Repotting a Peace Lily is vital to caring for this popular indoor plant. Over time, the plant’s roots can become root bound, meaning they have grown so tightly packed that they can’t retain water or absorb enough moisture or nutrients from the soil. This will allow the plant’s roots to grow and absorb water, promoting better water retention and plant health.
The repotting process can be intimidating, but it is a straightforward task. You’ll need a larger pot, fresh potting mix, and a sharp knife or pair of scissors to loosen the roots gently. Good drainage is essential, so ensure the new pot has drainage holes and add a layer of pebbles or a coffee filter to the bottom.
In our guide, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on repot a Peace Lily, including when, how to prepare the plant, and how to transplant it into its new pot. You’ll find repotting Peace Lily straightforward when you follow the advice, tips, and tricks. You’ll also see how to transplant Peace Lily to give your friends and family as gifts. (Learn How Long To Keep Dog Off Grass After Seeding)
How to Care for Peace Lilies
These plants, which belong to the Spathiphyllum genus and are related to monstera, philodendron, and pothos, are not true lilies. When repotting a Peace Lily, it is vital to consider its watering requirements. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can cause the leaves to wilt and turn yellow. To avoid this, ensure the soil is dry before watering and use potting soil that drains well.
In terms of position, peace lilies prefer bright but indirect light. Direct sunlight can damage the leaves, while too little light can inhibit growth. Keeping them in a room with temperatures between 65-80°F and humidity levels around 50% is also essential.
Fertilizing requirements for peace lilies are minimal but still necessary for healthy growth. Use a balanced fertilizer every two months during the growing season (spring and summer) and reduce frequency during fall and winter when growth slows.
Your Peace Lily will thrive in its new potting soil with proper care!
Signs Your Peace Lily Needs Repotting:
- Roots Growing from Drainage Holes: If you notice your plant is root-bound and spot roots growing from drainage holes or visible on the surface of your Peace Lily’s soil, it clearly indicates that it needs to be repotted.
- The plant has sat in the same pot for years: If it has been in the original pot for over two years and is not producing new leaves or growth, it may be time to remove it from the existing pot and give it a new home.
Choose a pot one size bigger than its current container to repot a Peace Lily. It is essential to use fresh soil that drains well for this process. Once your materials are ready, remove the plant from its old container and gently loosen any tangled roots using your fingers or a small tool.
After loosening up the root ball, thoroughly place your plant in its new pot with fresh soil and water. Keep your newly repotted Peace Lily in indirect sunlight or low light conditions to ensure optimal growth. (Read Is Peace Lily Toxic To Cats)
Best Time When to Repot a Peace Lily Plant
When it comes to repotting a Peace Lily plant, timing is everything. The best time to repot your Peace Lily is spring or summer when the plant is actively growing. Before you start repotting, water the plant thoroughly a few hours before, or even better, at least a day in advance.
This helps reduce the risk of transplant shock and makes removing the plant from its current pot easier. The next step in repotting your Peace Lily is choosing a bigger pot than its current one.
Peace lilies grow quickly and easily outgrow their pots, so choose a container with enough room for growth for at least two years. When you have chosen your new pot, add fresh soil to it before transferring your Peace Lily into its new home.
Simply lift your plant and be careful not to disturb or damage any roots during this process, as this may cause transplant shock and affect the plant’s future growth.
Tools You need to Repot a Peace Lily Plant:
The right equipment and materials are crucial when repotting a Peace Lily plant. First on the list is a large pot that can comfortably accommodate the plant’s root ball.
The new pot should be at least 2 inches larger in diameter than the previous one to provide enough space for growth. You’ll need enough potting mix to ensure the plant has enough soil to thrive.
A high-quality mix that contains peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite provides good drainage while retaining moisture. This will help prevent waterlogging and ensure adequate air circulation around the roots.
Lastly, you’ll need scissors or a knife to separate tangled or damaged roots during transplanting. Having all these tools on hand before beginning your repotting process can give your Peace Lily plant its best chance of success in its new environment!
