How To Repot Peace Lily Plants
Spathiphyllum spp
Peace Lily Plant Care and Tips
During this season when the garden beds are at rest, although I’m just yearning to get outside again and get my hands dirty in springtime’s warming soil and look for earthworms diligently composting the soil, I also relish the time I get tending to my indoor plants; a few of which are Peace Lilys (Spathiphyllum spp.), one of the easiest houseplants anyone can keep alive. I can spread old newspaper over the kitchen table and repot them while gazing at the garden beds in their winter slumber.
As with most plants, peace lilies need to be repotted annually to ensure they continue thriving and producing those graceful, beautiful blooms that they are known for. There are, however, a few things to remember to obtain optimal results when repotting. After your plant stops blooming in the spring is the ideal time to repot your peace lily. Doing so encourages the plant to produce new energy from the nutrients in fresh soil into new growth, including a fresh batch of blooms.
When repotting a peace lily, or any indoor plant for that matter, you should select a planter that’s just a few inches wider than the current pot. Peace lilies love soil that offers moisture and drainage, so choose something with peat moss or coco coir. If you’re using a standard potting mix, add perlite or vermiculite for aeration. Trim off dead flowers or older leaves to clean up your plant’s appearance and help it direct energy toward new growth.
The actual repotting process is similar to how you’d repot any other plant, including loosening the root ball, possibly trimming your peace lily’s roots if need be, and then gently tamping down the soil securely around the plant once it’s in a new pot.
Make sure the plant rests at the same depth as it was in the original pot. This ensures the plant won’t tip over because it’s not planted deep enough and prevents it from sitting in wet soil.
Symptoms that indicate your peace lily is unhealthy and may need to be repotted include leaves that are yellow or brown, droopy, or wilted and sagging. Another obvious sign is when you see roots either growing out of the drainage holes or popping up above the topsoil. This means the plant is root-bound and should be repotted immediately.
Signs that may require more careful observation include stunted growth which is when your plant rarely produces new leaves or flowers, and if they are, the new growth is small compared to what your peace lily previously grew. The soil’s health also may require repotting. Your plant may be experiencing root rot, which calls for fresh soil and some root care and thinning, or overly compacted soil, which would require a new type of potting mix entirely.
After repotting, water the plant thoroughly to help it recover from any stress. After that, follow the best method for watering peace lilies and give it a drink when the top 2 inches of soil is dry. Keep the plant in a shadier spot than usual for the first week before moving it to a spot with indirect sunlight. For about six weeks, hold off on fertilizing your plant. Keep in mind that your plant may look wilted for a week or two after transplanting before it bounces back, so have some patience.
After all, peace lilies are easy to grow and may live for twenty years or more if properly cared for. They are moderate growers and will reach maturity in around three years. These easy-growing indoor plants do best in low light.
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