There are many other people who have seen their once-happy peace lily blooms turn a sad shade of brown. A fair few Aussie plant enthusiasts find themselves scratching their heads over this, wondering what went wrong.
It can be pretty gutting to watch those gorgeous flowers go drab on you. More often than not, these browning flowers are caused by giving them too much water or forgetting to water them at all.
Don’t worry, though. We talked to some gardening experts and got some great advice on how to get your peace lily healthy again.
Why are your flowers turning brown? Our guide is full of simple fixes and tips to help you figure it out. It could be because they are getting too much water, not enough light, or even too many nutrients.
Seeing your beautiful, white peace lily flowers suddenly turn brown can be worrying. But don’t panic! Brown flowers are common in peace lilies and are usually easy to treat. This article will explore the various reasons for peace lily flowers turning brown and provide tips to restore your plant to perfect health.
Overview
Peace lilies, or Spathiphyllum, are one of the most popular houseplants thanks to their lush green foliage and elegant white blooms. Native to tropical rainforests, they thrive in indoor environments with medium to bright indirect light.
While peace lilies will naturally shed spent flowers as part of their growth cycle, premature browning is often a sign of stress. By identifying and addressing the underlying cause, you can revive your plant and enjoy many more healthy flowers
Common Causes of Brown Peace Lily Flowers
There are several common reasons peace lily blooms may turn brown before their time:
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Incorrect watering – Overwatering can lead to root rot while underwatering causes the plant to dry out. Both stress the plant and affect flower health.
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Too much sunlight – Direct sun scorches delicate peace lily flowers Place them in bright indirect light
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Low humidity – Native to tropical areas, peace lilies thrive in 40-60% humidity. Low moisture levels can dry out blooms.
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Temperature stress – Peace lilies grow best with temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid drafty areas.
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Poor soil – Dense, waterlogged soil or a pot with poor drainage can cause root rot leading to brown blooms.
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Pests – Insects like spider mites, aphids and thrips can all damage peace lily flowers. Check under leaves for bugs.
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Diseases – Fungal issues like botrytis and bacterial leaf spot can spread to flowers causing browning.
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Age – Older, dying flowers will naturally turn brown/green and should be removed to conserve energy.
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Chemical damage – Too much fertilizer or fluoride/chlorine in tap water can burn flower tips brown.
How To Treat and Prevent Brown Peace Lily Flowers
If your peace lily blooms are browning prematurely, use these tips to restore and protect their health:
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Check soil moisture – The #1 cause of issues is overwatering. Only water when top inch of soil is dry.
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Provide humidity – Mist leaves, use a pebble tray, or get a humidifier to create moisture peace lilies crave.
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Filter water – Let tap water sit out overnight before using so chemicals like fluoride can dissipate.
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Find the right lighting – Place in bright indirect sunlight, avoiding direct sun which can scorch flowers.
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Repot if needed – Poor soil can lead to root rot. Repot in a container with drainage holes and fresh potting mix.
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Treat pests – Remove bugs with insecticidal soap. Be sure to spray underside of leaves where they hide.
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Prune affected flowers – Cut off any blooms that are damaged or dying back to the stem so the plant doesn’t waste energy on them.
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Avoid overfeeding – Too much fertilizer can burn flower tips. Stick to dilute balanced feeds every 2-3 months during growth periods.
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Maintain ideal temperatures – Keep between 65-80°F. Cold drafts or excess heat will stress the plant.
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Disinfect tools – If disease is suspected, sanitize shears after pruning to prevent spread.
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Reduce environmental factors – Eliminate drafts, move away from heat vents, provide shade from direct sun.
When To Worry About Brown Peace Lily Flowers
While occasional brown blooms are normal, significant widespread flower damage indicates a larger issue. Other signs of trouble include:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Black or mushy roots
- Foul odor from potting mix
- White crust on leaves
- Presence of pests like spider mites
If you notice these indications along with browning flowers, the plant may have a severe infection like root rot requiring treatment. Isolate it from other plants and repot in fresh sterile soil/pot after trimming affected roots.
