Caring for Peace Lily Plants
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Cerwin
Jul 28, 2010, 10:38:04 AM7/28/10
to PLANTS AND FLOWERS
Caring for Peace Lily Plants
Caring for Peace Lily Plants - Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum clevelandii)
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum Clevelandii
The Peace Lily has become one of the most favored houseplants of our
day. And it's no wonder. Perhaps no other commonly grown interior
plant offers so much beauty in return for so little. It readily
survives in very low light situations, it produces an abundance of
glossy, dark green foliage, and it regularly adorns itself with
dramatic white blossoms. With the current surge in popularity of these
specimens, caring for peace lily plants is a timely topic.
Peace Lilies, botanically known as Spathiphyllum, are members of the
Aroid family, which includes such other familiar flowers and plants as
Anthurium, Calla, Philodendron, Dieffenbachia, and Chinese Evergreen.
Most of the Aroids are indigenous to the warm and shady forest floors
of the tropics. Thus, they are well-adapted to the low light levels
and comfortable room temperatures found in most homes. And even among
shade-loving Aroids, Peace Lilies are most tolerant of reduced light.
They'll even flourish under the completely artificial flourescent
lighting commonly found in offices and commercial spaces, although
their preference is for bright, filtered, natural light. This makes
caring for Peace Lily plants relatively easy.
As far as watering is concerned, Peace Lilies prefer an evenly moist
soil. Most people find that they can water their plants once a week,
depending of course on light and temperature conditions. At lower
light levels or cooler temperatures, any plant will use less water
than when it is more actively growing. Use room temperature water.
Soil should never be soggy, and plants should never stand in a saucer
filled with water. Peace Lilies should also never be allowed to
completely dry out, which will result in wilting of the plant, death
of the tiny root hairs which conduct water to the plant, and
subsequent yellowing or browning of the leaf edges. Peace Lilies do
exhibit a sensitivity to chlorine in the water, so in metropolitan
areas where it may be heavily chlorinated, it's best to allow the
water to stand overnight to allow the chlorine to dissipate before
watering the plants.
Fertilizing is another important factor in caring for Peace Lily
plants. The soil in any given container will become depleted of
nutrients over time as the plant grows. So it's a good idea to help
replenish it by feeding the plant once a month or so, during the
growing season, with any standard house plant fertilizer, such as
20-20-20, at one-quarter the recommended dilution rate. The delicate
root hairs as well as the edges of a Peace Lily's leaves can burn if
the fertilizer is too strong. Repot the plant every year or two in a
rich soil consisting of equal parts of loam, peat moss, and sand.
Peace Lilies are rather resistant to most insect pests. An occasional
infestation of mealy bugs may show up, and can be easily treated by
wiping with rubbing alcohol and spraying with insecticidal soap.
Because these plants have broad evergreen leaves, they benefit from
having their foliage regularly wiped with a damp sponge to remove
dust.
It's interesting to note that in caring for Peace Lily plants, we are
also helping them to care for us! Spathiphyllums were among the top
ten plants in the Clean Air Study conducted by NASA, and were shown to
be highly effective at removing formaldehyde, benzine, and carbon
monoxide from the air, thus fighting "Sick Building Syndrome".
Peace Lilies have been extensively hybridized in recent years, so that
now we have many more choices among the varieties. "Flower Power" is a
new introduction which, as its name suggests, is a prolific bloomer.
"Sensation" is a huge plant, potentially becoming 6 feet or more
across, with bold, dark green, ribbed foliage; quite effective in
interiorscaping. "Domino" is a variegated type, with irregular white
splashes mottling its thickened leaves. Check with your local
professional florist for these and other varieties, and bring home a
breath of fresh air, courtesy of the durable Peace Lily.
Caring for Peace Lily Plants - Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum clevelandii)
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum Clevelandii
The Peace Lily has become one of the most favored houseplants of our
day. And it's no wonder. Perhaps no other commonly grown interior
plant offers so much beauty in return for so little. It readily
survives in very low light situations, it produces an abundance of
glossy, dark green foliage, and it regularly adorns itself with
dramatic white blossoms. With the current surge in popularity of these
specimens, caring for peace lily plants is a timely topic.
Peace Lilies, botanically known as Spathiphyllum, are members of the
Aroid family, which includes such other familiar flowers and plants as
Anthurium, Calla, Philodendron, Dieffenbachia, and Chinese Evergreen.
Most of the Aroids are indigenous to the warm and shady forest floors
of the tropics. Thus, they are well-adapted to the low light levels
and comfortable room temperatures found in most homes. And even among
shade-loving Aroids, Peace Lilies are most tolerant of reduced light.
They'll even flourish under the completely artificial flourescent
lighting commonly found in offices and commercial spaces, although
their preference is for bright, filtered, natural light. This makes
caring for Peace Lily plants relatively easy.
As far as watering is concerned, Peace Lilies prefer an evenly moist
soil. Most people find that they can water their plants once a week,
depending of course on light and temperature conditions. At lower
light levels or cooler temperatures, any plant will use less water
than when it is more actively growing. Use room temperature water.
Soil should never be soggy, and plants should never stand in a saucer
filled with water. Peace Lilies should also never be allowed to
completely dry out, which will result in wilting of the plant, death
of the tiny root hairs which conduct water to the plant, and
subsequent yellowing or browning of the leaf edges. Peace Lilies do
exhibit a sensitivity to chlorine in the water, so in metropolitan
areas where it may be heavily chlorinated, it's best to allow the
water to stand overnight to allow the chlorine to dissipate before
watering the plants.
Fertilizing is another important factor in caring for Peace Lily
plants. The soil in any given container will become depleted of
nutrients over time as the plant grows. So it's a good idea to help
replenish it by feeding the plant once a month or so, during the
growing season, with any standard house plant fertilizer, such as
20-20-20, at one-quarter the recommended dilution rate. The delicate
root hairs as well as the edges of a Peace Lily's leaves can burn if
the fertilizer is too strong. Repot the plant every year or two in a
rich soil consisting of equal parts of loam, peat moss, and sand.
Peace Lilies are rather resistant to most insect pests. An occasional
infestation of mealy bugs may show up, and can be easily treated by
wiping with rubbing alcohol and spraying with insecticidal soap.
Because these plants have broad evergreen leaves, they benefit from
having their foliage regularly wiped with a damp sponge to remove
dust.
It's interesting to note that in caring for Peace Lily plants, we are
also helping them to care for us! Spathiphyllums were among the top
ten plants in the Clean Air Study conducted by NASA, and were shown to
be highly effective at removing formaldehyde, benzine, and carbon
monoxide from the air, thus fighting "Sick Building Syndrome".
Peace Lilies have been extensively hybridized in recent years, so that
now we have many more choices among the varieties. "Flower Power" is a
new introduction which, as its name suggests, is a prolific bloomer.
"Sensation" is a huge plant, potentially becoming 6 feet or more
across, with bold, dark green, ribbed foliage; quite effective in
interiorscaping. "Domino" is a variegated type, with irregular white
splashes mottling its thickened leaves. Check with your local
professional florist for these and other varieties, and bring home a
breath of fresh air, courtesy of the durable Peace Lily.
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