Peace lilies are typically known to be quite low-maintenance houseplants, but at times can be a little fussy.
Anastasia Borisevich, plant expert for the Plantum app, told Express.co.uk that the most common reasons a peace lily needs reviving are dry air and under watering. This can then cause their leaves to turn yellow.
To adjust the watering schedule for a peace lily, the expert advised paying attention to the temperature and soil moisture level.
She said: “Avoid letting the soil become too dry. Water your peace lily once the topsoil dries out by around one to 2cm, which should be around two times a week”.
After, owners should remove excess water from the pot saucer to avoid root rot.
Water the plant three times a week if the indoor temperature rises. It is important to make sure the soil is “always moist but not soggy”.
The houseplant pro noted that the peace lily is a tropical plant that “thrives in high humidity”, so “daily misting is a must” if owners want their indoor plant to do their very best.
If humidity is below 30 to 40 percent, do it several times a day. Use a fine mist sprayer to create a “fog” around the plant and moisturise its leaves evenly.
Anastasia said: “Use soft, filtered, room-temperature water or water that has had one to two days to settle for watering and misting your plant.”
Once or twice a week it is recommended to use a wooden stick to aerate and pierce the topsoil. Anastasia explained: “This way, you’ll ensure that it dries off evenly, the roots get properly supplied with oxygen, and the medium isn’t too clumped together.”
When it comes to the room temperature, make sure it is around 19 to 26°C and don’t put the pot near heating appliances because they lower humidity.
The expert also suggested that the problem could also stem from the potting mix. It’s best to repot store-bought plants a few weeks after purchase since their soil typically contains excess fertilisers and growth stimulants.
She explained that by removing the plant from the pot while the soil is still dry, it will “make it easier and won’t cause much damage” to the roots.
Carefully shake off the soil from its roots, wash them under tepid water, and check their condition. Healthy roots should be light-brown and elastic. If there are any rotten, soft, or dry ones, carefully cut them off with a sanitised tool.
Anastasia instructed: “Prune the yellowed leaves, as they won’t recover. Treat the cuts with activated charcoal powder or hydrogen peroxide. Choose light, loose, sandy, and well-draining soil that is slightly acidic.”
Opt for a pot that is 1.5 times bigger than the previous one. It should have drainage holes at the bottom and a plant saucer.
Place about two to 3cm thick layer of expanded clay at the bottom of the pot as this will prevent the soil from escaping through the drainage hole when watering.
