess chemical deposits from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until water comes out through the drainage hole. Let the stream of water run for a few minutes.
Repotting
Keep Peace Lily pot-bound to promote flowering and repot during the growing period only when it has outgrown its current pot.
Repot into a pot that is only 1 size larger than the current one and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
During repotting, divide large Peace Lily plants to allow adequate room for growth in the new pot.
Cut through the rhizomes with a sharp sterile knife and pot the sections in individual pots.
Ensure each of the pot for the sections has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of the sections.
Soil
The best soil for Peace Lily should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.
Most potting mixes designed for aroids are ideal for this plant . Purchase quality Aroids Potting Soil for White Sails online from Etsy.
Pruning
Pruning Peace Lily is easy as it involves removal of dead leaves to keep the plant neat and also minimize pest and disease infestations.
Once the blooms are spent, cut them off as close to the base as possible to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
Propagation
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season by division of mature plants.
How to propagate Peace Lily by plant division
Water the Peace Lily thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.
Take the plant out of its pot and carefully divide the rhizome into several sections while ensuring that each division has at least 2 leaves and some roots.
Pot the sections into individual pots in moist free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
Water soil thoroughly and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight. Maintain the soil consistently moist thorough out but not soggy.
The sections may wilt slightly due to the repotting shock but they will recover with time.
Allow the Spathiphyllum wallisii sections adequate time to be well established before moving it to its display position and beginning routine care.
Spathiphyllum wallisii Problems Indoors
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) problems when grown indoors are mainly due to cultural faults in watering, humidity, lighting, feeding and temperature.
Spathiphyllum wallisii problems indoors include yellow leaves, drooping leaves, leaf spots, lack of blooms, brown leaf tips and edges, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems, their solutions and remedies.
Brown leaf spots
Brown spots leaf spot in Peace Lily are an indication of sun scorch marks due to exposure of the plant to direct sunlight.
Move the White Sails to a more shaded place or protect it from from direct sunlight by instaling a light curtain as it prefers dappled light (bright, indirect light) away from direct sunlight.
Yellow leaf edges
Yellow leaf edges in Peace Lily are due to lack of micronutrients like Magnesium and Iron in the soil.
Feed the White Sails monthly during the growing season with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer that contains micronutrients.
Brown leaf tips
There are three possible causes of brown leaf tips in Peace Lily. One possible cause of brown leaf tips is overwatering.
Maintain the soil moderately moist while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings but do not allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
The second possible cause of brown leaf tips in Spathiphyllum wallisii is low humidity especially where the indoor temperatures are too high.
To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The third possible cause of brown leaf tips in Spathe Flower is accumulation of salts in the soil.
Regularly flush out excess chemical deposits from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until water comes out through the drainage hole. Let the stream of water run for a few minutes.
Drooping leaves and blooms
There are two possible causes of drooping leaves and blooms in Peace Lily. One possible cause of drooping leaves and blooms is underwatering.
Thoroughly water the plant and mist the leaves immediately and it should perk up in a short time.
Thereafter, water the Spathe Flower thoroughly during the growing season until water comes out through the drainage holes and maintain the soil moderately moist by allowing the top 2-3 in. of the soil to dry out between waterings.
Cut down on watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
The second possible cause of drooping leaves and blooms in Peace Lily is that the plant is extremely root-bound which means the soil dries out a few days after watering because there isn't much soil to hold the water.
Repot the White Sails in fresh soil and a pot one size larger that the current one or divide it into several sections to propagate new plants.
No blooms
There are four possible reasons why Peace Lily is not blooming (flowering). One possible reason is too little light.
Move the Spathe Flower to a brighter spot but away from direct sunlight. Ensure that it receives bright, filtered light or instal a grow light if the natural light is inadequate.
The second possible reason why Spathiphyllum wallisii will not bloom (flower) is too low humidity.
Peace Lily requires an average room humidity to thrive. Where humidity is too low especially where the indoor temperatures are too high, it will not bloom.
To encourage blooming, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.
The third possible reason why Peace Lily is not blooming (flowering) is underwatering.
Maintain the soil moderately moist while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings but do not allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
The fourth possible reasons why Peace Lily is not blooming (flowering) is underfeeding.
Feed the White Sails monthly during the growing season with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer that contains micronutrients to promote flowering.
Plant dying
Peace Lily is dying is due to root-rot disease which is promoted by soggy soil brought about by poor drainage of the soil.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil.
Also, reduce watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.
Yellowish leaves
Yellowish leaves in Peace Lily are due to too bright light or direct sunshine. Being an understory plant, Spathe Flower prefers dappled light away from direct sunlight.
Position the White Sails in a more shaded place or shield it from direct sunlight by istalling a light curtain to filter the light.
Dry shrivelled leaves
Dry shrivelled leaves in Peace Lily are caused by too low humidity. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.
Green colored blooms
Green colored blooms in Peace Lily are due to overfeeding. Reduce the amount of fertilizer by as much as half and observe the result and also withhold feeding during the cold season.
Pests
Peace Lily is fairly resistant to pests. However, weak plants can be attacked by Mealy Bugs, Aphids, Fungus Gnats and Spider Mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it with Neem oil or Insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests.
Is Peace Lily toxic?
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) though called lily is not a true lily. Therefore, it is not as much toxic as true lilies according to ASPCA.
Spathe Flower is only mildly toxic to humans and pets. It contains Calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation, a burning sensation in the mouth, difficulty swallowing and nausea.
It does not contain toxins that are found in true lilies which can cause acute kidney failure in cats and dogs.
