Peace lilies tend to be easy houseplants to care for, but are quite sensitive to light so it is important to know the best place to keep them in your home. It may seem obvious to keep plants next to a window as they need sunlight, but the gardening experts at Fig and Bloom has shared this can actually damage peace lilies.
They said: “Try to keep them away from windows or strong airflow and provide them with dispersed natural light. The key here is to think bright but indirect [light] and, preferably, in morning sun as opposed to searing midday or afternoon rays.” In the wild, peace lilies grow on the floors of tropical forests, which means they sit in the shade of tall trees.
If you place a peace lily on a windowsill then the direct sunlight can burn their leaves and dry them out quickly, which will result in a wilting plant with brown crispy flowers.
Instead, keep peace lilies about 180cm away from a window, and instead place it on a table or counter nearby. Make sure the window you place the peace lily near has curtains or blinds covering it, and then occasionally turn the plant so each side has a chance to soak in sunlight.
It should also be noted that south and west-facing windows in your home will get a lot of afternoon sunlight, which tends to be stronger and more intense.
Peace lilies will do better if you place them in a room with a north or east-facing window as they get more morning light, which is much gentler for the plant.
Taking a few seconds to put peace lilies in the correct spot in your home will give it the best chance to stay healthy in summer and keep it flowering for much longer.
Peace lilies do best in rooms that stay consistently warm, such as living rooms or bedrooms, because they are tropical plants that are sensitive to cold drafts and temperature fluctuations.
Bathrooms can also be a great spot for peace lilies, as long as there is a window nearby, as the humidity also mimics their natural tropical environment.
The expert said: “Peace lilies love high-humidity environments. Rooms or areas within your home that won’t see temperatures below 16C are where these plants want to stay.”
You can also keep peace lilies in a kitchen if you wish, but be careful not to have them next to a fruit bowl as most fruit produce a substance called ethylene gas that can shorten their lifespan.