A long-time favourite of plant store owners and growers, the Peace Lily (or Spathiphyllum) finally got the recognition it deserves from the general public after NASA put it on its list of “Top Ten Household Air Cleaning Plants.”
This tropical plant breaks down and neutralizes toxic gases like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide inside its pores.
While we all appreciate cleaner, oxygenated air, it’s also the easy Peace Lily care, resiliency and forgiving nature that makes them such popular house plants. One of the great advantages in caring for the Peace Lily is the fact that it sags a bit when it needs water.
The peace lily is one of the best flowers to grow in an apartment because it survives surprisingly well with low levels of light, giving it the nickname “Closet Plant.” In fact, direct sunlight damages the peace lily’s foliage, so keep this plant within five to eight feet of a window for best results.
The peace lily does require heavy watering, but the good thing is that you’ll know the plant is thirsty when the leaves begin to droop.
Peace Lily Care Tips
Placement: Consider putting the plant in a room that’s north or west facing instead.Keeping the Peace Lily six to eight feet away from a window helps keep light levels consistent as well.
Light: Prefers medium, indirect sunlight. Yellow leaves indicate the Peace Lily is getting too much light. Brown spot and streaks indicate direct sun rays have reached the plant and scorched it. Peace Lilies do fine under florescent lights and some have been known to thrive in rooms with no windows at all!
Temperature: The Peace Lily makes a great house plant because it thrives in the indoor temperatures people enjoy. A temperature range of 65°F to 80°F keep the plant happy.
Fertilizer: fertilize during the spring and summer growing season.
Water: water at least once a week and spritz the leaves with soft or distilled water throughout the summer growing season. Water plant less in winter.
