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With its broad, deep green leaves and charming white blooms, the peace lily is one of the most popular houseplants around. Its lush yet graceful appearance adds a touch of tranquility to indoor spaces. But is this beloved houseplant truly a tropical plant? Let’s take a look at the peace lily’s background and growing requirements to find out.
The Peace Lily’s Tropical Origins
To understand if the peace lily is tropical, we first need to explore its origins. The peace lily is a member of the genus Spathiphyllum which contains around 40 species of plants native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeast Asia.
Most common varieties of peace lily grown as houseplants likely originate from Spathiphyllum wallisii, native to rainforests in South America. This gives us the first clue that yes, the peace lily is indeed a tropical plant It evolved in the warm, humid environment of tropical rainforests.
Wild peace lilies thrive in shady forest understories and along streams and rivers where humidity is high. They are adapted to consistent warmth and moisture. As houseplants, they retain the preferences of their tropical heritage.
Ideal Growing Conditions Reflect Tropical Nature
To keep a peace lily happy and healthy indoors, it’s important to mimic the warm, humid conditions of its native tropical habitat as closely as possible. Here are the key factors to get right:
Temperature – Peace lilies prefer consistent warmth, around 70-80°F during the day and 60-70°F at night. Avoid cold drafts.
Light – Bright, indirect light is ideal. Some sun is beneficial but avoid prolonged direct sun.
Water – Soil should be kept consistently moist but not soggy. Allow to partially dry between waterings.
Humidity – Higher humidity is preferable. Mist leaves or use a humidifier nearby.
Soil – Use a rich, organic potting mix that retains moisture but drains well.
Fertilizer – Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during spring through fall.
This tropical plant would not survive outdoors year-round except in the warmest climates (Zones 10-11). It needs consistent warmth and cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. The peace lily’s preference for warm, humid, shaded conditions clearly reflects its tropical rainforest origins.
Cues for Care: Monitoring Your Peace Lily
One benefit of the peace lily’s tropical nature is that it will let you know when growing conditions are not to its liking. Here are some visual cues to watch for:
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Wilting or drooping leaves – This usually indicates the plant needs more water. Allow the soil to dry out only slightly between waterings.
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Yellow leaves – Could signal overwatering or underwatering. Adjust your watering practices accordingly.
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Brown leaf tips – Likely caused by low humidity. Mist leaves or use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air.
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Failure to bloom – Insufficient light is a common cause. Provide bright indirect light to encourage flowering.
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Insect pests – Scale, mealybugs, and fungus gnats may become problematic. Isolate and treat any infestations promptly.
Pay attention to these signals. Your peace lily will let you know what adjustments it needs to thrive in its indoor tropical environment.
Caring for Peace Lilies Outdoors in Warm Climates
Gardeners in zones 10-11 can grow peace lilies outside as landscape plants. Similar care is required as when growing them as houseplants.
Select a shady planting area away from direct sun. Enrich the soil with extra organic matter like compost or peat moss to retain moisture. Water whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry. Applying mulch will help conserve moisture.
Fertilize every 6-8 weeks with a balanced fertilizer during the warm growing season. Prune off any dead or damaged leaves or spent flower stalks as needed.
When winter arrives, prepare your peace lily for the cooler weather. Move potted plants to a protected area and avoid watering as often. Or gently dig up the roots and transfer to containers, keeping the plants indoors until spring. With a little seasonal care, your tropical peace lilies can grace your garden year after year.
Ideal Houseplant for Beginners
The peace lily’s tropical nature makes it an exceptionally easy-care houseplant, as long as you provide the warmth, moisture, and indirect light it needs. For beginners wanting to gain experience caring for houseplants, the forgiving peace lily is an ideal choice.
Its tropical origins give the peace lily some key advantages:
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Thrives in normal indoor conditions found in most homes.
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Does not require high light levels like some houseplants. An indoor window is sufficient.
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Lets you know clearly when it needs water by drooping its leaves.
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Bounces back quickly when given water after temporary wilting.
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Has generally robust health and is not prone to major pest or disease issues.
The peace lily will reward just a little attentive care by growing lush and green, producing delicate white blooms, and purifying your indoor air. It’s the quintessential tropical houseplant!
A Tropical Look for Home Décor
With its wide, waxy green leaves and unique white flower spathes, the peace lily provides exotic tropical flair whether grown in a living room, office, or any indoor space. It brings a sense of the tropics to your home décor.
A few suggestions for showcasing your peace lilies:
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Display a large plant in a sturdy planter as a floor plant.
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Group three smaller plants together on a plant stand.
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Place pots atop bookshelves, cabinets, or mantels.
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Use as a centerpiece on dining or coffee tables.
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Grow in a decorative hanging basket suspended from the ceiling.
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Tuck into bare corners to fill empty space with vibrant greenery.
Experiment with creative ways to highlight the peace lily’s tropical beauty and bring intrigue to your interior design. Combining these lush, exotic looking plants with elements such as warm lighting, rattan or bamboo furniture, and greenery enhances the tropical feel even further.