Enjoying Long-Lasting Peace Lily Flowers
When cared for properly, Spathiphyllum produces pristine white blooms that can last up to 8 weeks. Follow these tips for the healthiest flowers:
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Provide bright indirect light and temperatures between 65-80°F
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Keep soil moist but not soaked for healthy roots
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Mist leaves and increase humidity to 50-60%
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Water with room temperature filtered water
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Feed monthly Spring through Fall with a balanced fertilizer
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Check for pests and treat any issues immediately
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Prune spent blooms to encourage new growth
The best way to avoid prematurely brown peace lily flowers is to meet the plant’s preferences for warm, humid environments with indirect sunlight and frequent pruning. But even with the best care, occasional browned blooms may occur. Remove them promptly and enjoy your peace lily’s fresh new flowers.
How to Keep Peace Lily Flowers from Turning Brown
Watch out that your Peace Lily blooms don’t turn brown, and treat them with care. Start by checking how much you water them and where they sit in your home. Just the right amount of sunlight and a light touch with plant food can make all the difference.
Don’t forget to snip off flowers that have done their bit. For everyone to enjoy, your Peace Lilies will stay healthy and bright as long as you follow these steps. Keep reading to learn more about keeping your favorite plants in top shape!.
Peace lilies need just the right amount of water to grow, but it can be hard to find that balance. Using filtered water makes a huge difference. This simple step keeps harmful minerals away from your plants and helps prevent brown flowers.
Also, remember to water your peace lilies every six weeks if you want them to stay fresh and colorful.
Checking the soil before watering adds an extra layer of care. If the top inch feels dry, it’s time for a drink; if not, hold off until it does. Peace lilies enjoy dappled sunlight rather than direct rays which mimic their natural rainforest habitat.
This kind of light supports healthy growth without speeding up soil drying too much.
Lastly, keep an eye out for signs of distress outside regular checks. If your plant’s leaves are drooping or its tips are dry, it needs more water or better drainage to keep its roots from rotting from too much water, which is very bad for these delicate beauties.
Watching when and how you water your peace lily will make all the difference in how well it looks, no matter how much you know about plants or how new you are to garden design.
After making sure our peace lilies get just the right amount of water, we need to make sure they have the right amount of light. Peace lilies thrive in dappled sunlight. This means placing them where the sun’s rays touch them gently through a curtain or blinds.
Direct sunlight can harm their delicate leaves and flowers, causing them to brown. Keeping them in bright, indirect light will keep their leaves glossy and flowers vibrant.
For our peace lilies, we make sure the temperature stays at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This keeps them healthy and helps the flowers last longer. It’s crucial not to put these plants near cold drafts or directly under air conditioners.
Because they like it warm and stable, it’s important to find the right spot in your home for them, like near a window that gets a lot of morning sun but doesn’t get too bright in the afternoon.
Just as the right amount of sunlight does wonders, so does the careful use of plant food. We know that peace lilies enjoy a bit of help to bloom beautifully. But it’s about finding that sweet spot.
Applying half the recommended dose of liquid feed every six weeks is enough. This method encourages our flowers without risking damage from too many minerals.
We also mix in a slight bit of gibberellic acid occasionally to boost flowering. It’s all about balance – providing just what our plants need and nothing more. Overdoing it can lead to brown tips or worse, root harm due to excess nutrients accumulating in the soil potting mix, which could attract mold or fungal illnesses.
So, we use these helpers sparingly and watch as our peace lilies thrive with just enough nutrition.
Why does my Peace Lily have brown flowers?
If you overfeed your Peace Lily, especially if you use too much liquid fertilizer, or if it doesn’t get enough water and humidity, the flowers might turn brown.
Peace Lily problems and how to fix them | Peace Lily Plant Care | MOODY BLOOMS
FAQ
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