When and How to Water Peace Lily Plants (Essential Tips)

In this guide, we’re going to take you through everything you need to know about when and how to water Peace Lily plants. While these popular houseplants need far less light than many other plant types, this can often lead to them being forgotten when it comes to watering as well. Even if you have a Peace Lily in a humid environment like the bathroom, it needs regular watering to stay lush and green. Watering the right way also helps trigger flowering in this plant.

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How to Water Peace Lily Plants – The Essentials

Water a Peace Lily when the first inch to two inches of soil dries out. Mist it between watering and expect to water about once a week. Give the plant more water in the winter if your home is dry and heated. Make sure the soil drains well to avoid root rot.

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About Peace Lily Plants

Native to the tropical parts of South America, the Peace Lily is from the Spathiphyllum genus. The plants have dark green leaves and spiky flowers that form with white leaves surrounding them, giving them a distinctive hooded look. In the wild, they thrive in moist soils in the tropical understory.

The Role of Water in Plant Health and Development

Water is necessary for plant growth and health because it transports nutrients throughout the roots, stems, and leaves. 

Water also fills the cells, so the plant is firm and healthy rather than weak and drooping—yet too much water damages the roots of sensitive plants.

When to Water Peace Lily Plants

Peace Lily plants prefer to stay moist but need to dry out a little between watering. Since they’re native to tropical areas, they don’t respond well to being allowed to wilt or dry out completely.

How do you know when a Peace Lily plant needs watering?

Some people wait until their Peace Lily sags and looks slightly wilted to water. However, this is not the best method if you are using a properly draining soil mix. With good drainage, you should water as soon as the top two inches of soil dry out.

How to check when to water Peace Lily plants

Poking a finger into the soil is the most straightforward test, revealing when the top one to two inches are still damp or have dried out. 

A moisture meter can easily do the same job, showing the conductivity of the soil as you probe deeper. 

Try learning how the pot feels full of water for smaller plants, then how light it becomes when the Peace Lily starts to droop. You’ll soon learn how to judge just when the soil is dry enough to need water.

How often do Peace Lily plants typically need watering?

Most Peace Lily plants need a thorough watering around once a week. In dry and hot conditions, you may need to water every five days instead.

Environmental considerations that may impact watering cycles

Peace Lilies positioned in bathrooms and other humid areas may only need watering once every other week, so check the soil rather than sticking to a schedule. 

Those kept in very dark or colder conditions also prefer less water and tend to dry out slower.

Seasonal considerations that may affect watering cycles

Unlike most houseplants, Peace Lily watering requirements tend to change more due to indoor moisture levels than the plant’s actual requirements. It tends to need more frequent watering in the dry air of winter and less during the humid days of summer (the best time to propagate and fertilize your Peace Lilies as well). 

These plants don’t truly go dormant when grown indoors, so they generally need a similar watering pattern all year round.

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How to Water Peace Lily Plants

The fundamental importance of good drainage

Since the Peace Lily prefers to stay somewhat damp, they need good drainage. Choose a potting vessel with plenty of holes on the bottom, not just the sides. 

Check there are no edges or dips to catch water in the bottom and promote root rot. Use a potting mix rich in organic materials and drainage-encouraging perlite or gravel.

What type of water is best for Peace Lily plants?

Peace Lily plants are fine with room temperature or cold tap water. Let the water sit out overnight in a glass or pitcher if it’s heavily chlorinated.

How to water Peace Lily plants

As long as the plant is in a fast-draining soil mix and container, bottom-up watering is best. It’s ok to water the plant from the top with a watering can instead, but pour from all sides to encourage even soaking.

Top Watering:

Avoid the foliage when pouring to prevent black spots and disease. Use a long-spouted can to get the water right to the soil, working around on all sides.

Bottom Watering:

Place the pot in a deep container like a tub, bucket, or bathtub. Fill the container until at least half of the plant pot is submerged. Let the Peace Lily soak until the top two inches of soil are damp again, even if the very top surface still looks dry.

How much water do you add?

Peace Lily plants like a lot of water, so water from the top until water continuously runs through the drainage holes. A smaller 8 to 12-inch tall plant will need about a quart of water for this to occur, while larger plants may need half a gallon or more. Use a tub rather than a small saucer to avoid overflow.

Should you remove all excess water that disperses into the tray?

If you do use a saucer or tray, pour excess water off a few hours after watering. This prevents root rot, which can be particularly common in Peace Lilies.

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.

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Signs You Might be Overwatering Your Peace Lily Plant

A few tell-tale signs to keep an eye on that might indicate you’ve given your Peace Lily a little too much water:

• Yellowing peace lily leaves with brown, dead tips
• Weak and wilted leaves despite damp or soggy soil
• Lack of growth and flowering
• Yellow leaves, especially around the base
• Dark, slimy, or soft roots when repotting.

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Signs You Might be Underwatering Your Peace Lily Plant

Conversely, here are some of the most common signs that you might not be giving your Peace Lily plant sufficient water:

• Drooping or wilting to the point of collapse
• Light-colored leaves and lack of new growth
• Lack of flowering.

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What to Do In Between Watering Cycles

Should you consider misting Peace Lily Plants in-between watering cycles?

Peace Lily plants respond well to misting, but only if they’re in a dry environment or near a heating vent. 

No further misting is needed if you already have located the plant in a humid room like the bathroom.

Will Peace Lily Plants benefit from sitting on a humidity tray?

Unlike most houseplants with a preference for moisture, Peace Lilies don’t generally respond well to humidity trays. 

They prefer misting around the leaves to excess moisture under the container, which can interfere with root aeration to the tips. A humidity tray won’t replace misting for this plant.

Main things to keep an eye on

Healthy Peace Lily plants are dark green, stay firm and rarely droop, and produce new leaves regularly (and may require occasional pruning).

If you find yourself not removing many older leaves after a few months, you may not have as much new growth as you think. 

A lack of flowering when the light levels are correct could also indicate a lack of steady watering.

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Watering Peace Lily Plants FAQs:

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Wrapping Up

The Peace Lily is commonly given as a gift, so it’s essential to learn how to water it correctly. With care, these meaningful and symbolic plants can live for years and produce many eye-catching white flowers.

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