The peace lily, or Spathiphyllum wallisii, is a gorgeous flowering plant, that’s rich in symbolic meaning, with many uses and benefits. Its peaceful symbolism and easy care needs make it a popular choice for homes and office spaces. To learn more about the uses and benefits of Peace Lily plants, keep reading. We’ll discuss everything from its possible therapeutic qualities to its ability to improve air quality indoors. This information will help you make a decision about buying or gifting a peace lily plant.
- About Peace Lily Plants
- The Benefits of Peace Lily Plants
- 1. Air Purifying Properties
- 2. Supports a Balanced Humidity Level
- 3. Offers Feng Shui Benefits
- 4. An Easy Care Plant
- 5. Unique Ornamental Value
- 6. Easy to Propagate
- 7. Tolerates Varying Light Conditions
- 8. May Offer Support for Allergy Sufferers
- 9. Adaptable Watering Requirements
- 10. Potential Benefits for Stress Reduction
- 11. Potential Productivity Benefits
- 12. May Help You Sleep Better at Night
- Wrapping Up
About Peace Lily Plants
The peace lily is native to South America. It’s a member of the Araceae family and the genus Spathiphyllum.
This tropical evergreen perennial can grow to be around three feet tall. The leaves are a glossy, deep green hue, and its flowers have a generous blooming period in the spring.
Interestingly, what appears to be a large white petal on the peace lily isn’t its flower. Instead, this plant’s tiny blooms grow on the green spadix at its center. The white petal-like part surrounding the spadix is called a spathe.
The Benefits of Peace Lily Plants
Now, while houseplants are beautiful, many offer benefits beyond their decorative purposes. Peace lilies are among the beneficial plants you can grow at home. Here is a brief overview of the uses and benefits of peace lily plants:
- They can remove toxins from the air.
- These plants help manage indoor humidity levels.
- They have feng shui benefits.
- They’re easy to care for compared to other plants.
- They contribute beautiful decor to your home.
- Peace lily propagation is relatively easy.
- The species tolerates various lighting conditions.
- It may help reduce the microbes and allergens in its environment.
- It tolerates varying watering schedules.
- Peace lilies may help with stress reduction and mental health.
- The plant may support a more productive working environment.
- Peace lilies may help you get a better night’s sleep.
1. Air Purifying Properties
In 1989, NASA tested several plants for air-purifying qualities in their Clean Air study. One of the plants they tested was a variety of peace lilies called Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’.
The study showed that peace lilies reduced every pollutant tested. These include benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia.
The results suggest keeping a peace lily around may positively impact indoor air quality. The plant can also absorb toxins like acetone that can lead to health issues, so the air in your space stays clean and safe. These air-purifying benefits make peace lilies an excellent addition to your indoor work and living spaces.
2. Supports a Balanced Humidity Level
Another great benefit of peace lily plants is that they may help manage the humidity levels in your home or workspace. Their tropical nature means they enjoy humidity and absorb it naturally. This can restore a more balanced humidity level, making your home more comfortable.
Plus, the peace lily’s ability to absorb moisture has one additional benefit. Lower humidity in a space helps prevent mold and mildew from growing. So, you may want to consider this plant for spaces with higher moisture levels, like your bathroom or kitchen.
3. Offers Feng Shui Benefits
Feng shui is a Chinese practice of arranging furniture and objects to create a more supportive living space. Peace lilies are often used in feng shui to help bring calm and balance into the home or working environment.
In feng shui, some plants are also considered to have positive energy. Practitioners believe they can help to purify the atmosphere around them. So, if you’re looking to add a plant to your home or office for feng shui purposes, a peace lily is an excellent choice.
4. An Easy Care Plant
Luckily, peace lilies are relatively easy to care for compared to other plants. This makes them a great choice for beginners and busy houseplant lovers. The plant can thrive in low and bright light conditions and only needs watering once a week or so.
Additionally, peace lilies are tolerant of various temperatures. So, you can keep them indoors all year round. Just be sure to keep this species out of reach of pets and children, as the leaves and flowers are poisonous if ingested.
Peace lilies are also generally disease and pest-resistant when grown in suitable environmental conditions and will require occasional fertilizing and pruning in spring and summer.
Also, it’s worth noting that peace lily plants are considered toxic to both humans and pets so it’s prudent to wear gloves when handling these plants.
