Peace Lily Plant

Posts Tagged ‘Foliage’

The peace lily plant has a tropical origin as it is found on the forest floor in the rain forests of tropical America.  The leaves of the peace lily are a deep shiny green and can be up to a foot in length. The plant can be up to four feet tall.

The origin of being found on the floor of rain forests helps explain why the peace lily can cope with poor lighting found indoors. Do not place your lily in direct sun. Direct sunlight can damage the Peace Lily’s foliage. If the leaves begin to yellow, it may mean it is receiving too much sunlight. Try to put your lily 5 to 8 feet from a window. Although Peace Lilies are ideal for dark corners, they wiIl grow well in brighter light as long as they aren’t subjected to hot direct sun.

The main care requirement for your Peace Lily is water. Many recommend watering the plant once weekly. Some other gardening pros suggest that you can best check water supply by observing if the soil is moist. The soil ought to continually feel moist, but the peace lily should not sit in a tray of water. This houseplant will let you know when it needs water. The leaves will begin to droop. Allowing the foliage to droop slightly in-between watering has turned out to be successful for some. However, do not let it droop significantly. Once the plant is watered the foliage will spring back up. If you allowed it to dry out too much, some of the lower leaves may yellow and need to be removed.

This plant also loves higher humidity levels, so providing it with a nice misting a couple times a week will help the plant remain beautifully healthy.

When the plant is mature enough the first flowers appear.  The flowers are has showy white fan-like blooms consisting of large white spathe with a white or pale yellow spadix .  If the peace lily refuses to bloom, it may be rootbound, exposed to drafts, or may be in too much light. Trimming excessive foliage can also spur a blooming cycle. Also, fertilizing the plant every 2-3 months can help ensure blooming.

One interesting additional positive characteristic of the peace lily is its ability to clean the air. It has been found to be able to removing chemicals like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from the air. NASA conducted a study on houseplants and named the peace lily among the top ten plants for removing indoor chemicals and keeping the air “greener.”

One negative consideration is that it is one of many poisonous houseplants. If ingested by children it can cause mouth ulcerations, and vomiting. A small amount of leaves chewed by a dog or cat is even more dangerous and potentially lethal. If you suspect a child or animal has eaten peace lily, you should contact poison control immediately.

Thriving in lower lighted areas make this plant work almost anywhere and is one of the reasons The Peace Lily Plant is one of the most popular houseplants.