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Peace lily care

Spathiphyllum wallisii — also called Spath. Everything below is the same data Plantroster uses to schedule care for this species.

Care at a glance

LightMedium indirect. Tolerates low. No direct sun.
WaterAbout every 6 days in summer, every 10 in winter. Let the top 1" dry first.
SoilStandard houseplant mix — 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite
HumidityAt least 45%, happiest near 60%
Temperature65–80°F. Cold damage below 45°F; heat stress in sun above 95°F.
FeedingEvery ~45 days while actively growing. Nothing in winter.
RepottingEvery 2 years, or when roots circle the pot
Tap waterFluoride-sensitive — use distilled or rainwater
Pets & childrenToxic. Calcium oxalates — mouth irritation and drooling.
Water quality matters for this species. Peace lily is one of a short list of houseplants that are genuinely sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water. If the tips are browning, read why tap water browns leaf tips before you buy a humidifier.

What people get wrong about peace lily

No flowers usually means not enough light — it needs more than "any dark corner" marketing suggests.

Brown leaf tips point at tap water minerals or over-fertilizing.

Common problems

Drooping / wiltingon peace lily Brown leaf tipson peace lily Yellow leaveson peace lily

Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats. Check leaf undersides monthly — backlighting a leaf against a window is the fastest way to catch mite webbing before an infestation takes hold.

Stop guessing at the schedule.

Plantroster tracks this plant's watering, feeding and repotting cadence against your actual weather — and tells you when a cold night or heatwave means moving it.

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Peace lily FAQ

How often should I water a peace lily?

Roughly every 6 days in the growing season and every 10 days in winter, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule — light, pot size and your home's warmth all shift it. It dramatically wilts when thirsty and recovers within hours of watering. Do not use the wilt as your only schedule — repeated hard wilting damages roots.

Is peace lily toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Calcium oxalates — mouth irritation and drooling. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.

How much light does a peace lily need?

Medium indirect is ideal, and it will cope with low. No direct sun.

Why does my peace lily have brown tips?

Peace lily is genuinely sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water — brown tips on this species usually mean your water, not dry air. Switch to distilled or collected rainwater and flush the pot to leach out accumulated salts. Filter pitchers do not remove fluoride.

What soil is best for peace lily?

Standard houseplant mix: 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite. Bagged potting soil alone stays too wet in an indoor pot; perlite fixes the drainage.

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General horticultural guidance, not a substitute for inspecting your own plant. Toxicity notes are a starting point — if a pet or child has eaten part of a plant, contact a vet or poison control rather than relying on this page.