5. Unique Ornamental Value
In addition to their many benefits, peace lilies are also beautiful plants. Their white flowers and glossy green leaves add a touch of elegance to any space. For people who want gorgeous greenery in their home without all the maintenance, peace lilies are an excellent choice.
This species fits into a room’s decor, whether it’s a part of a larger houseplant collection or standing alone as a singular focal point. Peace lilies work well as gifts for special occasions or as a way to add some life to your indoor space. Variegated varieties are also available such as the beautiful Peace Lily Domino.
6. Easy to Propagate
Another fun benefit is that peace lilies are easy to propagate by division. So, you can get multiple plants to enjoy from your original Spathiphyllum plant.
The best time to propagate them is in the spring or summer. However, it is possible to propagate this plant during almost any time of year.
To propagate your peace lily, start by removing the plant from its container. You’ll want to divide sections of the plant carefully using scissors, a knife, or your hands.
Make sure each section has established roots and a segment of rhizome attached. Once you’ve divided the plant into a few sections, you can repot them as new, smaller peace lily plants.
7. Tolerates Varying Light Conditions
Now, peace lilies are tolerant of both low and bright light conditions. However, they will flower more profusely if you position your peace lily in a bright spot. So, for a thriving peace lily, it’s best to place the plant near a window (but out of direct sunlight).
Their light tolerance also means that they’re a great choice for indoor spaces with limited access to natural light. Buying a peace lily is a great way to add some greenery to a lower light environment, even if other houseplants have struggled to thrive there.
8. May Offer Support for Allergy Sufferers
If you suffer from allergies or want cleaner air in your space, buying a peace lily may be a worthwhile step. Peace lilies may be effective at reducing airborne microbes, mold spores, and other common allergens from the air.
So, in addition to their aesthetic benefits, peace lilies work hard to earn their keep in your home. They can help purify the air around them to make your space more comfortable, even during allergy season.
9. Adaptable Watering Requirements
Peace lilies need regular watering like most other houseplants. However, they can survive on less water than other species.
So, this plant is a great choice if you take frequent vacations or spend long periods away from your home. The peace lily will likely be fine as long as you water it before you leave.
Plus, your peace lily will give you signs when it needs water. The peace lily plant tends to droop when dry, letting you know it’s time for a drink. Aim to water your peace lily once a week, and avoid letting it sit in a soggy soil environment.
10. Potential Benefits for Stress Reduction
Peace lilies may have mental health, stress reduction, and therapeutic benefits. Studies suggest indoor plants can potentially lower the physical and mental symptoms of stress.
Interestingly, being around plants may suppress activity in the sympathetic nervous system. This helps instill a more relaxed sensation in the body and mind. So, if you want to achieve more relaxation and stress reduction, a peace lily may help.
11. Potential Productivity Benefits
Additionally, peace lilies may help boost productivity while working in an office environment. Research suggests more greenery in office environments can increase productivity by 15 percent.
The workers in this study also noted they improved concentration and satisfaction in the workplace. So, buying a peace lily is a step worth considering for people wanting new ways to enhance their experience at work.
12. May Help You Sleep Better at Night
On top of the potential stress-relieving benefits of houseplants, they may also help you sleep better at night. Science suggests houseplants may help you fall asleep and sleep well throughout the night.
In fact, most space programs have implemented greenhouses to improve the well-being of their astronauts. While isolated in space, astronauts benefit from the colors and pleasant smells of plants. These qualities have the potential to reduce stress and support your quality of sleep.
So, for people who deal with frequent sleep disturbances, buying a peace lily may help. Adding a touch of greenery to your bedroom just might be the missing ingredient you need to drift off to sleep.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant with a significant impact, the peace lily is a perfect pick. This species is sure to brighten your space and help keep your air clean and fresh. Now that you’ve discovered this plant’s many benefits, consider buying one for your home or someone special in your life.
If you’re looking for your next Peace Lily plant, see our in-depth guide to the best plant shops delivering Peace Lilies nationwide.
Brandy Wells is an American copywriter and content writer living in Spain. From hiking in her hometown near the Smoky Mountains to digging in the dirt in rural Oregon, she has always put a love of nature at the heart of her endeavors. These days, you’ll catch her writing content, and of course, taking breaks to tend to her growing houseplant collection.
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