Peace lilies are not difficult to care for as long as you follow some simple instructions. However, if you water them too much or too little, your plants will suffer greatly and may even contract deadly diseases.
So, how can you tell whether you’re watering too much, too little, or just right?
General Rule: Water Weekly
When you first bring your peace lily plant home, water it once a week. This is regardless of your location, season, or environment.
However, the ideal watering schedule is influenced by the location of your plant, the season, and the environment. You may need to adjust the schedule.
If your peace lily is drooping or turning yellow and the soil is soggy, it is likely that the plant was overwatered. Alter your regimen and water it less frequently.
Water your plant more frequently if its leaves are droopy or crispy brown while the soil is dry.
Wait Until It Starts Drooping
Waiting for your plant to droop slightly is one way to tell when it needs to be watered. When you water your peace lily, it will bounce straight back.
Remember that plants can always bounce back if they are underwatered, but they may not always rebound if they are overwatered. Overwatering can cause root rot, which most plants cannot recover from.
Once you’ve determined how long it takes for your plant to begin drooping, subtract 1 to 2 days and water it according to that schedule.
Another simple method is to put your finger into the soil and ensure that it is dry to about one inch deep.
Continue to Water in the Winter
Peace lilies do not go dormant in the winter and can bloom throughout the year. However, development slows down during the winter due to fewer hours of light and lower light intensity.
Cooler average temperatures reduce evaporation and water loss from the leaves, lowering water consumption.
Artificial heat sources utilized inside during the winter, on the other hand, can cause the plant to dry up much faster than usual.
If this is the case, you should use the aforementioned technique to retest how frequently you should water the plant.
Use Non-Chlorinated Water
Peace lilies can be watered easily with tap water in certain areas. People who reside in areas where the tap water is overly chlorinated should avoid watering directly from the faucet since the plants are sensitive to chlorine.
There is an easy method to remove chlorine from tap water, so you don’t have to purchase filtered or bottled water for your plants.
Because chlorine gas weighs less than air at normal temperatures, it will naturally evaporate without boiling. Pour the chlorinated tap water into a container and set it aside for 24 hours to allow it to evaporate naturally. You can speed up the chlorine elimination process by boiling the water.
The chlorine can also be removed using a Brita filter or any other faucet filter.
How to Water
Water your peace lily thoroughly to ensure that all the soil has been evenly hydrated and the water has reached the roots. Allow all extra water to run out the bottom of the container after thoroughly soaking your peace lily.
Watering deeply encourages healthy root growth. As long as the water can drain, there is no danger of root rot.
When you water too little, only the top inch or two of the potting soil gets wet, leaving the remainder dry and causing your peace lily to droop.
So, watering more deeply and less frequently is always ideal for plants.
Additional Tips
The peace lily is a tropical plant that thrives in hot climates. Rainwater in these areas is typically much warmer than the tap water in your home.
Because peace lily roots are sensitive to low temperatures, they may feel some mild shock when irrigated with cold water.
It’s best to let the water sit until it reaches room temperature before watering your lilies.
Use Pots with Drainage Holes
While peace lily roots enjoy uniformly wet soil, they cannot withstand soggy, saturated soil, thus, they must be planted in pots with drainage holes at the base to let excess water drain.
Watering your peace lily until the excess water flows out the bottom of the container is a fantastic way to ensure that it receives adequate water.
Without drainage holes, extra water will pool around the roots of your peace lily. This will cause the plant to droop and turn yellow. Ultimately, the plant might begin to suffer from root rot and it will be difficult to salvage the plant at this point.
Excess water may still collect around the roots if the drainage holes become plugged with compacted soil or roots. If the water is draining slowly, check the drainage holes to verify that water can drain freely.
If you are worried about draining water damaging your home, use saucers, trays, or elegant outdoor pots to keep water from escaping.
