Calm, tropical, beautiful. Yes, that sounds good. Growing peace lilies in your favorite room is a big step toward making it feel that way. The white flowers are called “peace lilies” because they look like white peace flags, even though they’re not really lilies. Instead, peace lilies are tropical perennials, which means that if you take good care of them, they can live for years and flower over and over again. They’re easy to care for, don’t need much light, and do a great job of cleaning and purifying the air. They’re great for growing at home or in the office. Peace lilies are also very pretty. They grow to be 1 to 4 feet tall, and their dark green leaves look beautiful against their white flowers.
With their graceful white blooms and easygoing nature, peace lilies make a wonderful addition to both home and office spaces. While relatively low-maintenance, providing these plants with proper nutrition is key to keeping them looking their best. But when it comes to fertilizing peace lilies, what is the best plant food to use?
In this guide we’ll explore the fertilizer options for peace lilies, including the optimal ratios types of nutrients, application methods, timing, and amounts. Follow these tips to give your Spathiphyllum the fuel it needs to develop strong, lush leaves and brilliant white spathes.
The Role of Fertilizer for Peace Lilies
While peace lilies are adaptable plants that can tolerate low light and inconsistent watering feeding them appropriately benefits them in the following ways
- Stimulates lush, green foliage growth
- Fuels the production of flowers
- Replaces nutrients lost from the soil over time
- Aids recovery after repotting or division
- Enhances overall plant vigor and health
Applying fertilizer gives peace lilies an extra nutritional boost, for bigger and better growth.
Key Nutrients in Peace Lily Fertilizer
When shopping for fertilizer look for a formulation with these three essential macro-nutrients
Nitrogen (N)
- Drives healthy leaves and lush vegetative growth
- Excess nitrogen can cause floppy growth and fewer blooms
Phosphorus (P)
- Critical for root, flower, and fruit development
- Helps plants recover from repotting stress
Potassium (K)
- Important for disease resistance and stem strength
- Helps produce sturdy flowering stalks
Avoid fertilizers with only nitrogen, which can limit flowers. The other ingredients like magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, and manganese are also beneficial.
The Best Fertilizer Ratio for Peace Lilies
The three numbers on fertilizers represent Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium levels.
For peace lilies, choose a balanced formula in the range of:
- 10-10-10
- 15-15-15
- 20-20-20
A balanced ratio provides equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This fuels overall growth without skewing toward only leaf or flower production.
If your plant needs more flowers, you can pick a formula tilted slightly higher in phosphorus, like 10-20-10. Avoid high nitrogen-only formulas which lead to few blooms.
Types of Fertilizers for Peace Lilies
You can feed peace lilies with either liquid or granular fertilizer:
Liquid Plant Food
- Made for dissolving in water to easily deliver nutrients
- Includes all-purpose and blooming formulas
- Provides fast-acting results
- Must be reapplied regularly
Examples: Miracle-Gro Liquid All Purpose Plant Food, Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Plant Food
Granular Fertilizer
- Dry fertilizer that is sprinkled onto the soil
- Nutrients are released more slowly over time
- Typically needs less frequent applications
- Can be hard to evenly distribute
Examples: Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food, Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Citrus Fertilizer
Either fertilizer type works well for peace lilies as long as you follow instructions and don’t overfeed.
How Often to Fertilize Peace Lilies
During the active growing period of spring through summer, feed peace lilies every 4-6 weeks. It’s best to fertilize lightly but frequently for consistent nutrition.
Reduce feeding in fall and winter when plants enter dormancy. An occasional liquid feeding 1-2 times in the winter is sufficient just to provide a light maintenance dose of nutrients.
Watch the plant’s growth and blooming patterns. If you see lots of healthy new leaves but few flowers, increase phosphorus levels with bone meal or bulb fertilizer to encourage blooms.
Application Tips for Fertilizing Peace Lilies
Follow these tips to effectively fertilize your peace lily:
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Always water the plant first before fertilizing to avoid root burn from concentrated salts.
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For liquid fertilizer, mix it at half-strength dilution unless directions state otherwise. Overzealous feeding risks harming the plant.
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Spread granules evenly over the top of the potting soil, then water well to disperse.
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Avoid getting liquid on the leaves, only on the soil. Wipe any drips from foliage which can burn.
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After feeding, flush the soil by watering thoroughly to prevent buildup of excess fertilizer.
By following package instructions and feeding moderately, you can safely nourish your peace lily.
