According to houseplant lovers, one of the best methods to stop your peace lily from wilting is to completely soak it.
Lexi Danielle posted on the Facebook group, ‘House Plant Lovers Addicts’, looking for advice from fellow houseplant enthusiasts after she was tasked with reviving her co-worker’s peace lily.
She said: “Hey, this (peace lily I think but I have no idea?) plant that my coworker was in charge of taking care of is completely wilted and looks like she’s holding on for dear life. Aside from being completely wilted, almost all of the leaf tips are brown as well.
“My coworker brought it over to me because my personal plant is doing really well and asked me to fix it, but I’m brand new to plant-keeping myself. Is this a watering issue? Is the plant salvageable?”
The plant was completely wilted, with stalks facing the floor and leaves facing down. Some of the leaves also had yellow and brown tips.
Lexi’s post was inundated with information from fellow houseplant enthusiasts, with the most suggested solution being to give the plant a “soak”.
Jennifer Solace said: “Put the entire pot into a bucket of water and let it soak until she wakes up.”
Yvettevalentino Spijker agreed and wrote: “She is just acting dramatic. Give her a bottom water bath, she will be fine!
“You could support it back up, but I think she will go back by herself when she is calmed down from her mental breakdown.”
Paige Golding also commented: “Take the plastic planter it’s in out of the basket and bottom water! Just a big bowl of water and plop the plant in there and watch it soak up all the water it needs.”
Cristina Jean replied: “Almost certainly just a tantrum because it’s thirsty. These are PURE DRAMA. I have to soak mine in the tub once a week to keep her happy.”
Lexi decided to soak the peace lily overnight in shallow water in her bath. The next day, the peace lily was no longer wilted and had plump, green leaves.
Peace lilies need watering typically every one to two weeks, but it’s best to check how often your plant needs watering by checking the top one or two inches of the soil. If it feels dry, the plant needs to be watered.
Other signs your plant needs watering include drooping leaves and leaves that are more flaccid.
According to the horticulture experts at Lively Root, there are two different ways to water peace lilies—watering over the soil or watering from the bottom.
How to water peace lilies
Watering over the soil
To water peace lilies from the top of the plant, use a watering can simply water into the soil. The plant should be watered until the water starts to run out of the drainage holes.
Watering from the bottom
Put the plant in water for about 10 minutes, touching the soil to check if it has absorbed enough of the liquid.
Once moist, remove the plant from the water and allow it to drain for 20 minutes.
If the plant is very dehydrated or the weather is particularly hot, place the peace lily pot inside a bucket of lukewarm water for a few minutes. Then, remove it and allow it to drain.
They also suggest not allowing the plant’s roots in water for too long as this could lead to a pest infestation or root rot.