Peace Lily Care: Watering, Light and Brown Tips

Peace lily is the common name for Spathiphyllum plants. The pale hood is a spathe surrounding a flower-bearing spike, rather than a lily flower. These plants prefer warm, sheltered indoor conditions.

Light and position

Choose filtered or indirect light. Deep shade may keep foliage alive but reduce flowering; strong direct sun can scorch leaves. If your plant has stopped making spathes, compare its light before reaching for fertiliser.

Water by checking the pot

Keep the mix lightly moist, then let the upper layer begin to dry before watering thoroughly. Empty the saucer. A wilt can mean a dry root ball or roots damaged by wet mix, so feel the mix before acting; a fixed weekly drink misses that distinction.

Soil, pot and growth

Choose a pot with holes and a mix that drains while retaining some moisture. Repot when roots have crowded the container or the mix no longer wets evenly. Keep it away from cold glass and draughts.

If something looks wrong

For brown tips, check whether the root ball repeatedly dries, whether the room air is very dry and whether fertiliser has built up. Yellow leaves with wet mix call for a drainage check; inspect older leaves and new growth before assigning one cause.

Safety and the next check

Spathiphyllum contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals if chewed. Keep it away from pets and children and seek veterinary advice after exposure. It is not a true lily, but that name does not make chewing safe.

Keep a short record of when you checked the mix, watered and moved the plant. Compare new growth with your notes before making another change.

Related LeafLovers guides

• Why Is My Plant Drooping?
• Brown Tips on Houseplants