5 Top Fertilizer Choices for Healthy Peace Lilies
Here are some excellent fertilizer options to consider for your peace lily:
1. Jobe’s Organics Houseplant Fertilizer
- Key nutrients: N-P-K, plus calcium and magnesium
- Release method: Fast and slow from two organic sources
- Frequency: Every 2-3 months
2. Miracle-Gro Liquid All Purpose Plant Food
- Key nutrients: Balanced N-P-K plus micronutrients
- Release method: Liquid nutrition absorbed immediately
- Frequency: Every 7-14 days
3. Espoma Organic Cactus, Palm & Citrus Plant Food
- Key nutrients: Balanced N-P-K from natural ingredients
- Release method: Extended feeding up to 6 months
- Frequency: Twice per year
4. Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro Liquid Plant Food
- Key nutrients: Nitrogen, potassium, magnesium
- Release method: Liquid nutrients readily available
- Frequency: Every 4-6 weeks
5. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food
- Key nutrients: Balanced N-P-K plus micronutrients
- Release method: Timed granules release over 8-9 months
- Frequency: Once per year
Any of these trusted fertilizer brands make it easy to regularly nourish your peace lilies. Focus on a periodic schedule of light feedings.
Avoiding Over-Fertilization of Peace Lilies
While regular fertilizer is important, it’s possible to overdo it. Monitor for these signs of over-fertilization:
- Tip burn or brown edges on leaves
- Few or no flowers blooming
- Dry, brown leaf tips with crunchy texture
- White mineral deposit buildup on planter
The remedy is to flush the soil by thoroughly watering the plant for several minutes to dissolve and drain any fertilizer buildup from the container. Then resume fertilizing at a reduced strength or frequency.
Achieve Optimal Growth With Proper Fertilizer
While peace lilies are unfussy plants, giving them a nutritional boost with the right fertilizer makes a clear difference in their vigor and performance. Use a balanced, complete fertilizer to stimulate lush leaves, strong stalks, and brilliant white blooms.
Follow the fertilizer tips covered here to determine the ideal formulations, strengths, frequency, and methods of applying plant food. Soon you’ll have thriving peace lilies that create tranquil beauty in your indoor garden.
Where to Grow Peace Lilies
Peace lilies will practically grow in the closet, but that doesnt mean thats where you should put them. When grown in low light, these plants will rarely bloom. So if its foliage youre after, go ahead and put your peace lily in a dark corner. If you want flowers, though, place it where it will receive bright, indirect light. Just make sure there arent any drafts—since theyre tropical, peace lilies are sensitive to cold temperatures.
If you live in zones 10 to 12, you can grow peace lilies outside. Most people grow them inside. Plant them somewhere shady (they’ll get a lot more natural light there than if they were growing inside) in soil that stays slightly damp all the time.
Peace lily leaves contain a chemical that can make people swell their tongues or even throw up if they eat them, so keep your plant away from children and pets.
How to Feed Peace Lilies
About a month after planting, your peace lily is going to start to get hungry. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food is made to feed indoor plants right away, so give it the healthy food it’s craving. You can apply the plant food directly to the soil or mix it in when you water. Be sure to follow label directions!.
Most BEST and Common (Natural) Fertilizer For Plants| Peace Lilly
FAQ
What should I feed my peace lily with?
Are coffee grounds good for peace lilies?
What is the best plant food for lilies?
Do peace lilies need fertilizer?
Peace lilies aren’t fussy and they really don’t need much fertilizer. The best time to apply peace lily fertilizer is when the plant is activity growing or producing blooms. As a general rule, two or three feedings throughout the growing season is plenty. If you choose to feed your plant more often, use a very diluted fertilizer.
What kind of food do peace lilies eat?
Schultz All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food (10-15-10): Suitable for peace lilies, offering a slightly different ratio that can support blooming. Osmocote Liquid Indoor Plant Food (1-1-1): A gentle option suitable for regular feeding of indoor plants like peace lilies. Every 6-8 weeks during the growing season ( Spring to early Fall ).
Can peace lilies grow in pots?
Special plant food for peace lilies grown in pots. Apply to roots for rapid results. This balanced liquid fertilizer is suitable for all indoor plants, helping to boost leaf growth and blooms. What’s the best fertilizer for a peace lily? It’s best to use a balanced fertilizer for a peace lily, like a 2-2-2 fertilizer.
What nutrients do peace lilies need?
The three main nutrients that every fertilizer must have are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These are also known as macronutrients. Nitrogen is essential to ensure that your peace lily has lush, green foliage. Phosphorus is responsible for promoting root growth and flowering.
