How Often to Water Peace Lily Plants
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What is a peace lily?
Also known as White Sails, the peace lily will steer you in the direction of its dramatic composure on the high seas. Some say that when a peace lily flowers and the spathe (the white flower) is full, waving in the air, it replicates a peace flag waving in the wind. While a peace lily is known for its easy care as a typical houseplant, you may not know that it is a physical sign of peace, as well. These plants are offered to people after they have lost someone.
Peace lily watering schedule
On to the reason why you’re here - how often to water peace lily plants and peace lily drooping tips. Light and water are energy and fuel for plants, they go hand in hand. If your plant is in low light, you’ll need less water. If your plant is in bright light, you’ll need more water. Without it, or too much of it, plants will die, so balance (as with everything in life) is vital.
Inside in low light:
During summer you’ll want to water once per week. During winter, you’ll want to water once every 8 or 9 days but mostly when the top 2.5 inches of soil is dry (stick a lucky finger in or use a moisture meter).
Inside in bright light:
You should water at least once per week (check on it halfway through especially if your lily is by a South facing window). During winter, water once every 8 days or again, until the top 2.5 inches of soil are dry.
Note: outdoor peace lilies should not be in direct sunlight, they should be under an awning or shaded patio. The watering schedule outdoors is the same for inside in bright light.
Peace lily drooping
The reason I mentioned peace lily’s “dramatic composure” in the beginning is because they will “faint” when they are ready to be watered. Maybe you’ve heard this before, but I want to be specific when it comes to peace lily drooping because one of my clients, for example, has the urge to water as soon as the first leaf starts to droop after recent watering. Please do not do this!! It leads to waterlogging and a whole lot of issues that can follow. To combat this, you’ll want to keep your plant on a consistent schedule so you can recognize when it’s actually time to water because you’ll have seen what your peace lily looks like at full perk, medium perk, and full-on droop.
I usually check on my plants every Sunday and Thursday - but I may not need to water them on those days, I’m only checking the moisture level of their soil with a moisture meter. Since I see my peace lily every day, I can tell what it needs come Sunday and Thursday, but I ALWAYS check the moisture level first with a moisture meter. If the soil is damp, I leave it to the next time I check on it. If the top 2 inches are dry, I water from the center until I see water trickling out of the drainage holes. This way, I’m keeping myself sane by only focusing my time on them for those two days and they still get the attention they need!
Tips for consistency:
Keep your peace lily in one location.
Make a calendar notification every Sunday morning to water plants.
Use the same type of water each time (distilled vs tap).
Spend a week observing your plant to understand its habits.
Download the watering schedule here!
I’ve created a handy schedule to post on your fridge or leave in your downloads because keeping track of things requires the right tools! To give a breakdown of this schedule, the categories are Time, Date, Activity, and Done.
Time is pre-filled on the first line to remind you to water between 6 AM-4 PM. Any later than 4 PM and the water doesn’t have the benefit of light which is when growth is quickest (remember, light and water go hand in hand). Watering at night also creates an opportunity for root rot and mold growth. No one wants that.
Date is the day you water your peace lily. I’ve included an example in the first line. You can put the day of the week and date or whatever will help you remember when you last watered.
Activity is for your actions toward your plant. In the example, I recorded that I checked the moisture level of the soil and since the top 2 inches were dry, stated that I watered it. If you’re more advanced or want to record everything done to your plant, feel free to use this space to include anything extra, such as fertilizing, humidifying, or trimming.
Done is the final checkmark after you’ve watered.
Don’t forget your moisture meter to help!
P.S. If you wanted a quick answer for how often to water peace lily plants, water it once a week ;)
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Thanks for reading!