Repotting Peace Lilies – A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you have decided to repot your Peace Lily, the first step is to choose a new pot one size bigger than the current one. Before removing the plant from its current pot, water it thoroughly. This will help loosen the soil and reduce stress on the roots during transplantation.
- Next, gently remove the Peace Lily from its current pot by carefully turning it upside down with your hand supporting the stem and roots.
- Once you have removed it from its original container, examine the root system. If there are any dead or decaying roots, cut them off using a sharp pair of scissors.
- Then proceed to divide any overcrowded root clusters into smaller sections taking care not to damage too many healthy roots in the process.
- After dividing or separating any clusters of roots and cleaning up any damaged areas, place your Peace Lily into its new container with fresh soil at around three-quarters full.
- It is worth remembering if your plant is rootbound, your job as houseplant parent was a success.
- Add more soil with the organic matter until it reaches about an inch below the rim of your new container and mix gently around the base of your plant.
- Water again helps settle everything in place, adding nutrition through diluted plant food. Water deep until you see excess water coming from the drainage holes. Adding coconut coir to your potting mix is a great way to retain water and allow lots of oxygen to help avoid root rot.
- Keep your plant in a shady area for a few days before moving it into indirect light to give it time to settle and avoid transplant shock.
Remember that most houseplants, including Peace Lilies, will die without proper care. (Learn How To Get Rid Of Gnats With Dawn Dish Soap)
Growing tips:
Although peace lilies can grow almost anywhere, that doesn’t mean you should place them there.
- You won’t see these white flowers because they rarely bloom in low-light environments.
- You can put your Peace Lily in the shadows to emphasize its foliage.
- But, put it where it will get bright, indirect light if you want white flowers.
- As they are tropical plants, peace lilies are sensitive to cold temperatures, so ensure there aren’t any drafts.
- Although most peace lilies are cultivated indoors, if you live in zones 10 to 12, you can also grow them outdoors.
How to Feed Peace Lilies
Your Peace Lily plants will grow hungry around a month after planting because they are heavy feeders. Use Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food for indoor plants to provide them with the nutrient-rich meal it craves. The plant food can be added directly to the potting mix or blended in when you water.
How to Repot Peace Lilies
Indeed, peace lilies enjoy having a little bit of space in their containers. As your plant begins to lose its dark green leaves and wilts more frequently, it’s time to repot. At that time, the root ball will have started to fill the container to the point where little soil will be left for water storage.
Use the previous planting instructions to repot your Peace Lily into a new container just a few inches bigger than it is growing in.
Troubleshooting Problems with Peace Lilies
Although Peace Lily care isn’t too much, you could encounter a few problems with these plants.
Fungus gnats
Using Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix for your Peace lilies is less likely to be problematic. Yet, cultivating in a different potting soil, you can engage in combat.
Try watering less frequently at first, and make sure the soil’s surface dries out in between applications. To destroy the larvae in the soil, if that doesn’t work, you might need to use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis insecticide).
Yellow leaves
Peace lilies’ older leaves age and turn yellow. Cut into the heart of the plant to remove them altogether. Sometimes, plants with excessive watering will also have yellow leaves. Reduce watering and let the soil dry out a little to see whether the plant will recover.
Brown edges
Usually, this indicates that your Peace Lily has been exposed to direct sunshine. Move the plant out of the sun and increase the humidity surrounding your plant. Put small pebbles in the saucer that sits beneath the pot.
Up Add water about 1/3 inch below the top of the stones, around the leaves; the water will evaporate, increasing the humidity.
No blooms
Move your Peace Lily to where it will receive brighter (but indirect) light if it isn’t blooming. While they grow in a shady spot, they won’t flower. (Read Fungus Gnats Hydrogen Peroxide Guide)
Dusty leaves
Large Peace Lily leaves tend to accumulate dust so you can place the entire plant in the shower for a gentle hose down. Apply Miracle-Gro Leaf Shine to the plant leaves once they have dried for glossy foliage.
