Peace lilies, with their glossy leaves and elegant white blooms, are a favourite among beginners and houseplant lovers alike. They are touted as beginner-friendly and effortlessly bring a touch of sophistication to any space.
Alas, these “easy care” plants do have a penchant for the dramatic, often succumbing to sudden drooping. Should your peace lily seemingly take a turn for the worse, Jordan Trainer, the owner of Glasgow plant shop Plantique, had shared some houseplant-saving insight. Speaking to Express.co.uk, Jordan explained how it’s likely to be a watering issue – but pause before reaching for a watering can.
How to revive a wilting or drooping peace lily
1. Bottom watering
Battling with a lacklustre peace lily? Jordan explained it could be thirsty. He said, “Peace lilies can be thirsty plants, and under-watering is the main cause of dropping leaves.”
Not to worry though, thirsty peace lilies can be solved rather simply with bottom watering. This hands-off method targets exceedingly thirsty plants by allowing them to absorb moisture from below.
All you need to do is find a container, like a shallow dish, tray or even a sink, fill it with water and let the plant hydrate from the bottom up. Remove the plant by the time the soil at the top is damp so it doesn’t become waterlogged.
The plant should come back to life before your eyes. Though if your plant has dried out thoroughly, give it time — the soil may have become hydrophobic.
Plants can become so dehydrated their soil may reach a point of rejecting liquid where conventional top-down watering methods simply lead to water slipping right through without being absorbed.
Bottom watering isn’t solely for thirsty plants; it enables roots to take in the moisture they require. Moreover, this technique promotes stronger root development by encouraging downward growth in search of moisture.
2. Repotting
Occasionally, peace lilies begin to wilt because they desperately require a fresh pot, Jordan noted.
“In some cases, the plant will droop more often if it’s needing to be re-potted as the roots have become too large for the pot, which stops the water absorption.
“If you think this is the case, you can repot your peace lily into the next size up container and use a good quality indoor potting mix. This should make watering your plant easier and allow the plant space to grow and develop further.”
3. Fixing the temperature
If peace lilies are wilting or turning black, it could also result from cold shock, though this occurs less frequently.
“This is most commonly seen in the winter months, as the temperatures drop too low, it can shock the plant, causing it to die back,” Jordan added. “In this situation, I would cut the full plant back and remove most of the affected leaves.”
He recommended: “Let it sit in a warmer spot for a couple of weeks until you see fresh growth emerge. It’s also a good idea to feed your plants with an indoor plant fertiliser on a monthly basis during the spring, summer and autumn months for faster growth.”