Friday, May 14, 2010

How do I keep my peace lily alive?

Among the plants and flowers sent to my family after my grandfather's recent death was a big peace lily in a pot. It's dying and we'd really like to save it. We've tried watering it more, watering it less, we've tried more sunlight, less sunlight. What are ideal conditions for a peace lily?

How do I keep my peace lily alive?
They should be pretty easy... here's the lowdown.





Assuming the plant is 1.5-2' tall, it should be getting 6-8 ounces (about a glass full) of water once per week. A bit less if smaller a bit more if bigger.





Light - low to medium, generally won't do direct sun.





Fertilzer - NO miracle grow or blue crap, use a good organic that doesn't have a salt buildup.





IF the leaves are browing around the edge, mist the plant couple times a week might be dry air, (low humidity).





IF the leaves are soft and yellowing, probably too much water.





IF the leaves are browning from the center outward, too much water or something toxic to it (ie cat pee, soda dumped in pot, something like that).





Chances are its going through shock as its probably changed environments recenetly (grower, shipper, florist, gift giver, then you). probably just needs a bit of time.
Reply:Peace Lilies are pretty hardy. I keep mine on the kitchen counter about three feet from a north facing window. It is flourishing. I water it lightly once a week. Have you tried re-potting it? I have heard from others who grow them that Peace Lilies will grow as big as the pot you put them in. If you decide to re-pot choose a pot 2" larger than the current one.





Please don't use the Lily in one of those Betta fish arrangements. It is not an optimum environment for the fish. They need to be in an aquarium just like other fish.
Reply:Funeral plants are notoriously over planted (a big green flush for a week or so)I would tease out starts(hand them out to family) and use fresh potting soil. Spathiphylum(Sp?) are pretty good house plants, they let you know when to water them by flagging(drooping)before things get critical, I've seen them used in Beta splendors vases, where the vase is clear and holds a Siamese fighting fish and a plant in the water as a sort of closed ecosystem.
Reply:Click this link for info, it is too much to type on here:





http://www.thegardenhelper.com/peacelily...


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