Houseplant Know-How: the Peace Lily

A popular and well-known indoor houseplant, the Peace Lily (or Spathiphyllum wallisii to give it its botanical name) is fairly easy to look after and will reward the dedicated plant parent with not just glossy green year round foliage, but elegant white flowers too.

And that’s not all , it will earn its position by absorbing pollutants in the air, breaking them down to use as microbes in its compost. Its air cleaning abilities have put it into NASA’s top ten houseplants, as it removes, amongst others, ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. 

Where to display in the shop 

Spathiphyllum (pronounced spath-ee-PHIL-um) can be displayed almost anywhere as long as it is not in a draught. On arrival, remove them from any protective sleeves and give them room to spread out. To keep them looking fresh and at their peak, keep the leaves free from dust and cut away any flowers that have gone over.  

Commonly asked questions about Peace Lily

Where is the best place for it at home? 

Any warm room in the house, as long as it is not in direct sunlight. They will tolerate light shade, and prefer some humidity, so these are good plants for bathrooms. 

How to care for the Peace Lily 

• Temperature: Warm to hot,13-24°C. 

• Watering: Keep soil moist but avoid overwatering.  

• Humidity: Mist leaves regularly but don’t get the flowers wet. 

• Light: Bright to semi-shade. 

• Feeding: Every two weeks between spring and autumn.  

How to bring a Peace Lily into flower  

Winter downtime is important, reduce watering and stop feeding, allowing the plant to rest. Resume feeding in early spring and ensure the plant is in a bright spot, if it’s too shady the flowers will not develop. Once it does bloom, their anthurium-style white flowers will last for weeks.  

How to care for a Peace Lily after it’s flowered 

Spathiphyllum flowers will gradually change from white to green as they mature. Once they start to turn brown, cut them off from the base of the stem, removing any yellowing leaves at the same time. Keep feeding the plant until the winter.  

Spathiphyllum as a cut flower 

The flowers on a Spathiphyllum can be cut and used in floral designs very much like an Anthurium, as they share the same long-lasting qualities. Their size makes them an interesting flower for a buttonhole for a contemporary wedding. 

Images Envato Elements 

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Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over thirty years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.