Peace lilies thrive in moist soil, but it’s hard to know how much water they actually take. So, you must be wondering: how often to water peace lily?
In most cases, watering your spathe flower once a week is fine. However, in more hot and dry areas, you might need to water your plant more than that, but you’ll need to make sure that the soil is well-draining to avoid overwatering.
Do you want to find out more? In today’s article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about watering your peace lily the right way, so let’s get right into it!
Identifying How Often to Water Peace Lily
You might know that peace lilies (Spathiphyllum or spathe flower) are tropical plants. That’s why they love moist soil and thrive in high humidity levels. Additionally, peace lilies usually grow in the shade in rainforests under bigger plants.
So, to grow healthy spathe flowers in your home, you’ll need to replicate these conditions for your potted lilies.
Typically, in optimum conditions, you’ll need to water your peace lilies once a week. However, not every region has similar conditions to a rainforest, and that’s where things get a little tricky.
Some areas are hot and dry, which causes the air to evaporate quickly. In this case, you’ll need to water your plants daily or every other day. In humid areas, you might need to water the plants once or twice per week.
If all that sounds too complex, there are two simple methods that can help you figure out when your peace lilies need watering: the traditional way and the modern way.
The Traditional Way to Check the Soil Moisture
To check the soil’s moisture levels, you’ll insert your finger in the soil an inch deep. You want to water your peace lilies when the surface is slightly dry to the touch while the first inch of the ground is still moist.
Waiting until the first inch of the soil becomes completely dry can be stressful to your Spathiphyllum. On the other hand, overwatering your spathe flower is also dangerous to your plant.
However, if you’re going with the traditional technique, it’s best to check the first inch of the soil daily to avoid letting your plant dry out. It’s okay to miss a day or two, but it’s best to check the moisture as frequently as possible.
Soil Moisture Meter
You can also use a soil moisture meter. It’s faster, easier to use, and, more importantly, you’ll get accurate reads when the water content is actually low.
All you need to do is stick it into the soil, and it’ll tell you how much moisture is in your pot. When the meter reads 3 or 4, that means your spathe flower needs water.
What’s the Amount of Water That a Peace Lily Needs Each Time?
Many factors can affect how much water your peace lily needs for each watering session, from the size to the amount of remaining moisture.
To put it simply, you need to water your plant generously and evenly until the excess water trickles out from the pot. This will ensure that the soil is evenly moist.
That said, it’s crucial to make sure that the soil is well-draining and the drainage holes aren’t clogged. Otherwise, you’ll risk overwatering your peace lily.
As long as your soil is draining the excess water, the spathe flower shouldn’t have any problem absorbing all the moisture in the pot.
How Can You Tell That Your Peace Lily Is Overwatered?
One of the most common signs of overwatering is the yellowing of the leaves. This usually affects the lower parts of the foliage first. However, you can also spot some leaves with brown edges.
Other common signs include:
- Soggy and wet soil
- Curling of the leaves
- Black splotches on the leaves
- Foul smell soil
- Stunted growth
- Leaves dropping
How to Save an Overwatered Peace Lily
First, you’ll need to stop watering the plant and put it in partial sunlight until the first inch of the soil feels somewhat dry.
Then, you need to improve the aeration of the soil to prevent root rot. You can do this by creating small holes in your pot mix using a pencil.
If the soil feels soggy and compact, you might need to change it to a well-draining pot mix. Additionally, it would help if you got rid of diseased and damaged leaves by trimming them gently.
How Can You Tell That Your Peace Lily Is Underwatered?
Underwatering can be extremely stressful and harmful to your peace lily. It can still survive if you act quickly enough, but prolonged droughts can be the end of your lovely plant.
Here’s a list of signs that could mean that your peace lily needs a dose of water:
- Soil that’s dry to the touch
- Wilting and drooping
- Thin leaves that curl inward
- Crispy and brittle leaf tips
- Browning of the flowers
- Foliage turning yellow
- Falling leaves and flowers
- Stunted growth
How to Save an Underwatered Peace Lily
These signs all seem alarming, but there’s no need to worry; You can still save your lovely lily!
While you might think that dumping a generous amount of water can save the day, it actually can harm the plant since you’ll be overloading the soil.
The right thing to do is to slowly water the plant and evenly saturate the soil until the water flows from the drainage holes. It’s not best to pour it all at once. Instead, you should pour a small amount of water and wait a while before pouring more.
You’ll also need to remove any damaged or diseased leaves. However, don’t remove a whole leaf if the tip is the only part affected. You can simply trim the damaged part of the leaf.
Other Useful Tips On Watering Peace Lilies
Do you still have a question regarding how often to water peace lily? Check out our list of the most common questions regarding this topic:
Is tap water harmful to a peace lily?
While peace lilies are tough plants, they can still be slightly sensitive to chemicals that are found in tap water, such as chlorine and fluoride.
In most cases, tap water won’t harm the plant. However, if you live in an area where the tap water is highly chlorinated, that might be an issue. In this case, using filtered water or unchlorinated water can be your best bet.
Do I need to water peace lilies in winter?
Yes! Peace lilies don’t go through dormancy in winter. That said, their growth rate becomes significantly lower, so they won’t need as much water as they need in the summer.
Can the water content in the air affect a peace lily?
Just like how peace lilies require enough water in their soil, they also need enough water in the surrounding air. After all, they’re tropical plants!
The traditional way of maintaining this moisture level is by misting the plant on hot days. Meanwhile, the easiest and most efficient way is to use a humidifier and aim for 50% or higher.
The Takeaway
Figuring out how often to water peace lily shouldn’t be a hassle. In most climates, watering peace lily once a week is enough. However, in more hot and drought areas, you may need to water your spathe flower daily or every other day.
The most common way to tell if your potted peace lily needs a dose of water is by feeling the first inch of the soil with your finger. You basically need to water your plant when the surface is dry, and the first inch of the potting mix is somewhat moist.
Back to Garden And Sunshine home page
Read more from our peace lily category