From the time most houseplants reveal symptoms of neglect, it is already too late to rescue them. Not the peace lily (spathyphyllum). You can revive a totally collapsed peace lily like nothing happened. But that doesn’t mean the plant looks tough and rugged. It blooms with beautiful white bract flowers in the spring. Additionally, peace lilies flourish in low light, nearly unheard of for flowering houseplants. Along with the peace lily made NASA’s record of top-10 houseplants for efficiency in removing airborne toxins. Perhaps it’s time to give peace a chance.

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The peace lily’s popularity is no accident. Caring for this particular plant is really simple, because it thrives in ordinary indoor temperatures, and when it needs water, it sags a little, then revives quickly after being tended to.

Additionally, it is generally pest free, and it favors mild conditions which are on the dim side compared with a number of different houseplants, which also means it is a great plant for bedrooms, offices and hospital rooms. If that is not enough, in addition, it blooms with beautiful white bracts that continue from a few weeks to 2 months in the spring. Well-cared-for plants may bloom again in the autumn too.

Note: Most peace lilies are offered when in bloom, and replicating the first blooms is slightly hard. Many manufacturers give their peace lilies a hormone called GA3 which is not readily available to the general public. Fertilize throughout the growing season and anticipate your blooms for somewhat smaller and maybe somewhat less numerous.

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Extra-large versions of the peace lily look fantastic in high planters. However, with leaves this size, you ought to dedicate more time to dusting and maintaining the leaves.

The peace lily rids the air of the VOC benzene, a carcinogen found in paints, furniture wax and polishes. Additionally, it sucks up acetone, which can be emitted by electronic equipment, adhesives and specific cleaners.

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Peace lilies prefer shade with some indirect light. A spot 5 to 7 feet away from a south- or west-facing window must offer the right conditions.

Yellowing leaves, brown stripes or spots may be signals that the plant is getting too much light; if those occur, move your plant further from the window or try a fresh, less-sunny location.

If the plant leaves are still brown in the color, they might need some misting. Peace lilies do well under fluorescent light without any sunlight in any way, though normally they need 16 hours beneath the lights every day.

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Should you find your peace lily’s leaves entirely limp as you forgot to water for a little while, don’t despair — imagining the plant hasn’t been slitting in its wilted state for days. Water and spritz straight away, and your peace lily should revive within several hours.

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Repotting. Repot your peace lily once the roots reveal or when it has to be watered every few days. You ought to repot it every year or two at most, if at all.

To check for a severely root-bound pot, which would necessitate repotting, hold the plant and slide off the pot to determine whether the roots are tightly packed together. If that’s the case, the plant can use fresh soil and much more space. Peace lilies bloom better when somewhat root bound. So if blooms are a priority, repot only if the leaves turn yellow or the plant seems to need watering more than once a week.

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Peace lilies generally have sensitive roots, so that they tend to root rot, normally a result of overwatering and bad drainage.

How to diagnose peace lily root rot. If your plant is wilted and watering does not revive it, or watering revives only a number of the plant, then it is very likely that root rot has set in. Based on the state of the rust, you could have the ability to fix the plant or part of it.

Immediately remove the plant from its pot and examine the roots. Cut away all roots that seem rotten or look dead differently. Wash old soil from the roots and repot the plant from potting mix made from equal parts soil, peat moss and sand. Review the watering needs of plant and eliminate watering the newly repotted plant until the soil is dry.

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Propagating the peace lily. Since having more peace lilies means cleaner air, making new plants is a good idea. And luckily the devision method is rather easy. Separate the crowns, which are clusters of 2 or more leaves climbing individually from the main plant, or pulse, then repot. This process is most efficient when done during repotting from the spring. Here are the steps.
Yank on the kettle from the plant and put the bare plant flat on any surface outdoors, or on a sheet of paper on a counter top. Examine the plant to find fresh crowns.Working at the top to bottom, gently pry apart the roots that appear to belong to the crown. You may very likely break some roots in this process, which may take as long as 30 minutes. Some people would rather have a chance and just cut the roots down the center between the plants.A young plant ought to be planted in a 6-inch kettle, hence the roots get the compact area that they need.To minimize shock, utilize exactly the same potting mix as you used from the first pot. Young plants may need staking and may wilt, however they ought to recover by the second week.The roots can be fragile, particularly on young plants. Refrain from fertilizing for 3 months, because it can burn the fresh roots.

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Unlike a lot of houseplants, peace lilies do not enter a dormant stage throughout winter. Therefore, whilst compost is not necessary and water needs might be somewhat less in winter, optimum peace lily care stays pretty much the same year round.

The typical peace lily may grow to 24 to 40 inches; deluxe plants may grow to 32 to 50 inches.

How to care for peace lily:

Illness: A constant temperature between about 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is best. Shield the plant from cold, drafts and drastic fluctuations in temperature. It will not survive temperatures below 45 degrees.

Light: Prefers medium, indirect sunlight. A spot 6 to 8 feet away from a window helps keep light levels consistent as well. Yellow leaves indicate too much light. Brown spots and streaks indicate scorching from sunlight. Peace lilies do good under fluorescent lighting.

Water: Peace lilies like to be thoroughly watered but require excellent drainage and a chance to dry out between waterings. The plant will droop somewhat when thirsty, telling you when it needs a drink. Pay attention to how many times it takes for your own plant to start sagging, and intend to water one day prior. Watering about once a week and spraying leaves with water throughout the summer should keep your peace lily hydrated. Water less in winter. Peace lilies may be allergic to chlorine, so in the event that you want to pamper your plant, then utilize chlorine-free water.

Drainage: Good drainage is highly important, because peace lilies are susceptible to root rot. Be sure the plant dries out between waterings and that the container itself has great drainage.

Soil: Use a standard houseplant potting soil. For best results use 50 percent Miracle Grow Moisture Control potting mix, 20 percent peat, 20 percent Perlite and 10 percent orchid potting medium, which contains charcoal.

Feeding: To find the best blooms, feed monthly in spring and summer, rather using an organic fertilizer (peace lilies are sensitive to chemical fertilizers) to help your plant bloom. If you choose to try a general houseplant fertilizer (20-20-20) utilize it at one-quarter of the recommended strength. Green blooms indicate overfertilization. Fertilize only when the soil is moist; fertilizer is unnecessary in the winter.

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