Peace Lily: Beautiful Plant in or out of Bloom

The peace lily with its long arching stems, white flowers, and dark glossy green leaves is the perfect flowering houseplant. But whether in or out of bloom, it is a very attractive plant and is often given as gifts.

Spathiphyllum is native to the rainforests of South America, frequent watering and bright light is preferred.

But this plant is tough and capable of adapting to low light and dry air conditions--making it able to live, thrive, and bloom indoors.

Indoor Air Cleaning Peace Lily

This plant is a natural defense tool against indoor air pollution. It improves the air quality by getting rid of toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde.

Many of the items that we use every day such as plastic wallpaper, carpeting and rug pads, insulation, laminated counters, veneer furniture, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, adhesives, printers and copy machines contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which are synthetic materials that "off-gas" toxins which can cause "Sick Building Syndrome." 

You cannot avoid VOCs because they are found in such a wide variety of the products in our indoor environment; however, you can take steps to make your air healthier by having a peace lily in your home. Place 2 mature plants in a 100 sq ft room to remove toxins from the air where you spend time.

Plant Care Tips

Light: Prefers moderate to bright light, but it can survive in low light (minimum light to read by).

Temperature: 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees without damage. Keep plant away from cold drafts.

Humidity: The plant likes humid environment. Mist daily or place on humidity tray.

Watering: water thoroughly, then allow the soil to drain and empty excess water; then allow the top one inch of soil to dry slightly to touch between waterings. A well-draining potting mixture should be used. This is necessary to prevent root rot which can kill your plant.

Fertilizer: All-purpose plant food during the growing season.

Propagation: Propagation can be done by seeds and division of plant.

Repotting: Repot if you see roots pushing through the drainage holes of the pot. This means the plant is pot bound and the roots have grown into a thick, tangled mass that encircles the inside of the plant pot.  When this happens, there is little or no space for further growth and the plant will suffer.  Repot with a well-draining potting mix, that contains a blend of peat moss, perlite, and compost along with some slow-release fertilizer for added nutrients.

This plant is toxic if ingested. Please keep plant out of reach of children and pets.