Five Reasons to Love Peace Lilies
I think a Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisi) was one of the first plants I owned.
I've been a plant enthusiast for years, and Peace Lilies have consistently earned a top spot in my heart (and my home!).
With their glossy green leaves, and beautiful pure white flowers they are just a great beginner houseplant.
Their name actually refers to the white flag flown in a battle to indicate a ceasefire. We've had them in our homes since the Victorian era.
Peace Lilies are come from the tropics of Central America and Colombia and were thought to be revered by the Aztecs and used in their religious ceremonies.
I always like to know where my plants come from as it gives an indication to what conditions they are going to prefer in your home.
They're also related to the Flamingo Plant - in the Arum family.
If you are a beginning houseplant collector, or don't own one...yet, then here are my top five reasons to adore these great indoor plants.
1. Gorgeous white flowers
The first thing that catches your eye with a Peace Lily is those elegant white "flowers."
They actually aren't petals at all! They're called spathes, which are modified leaves that surround the tiny, actual flowers on the spadix (that little spike in the centre).
The name Spathiphyllum is derived from the Greek: ‘spath’ is a spoon, ‘phyl’ means leaves - a reference to the spoon-shaped leaf.
Whatever you call them, they're undeniably beautiful.
2. Forgiving
If you're new to the world of houseplants, or had some plant disasters, then a Peace Lily is a great place to start.
Peace Lilies are incredibly forgiving. They're not fussy about their conditions and are generally low-maintenance.
3. They actually tell you when they need a drink
One of my favourite things about Peace Lilies is that when they need water, they'll dramatically droop their leaves, giving you a clear signal that it's time for a drink.
It's like having a built-in watering alarm! Once you water them, they perk right back up, good as new. It's almost magical!
4. Peace lilies don't mind low light levels
They'll be happy in any strength of indirect light (just not direct light as it will bleach and scorch the leaves).
An east facing window is the best.
5. They could help improve air quality
Peace Lilies are also thought to help remove toxins from the air.
How can I get the best from my Peace Lily?
As long as you keep it consistently moist and repot it every spring in fresh compost, it will be more than happy.
Are there any disadvantages to owning a peace lily?
Peace lilies are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. That's because the plant contains something called calcium oxalate. This compound can cause stomach upset, if eaten in large quantities.
But they aren't as toxic as the Lily flowers you get in bouquets of flowers.
Can you get different cultivars of Peace Lilies?
You're most likely to find Spathiphyllum wallisii cultivars in garden centres and supermarkets. These have the biggest flowers.
But there are others. In fact, over 50 other cultivars.
Chopin, Bellini, Mauna Loa, Gemini, Sweet Lauretta - all varieties that come in smaller or larger sizes to the ones you typically see in shops. Mojo lime has vibrant bright green leaves, while domino has variegated leaves.
Bellini is my favourite with stripy green and white spathes instead of all white.
Tell me some Peace Lily care tips?
To get the best out of your Peace Lily, you want to recreate it's natural conditions as much as possible - without actually moving to Central America.
You'll need to give it some humidity. I recommend trying to create a gravel tray. Just put some pebbles or gravels on a pot tray and fill it with water. Put your peace lily on top of that. The water at the base will help increase humidity around the plant.
I also find grouping plants together also helps. Why not have different Peace Lily cultivars together in a corner.
Don't forget to give it some food every six weeks during the growing season. They don't need any specialist food, so a balanced houseplant fertilise will do.
Also take care to dust it, and keep it out of direct light and draughts.
And that's it.
Do Peace Lilies suffer from pests and diseases?
Unfortunately, peace lilies will also suffer from scale and mealybugs, just like most other indoor plants.
To get rid of them, just wipe down with a washing up liquid and water solution.
Just be vigilant and check your peace lilies regularly.
Why isn't my Peace Lily producing flowers?
If you find that your peace lily doesn't flower, it's probably because it needs more light!
Although they really don't mind a shady spot, they will need some light to get it to flower. Just make sure it is indirect light and not a window where the sun shines directly through.
If you get green flowers, then you may be feeding it a bit too much. Too much nitrogen from fertiliser will cause the spathes to go green.
If you're looking for one of the more specialist peace lilies, then you'll need to visit a specialist houseplant shop, like The Green East in Belfast.