Hydroponics is growing into a trend that might soon overtake traditional soil-based planting methods. Among many plants, Peace Lilies have proved to do well when planted in the water. How long can a Peace Lily live in water, though?
It’s expected that Peace Lilies live in water for around three to five years. That’s similar to the lifespan of their potted counterparts. What matters in both cases is the care routine that you follow. If you properly place the plant in water, you might be able to extend its life for more than five years.
In this article, we’ll highlight the common lifespan of Peace Lilies and how to make them last longer in water. Read on to learn how to make the best of this elegant plant.
How Long Do Peace Lilies Live in Water?
Technically speaking, plant parts have a lifespan, but the plant as a whole can live forever. In other words, some parts of the plant, like flowers and leaves, will likely whither over time.
For instance, Peace Lilies bloom in spring and possibly in autumn. Their flowers, also known as spathes, will last for around a month and then start drying up. At this point, you can trim off the flowers to keep the neat look of the plant and encourage growth.
However, you can extend the life of the mother plant through propagation. This way you get to have more pots from the same plant and make it live longer.
After all, the propagated plants hold the same genes as the original ones, so they’re still the same plant. Luckily, Peace Lilies can be propagated by division, so with proper care, they can live forever.
How to Make a Peace Lily Live Longer in Water?
Now that you’re more confident about transferring your Peace Lily to water, let’s see how to do it right. Here are some tips to extend the life of your Peace Lily in water:
1. Properly Transfer the Plant to Water
A good start can make all the difference. Follow the following steps to safely transfer your Peace Lily to water.
Remove from Soil
First, you’ll need to free the roots from the soil around them. After removing the plant from the pot, try to detangle the roots using two forks.
This process will take more time if you’ve got a bigger Peace Lily. In case the soil is dry, you might find it easier to use a toothbrush when removing it.
Don’t forget to place some newspaper underneath as the process is rather messy.
Wash the Roots
After removing most of the soil with a fork, it’s time to give those roots a rinse in the kitchen sink.
When you’re done with rinsing, fill a deep bowl with water and dip the roots repeatedly to release more dirt.
You shouldn’t expect to release all the dirt. It’ll naturally fall off as you change the water in the future.
Trim Roots
A root trim will encourage new growth. Added to that, new roots will adapt better to water.
You can either partly trim the roots or cut them to small nubs for a fresh start.
Place in Jars
Now, it’s time to fill the jar with water. Make sure the water level isn’t higher than the base of the plant, so it won’t rot.
You can use a plastic stopper to keep the stems above water level. Alternatively, a rubber band around the stems and a stick inserted in between will do the job.
Change the Water
Every now and then you’ll need to change the water in the jar to help reduce any possibility of rot.
This way you’ll also get a chance to trim dead roots, dry flowers, and yellow leaves. Don’t worry, trimming these parts will encourage new growth.
2. Growing Conditions
Here are the conditions your peace lily needs to thrive in water.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers are the most important addition your Peace Lily needs in water. You can use store-bought plant food, like Miracle-Gro.
A more sustainable option would be to rely on natural fertilizers from fish waste in a tank. You’ll realize that the more waste your fish produce, the faster your Peace Lily grows.
Light
Peace Lilies need to be placed in a well-lit room. By this, we mean indirect sunlight or artificial light. You need to avoid sunny spots or the leaves will get burnt and eventually fall off.
Humidity
All tropical plants including aroids, like Peace Lily, prefer humid conditions like those in your bathroom. You can still place it anywhere at home, as long as it isn’t extremely dry.
Temperatures
Peace Lilies prefer temperatures ranging from 68 to 85°F. Try to avoid placing them in temperatures lower than 60°F as it might cause serious damage.
3. Propagation
Propagating Peace Lilies is simpler than you might think. However, you can’t propagate them from leaf cuttings.
All you need to do is to remove the plant from its pot and clean the roots. You want to separate each group of leaves with a crown of their own.
Then, gently divide the plant into groups by untangling the roots. If everything is clumped into one piece, use a sterilized knife to cut through. This way you’ll avoid possible infection of the plant.
It’s best to propagate Peace Lilies during the warmer season since low temperatures tend to slow plant growth.
Why Grow Your Peace Lily in Water?
Although a soil mix can provide optimum nutrition to plants, there are instances when water can make a better environment for your Peace Lilies. Here’s why you might choose water over the soil.
1. Healthier Roots
Interestingly, a peace lily can last longer in water, because you get to avoid the common root rot issues. Rotting is common in soil mixes that don’t drain efficiently.
When the roots get damaged, you’ll realize that the leaves are drooping or changing in color.
2. Faster Growth
As a result of a healthier root system, many plant enthusiasts have realized that their Peace Lillies have greener leaves and more flowers when transferred to the water.
Even if you eventually plan to transfer newly-propagated plants to a pot, you can initially keep the small divisions in water to grow their roots faster.
3. Better Aesthetics
Some people enjoy viewing the mesh of roots in the water. Indeed, the plant would look like it’s flying, especially if you choose hanging planters.
If you don’t like how exposed roots look, you can add pebbles to cover them in the vessel.
4. Helpful in Aquariums
Instead of keeping your Peace Lily in a typical glass jar, why not add more interest to an aquarium? Your fish will thank you for the clean water as the plant reduces algae growth.
Added to that, the roots act as a shelter for tiny fish and hatching snails. Periodically, you’ll need to reduce the size of the Peace Lily so that it won’t disturb the fish.
Here’s how you can add a Peace Lily to an aquarium with simple tools.
Wrap Up
Finally, how long can a Peace Lily live in water?
Peace Lilies have the same life expectancy both in water and soil, which ranges between three to five years. However, growing the plant in water can help the roots avoid rot and absorb nutrients more easily.
That’s why many plant enthusiasts report that their Peace Lilies have shown impressive growth after transferring them to water.
After all, why not do an experiment of your own? You can easily divide your plant between a jar and a pot and see if the Peace Lily in water lives longer.
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