A Versatile Tropical Plant
Whether grown as a single showstopping floor plant, simple desktop accent, or eye-catching arrangement, the peace lily’s versatility shines. This beloved houseplant offers so many possibilities.
The peace lily can be:
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A tall, architectural statement piece or low carpet of leafy texture.
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Traditional or modern, casual or elegant.
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Youthful and playful or sophisticated and elegant.
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An air purifying clean-air plant or decorative living flower bouquet.
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Grown in containers or hydroponically without soil.
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Displayed in bright light to maximize blooms or dim corners solely for foliage.
With proper care tailored to its tropical needs, the peace lily adapts well to nearly any indoor setting and design style. These hardy plants will provide lasting tropical flair for years to come.
A Touch of the Tropics, No Matter Where You Live
Whether you reside in a cool northern climate or already live in the tropics, growing peace lilies allows you to bring a taste of the rainforest right into your own rooms. Caring for these tropical plants is enjoyable and rewarding.
The peace lily’s lush green foliage and frilly white blooms will transport you to tropical paradises. Its presence calms and enlivens indoor spaces. When given the simple care it requires, the peace lily will thrive for many years, providing natural tropical beauty wherever you call home.
So if you long for a touch of the tropics or just want an easy-care houseplant, look no further than the peace lily. This garden favorite is indeed a tropical plant through and through. With a little attention to its preferences, you can readily replicate jungle conditions for a happily growing peace lily.
Can Peace Lilies be Grown in Water?
Yes, peace lilies can grow in water alone; they are often sold in vases without any soil. Ideally, the plant’s base should be above the water. This can be done with a vase insert made just for the plant or a layer of small river stones. In this way, the roots can grow into the water, but the plant’s base and leaves don’t stay wet all the time, which can lead to rot. Growing.
- Place peace lilies in indirect but bright sunlight. A window that faces east is best for the plant because it will get the bright morning sun. A peace lily would also do well in a window that faces north.
- Peace lilies shouldn’t be kept in direct sunlight all day, like in a south-facing window, because it can dry them out too much.
- Do you know how often you should water your peace lily? The important thing is that the soil should be dry. Make sure the soil is just barely damp, but not drenched. Peace lilies can handle dry soil for short periods of time, but if they don’t get enough water or humidity, the tips of their leaves will turn brown. Tip: Peace lilies are nice because they let you know when they need water by letting their leaves droop. If the plant looks less “perky” than usual, stick your finger in the soil to see if it’s alive. If it feels dry, it’s time to water again. They may act up, but don’t worry if they begin to wilt.
- Chemicals that are often found in tap water, like fluoride, can hurt peace lilies and turn the tips of their leaves brown. Use filtered, room-temperature water, if possible.
- Peace lilies enjoy high humidity. Misting the plant’s leaves or setting the pot on top of a tray of wet gravel can help make the area around it more humid.
- Peace lilies are not heavy feeders, so fertilize only occasionally. Starting in late winter, feed your plants a balanced houseplant fertilizer about every six weeks to help them grow in the spring and summer.
- As tropical plants, peace lilies do best when it’s between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 23°C) during the day and about 10° cooler at night.
- Keep these plants away from the furnace and doors or windows that let in a lot of drafts.
Is the Peace Lily Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Yes, peace lilies are mildly toxic. All parts of the peace lily plant contain calcium oxalate, which can be irritating to the stomach and lungs if eaten in large amounts. Keep peace lilies out of reach of small children and pets who might chew on the plant. Common plants containing calcium oxalate also include philodendrons, daffodils, true lilies, and hyacinths. Read Next.
Do THIS to Get Your Peace Lily to Flower Again
FAQ
Is a peace lily a tropical flower?
Can I put my peace lily outside in summer?
Do peace lilies like full sun or shade?
How often should I water my peace lily?
Is peace lily a perennial?
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a popular indoor plant native to the forest floors of tropical Central America and Southeast Asia. It is prized for its attractive foliage and unique, white, spathe-like flowers. Description: Peace Lily is an evergreen perennial plant with glossy, dark green, elongated leaves that grow directly from the plant’s base.
Are peace lilies easy to grow?
Undemanding and easygoing, peace lilies are a popular hybrid from the Spathiphyllum genus of tropical plants. These stunning houseplants are easy to grow and bloom for several months of the year. As an indoor plant with striking creamy white flowers, they are sure to catch your eye in any room or garden.
Are peace lilies a closet plant?
In fact, the peace lily’s ability to grow in offices and light-deprived homes has earned it the nickname “the closet plant”. However, when placed in bright, indirect light, peace lilies can produce elegant white flowers (a.k.a., spathes) almost year-round. Native to the tropical regions of South America, the peace lily is not actually a true lily.
Do peace lilies have white flowers?
A Peace Lily is a flowering plant, as you can see in the header photo of this guide, it has slim white flowers. For these flowers to grow, your plant needs to have plenty of additional nutrients and sunlight. If you want these flowers to start growing, you should fertilize your Peace Lily at the beginning of spring.