Peace Lily Spathiphyllum wallisii

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

A graceful tropical with glossy, deep-green leaves and elegant white spathes that look like furled flags. Famously tolerant of low light and forgiving of neglect, it also dramatically droops when thirsty — a built-in thirst signal that makes it one of the most beginner-friendly flowering houseplants.

Light

Peace Lily is one of the few flowering houseplants that genuinely tolerates low light, making it a go-to for north-facing rooms and offices lit mostly by overhead fixtures. It survives in shade but blooms best in medium to bright indirect light — a few feet back from an east or north window is ideal. Avoid direct sun through glass, which scorches the leaves with pale, crispy patches and washes out their deep color. If yours produces lush foliage but never flowers, gently moving it to a brighter spot is almost always the answer. Leaves that look faded or yellow-green often mean the spot is too bright.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, soaking thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. In most homes that's roughly weekly in spring and summer and every 10–14 days in winter — but let the plant guide you. Peace Lily is unusually communicative: when it gets too dry the whole plant dramatically droops and wilts, then springs back within hours of a good drink. Don't wait for that wilt every time, though; repeated bone-dry episodes brown the leaf tips. It dislikes soggy soil far more than the occasional dry spell.

Soil & potting

Use a rich but well-draining potting mix — a quality houseplant or aroid mix loosened with a few handfuls of perlite keeps it airy while still holding the steady moisture this plant likes. A little coco coir or peat helps retain just enough water between drinks. Always choose a pot with drainage holes; standing water rots the roots fast. Repot every 1–2 years in spring when roots crowd the pot or you see them circling the surface, moving up just one size — Peace Lily actually blooms more freely when slightly root-bound, so don't over-pot.

Humidity & temperature

Native to humid rainforest floors, Peace Lily appreciates moisture in the air and shows dry conditions as brown leaf tips. Aim for 40% humidity or higher — group it with other plants, set it on a pebble tray, or run a small humidifier in dry winter rooms. Keep it between 65–80°F; growth slows below 60°F and cold damage appears below about 50°F. Protect it from cold drafts, air-conditioning blasts, and hot heating vents, all of which stress the foliage and brown the edges.

Fertilizing

Peace Lily is a light feeder. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half strength every 6–8 weeks during spring and summer, and stop entirely in fall and winter. Too much fertilizer is a common cause of brown leaf tips and a reluctance to bloom — when in doubt, feed less. If you see a crusty white build-up on the soil surface, flush the pot with plain water to clear excess salts, then ease back on feeding.

Pruning & maintenance

Pruning is minimal. Snip spent flower stalks all the way down at the base once the white spathe fades to green and then brown, using clean scissors. Remove yellowing or browning leaves at the base too, which keeps the plant tidy and directs energy into new growth. If brown tips bother you, trim them following the leaf's natural shape rather than cutting straight across. Wipe the broad leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to clear dust and keep them photosynthesizing efficiently.

Propagation

Propagate by division, not stem cuttings — Peace Lily grows in clumps of crowns rather than from vining nodes. At repotting time, gently slide the plant out, tease the root ball apart, and separate sections that each have several leaves and a healthy share of roots. Pot each division into fresh, well-draining mix, water in, and keep it warm and out of direct sun while it settles. Spring is the ideal time, when the plant has energy to recover and push new growth.

Common problems

Brown leaf tipsUsually dry air, inconsistent watering, or too much fertilizer.→Drooping leavesMost often thirst — but soggy roots can cause it too.→

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Through the year

Spring

Growth resumes — return to weekly watering, start light feeding, divide or repot if the plant is crowded, and watch for the first spathes.

Summer

Peak season. Water when the top inch dries, feed lightly every several weeks, and enjoy the main flush of white blooms.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch the time between waterings and stop fertilizing as flowering tapers off.

Winter

Near-dormant. Water sparingly, skip fertilizer, and keep it away from cold drafts and dry heat vents that brown the tips.

Recommended supplies for Peace Lily

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