Why Is My Peace Lily Dying - 5 Reasons & How to Revive

Tropical plants called peace lilies flourish in shaded, moist, well-draining forests with warm temperatures (bright indirect light is ideal).

The most common cause of dying peace lilies is drought stress, which is brought on by underwatering and low humidity and manifests as a wilting plant with browning leaves.

In order to revive peace lilies, it is important to mimic some of their natural conditions, such as higher humidity, shade from direct sunlight, and evenly moist soil. If a peace lily is dying, it is typically because it is living in conditions that are contrary to its native habitat.

For information on how to put the solutions to revive your dying peace lily into practice and if your peace lily is drooping, turning yellow, turning brown, or turning black, keep reading.

5 Reasons for Peace Lily Dying

As noted above, there are various causes of peace lily wilting. We examine the five most prevalent causes in more detail below.

Peace Lily Overwatering

It's true that peace lilies are moisture-lovers, but it is possible to provide them with too much water. Drooping peace lilies, yellow leaves, and even plant death can all result from overwatering.

Your peace lily's actual water requirements may vary depending on the season, outside temperature and humidity, whether it's currently growing or blooming, and even the size and type of container it is in. Poor oxygen levels at the root zone may result, for example, if your peace lily is housed in a pot without a drainage hole or if you let extra water accumulate in the plant's drainage saucer. Your plant may develop rotting roots as a result of this oxygen deficiency, which will impair its capacity to absorb water and nutrients. (Use only well-draining soil and plant peace lilies in well-draining pots for the best results.)

It's preferable to frequently check your plant's moisture levels and then water as necessary as opposed to following a regular watering schedule. Simply press your finger into the ground an inch down to determine whether it is necessary to water your peace lily. If the soil feels fairly moist, you might not need to water; however, if the soil feels dry, you should. Use lukewarm, distilled water or rainwater in your watering can to give your plants a drink for the best results. If you must use chlorinated tap water, fill some empty gallon jugs and leave them out for a few days to let the chlorine slowly evaporate. Read More: How Long Do Peace Lilies Last

Underwatering a Spathiphyllum

Remember that the soil in the top inch of your peace lily's pot should always feel slightly moist. Failure to water regularly—and to water thoroughly—most often causes peace lily drooping and browning leaf tips. Pour water into the top of the pot, let it soak into the soil, and then watch for the extra water to drain out the bottom of the pot to prevent underwatering.

If the potting mix in your pot has become too dry, you may need to rehydrate it. The soil may have temporarily lost its capacity to hold water if you notice that the water you add to the top of the pot rushes through the soil before draining out through the drainage holes. In this situation, fill the pot with water and let it sit until the extra moisture slowly seeps into the soil and drains out the other side.

You should be able to pick up the plant, pot included, and determine its weight after thoroughly watering peace lily. It should feel much heavier now than it did before you watered. This is a good additional method to feel the top inch of soil in the pot to determine whether your peace lily needs water.

• Read More: How To Grow Peace Lilies Outdoors

Too Much Light

Bright, indirect lighting is ideal for growing peace lilies. Peace lilies can droop and their leaves can become crunchy and brown from too much light, especially direct sunlight. (Sadly, there is no going back once the leaves have suffered this kind of damage. All you can do is remove the whole, sun-damaged leaves and, if you'd like, use a pair of sharp gardening shears to trim off any brown leaf tips.)

Conversely, while peace lilies are often said to be "low-light" plants, that doesn't mean they'll thrive in near darkness. In your home's north side, near a window, or even in a room with bright, artificial lighting, a peace lily should thrive.

How can you be certain that your plant is receiving the right amount of light? Check it occasionally for new leaf growth and flowering. Your peace lily lighting is probably sufficient if these natural processes are happening. In addition, you can always move your plant a little closer or farther from the light source to test it if you're unsure. See how the plant reacts and adjust again if need be.

• Read More: How to Propagate Healthy Peace Lily

Drafts

Peace lilies are native to the tropics, where they prefer constant temperatures between 60 and 85 F. (15 to 30 C) Anything below 60 °F (15 °C) is uncomfortable-cold. Therefore, avoid placing your plants too close to fans or a nearby air conditioner that may cause cold drafts. Peace lilies may droop as a result of this.

These plants also don't do well when the temperature changes. That means you'll also need to steer clear of those blasts of hot air coming from your heating vents or the cozy fireplace.

Pests

In addition to these pests, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites can also make peace lilies droop. Although spider mites are too small to see, you may be able to see signs of their activity, such as a series of tiny dots on plant leaves, overall yellowing of the foliage, and extremely fine webbing. Aphids and mealybugs, on the other hand, are much simpler to identify. Small, soft-bodied insects called aphids are responsible for the stunted or distorted appearance of leaves. Under leaves and along stems, mealybugs assemble into fluffy, white masses. Both aphids and mealybugs also coat the plants they occupy with shiny, sticky sap.

Plant leaves can be sprayed off in the shower or at the kitchen sink to get rid of small infestations. However, more powerful measures, such as the use of insecticidal soap or neem oil, may be necessary for larger or more persistent infestations. Naturally, the best defense against pests like these is to keep your plants as healthy as possible.

Disease

A peace lily's leaves will droop and turn discolored when a disease has taken hold of them. You may also notice a bad smell coming from the soil. Check the Peace lily soil and roots of the plant and apply a treatment as needed.

How Do I Know If My Peace Lily Has Root Rot?

You might be able to save your peace lily from the grasp of death if you recognize the symptoms of root rot early. Roots should be cleared of debris, any severely damaged roots should be pruned, and a fungicide should be used. Root rot frequently has a sewer-like, swampy odor. (Read More: Peace Lily Root Rot - Signs & How to Save)

Make sure to give your peace lily a new pot and some fresh soil. To lessen stress, avoid overwatering or fertilizing the plant until it has settled.

Should I Cut the Brown Tips Off My Peace Lily?

Cutting off any brown or damaged parts of your peace lily is a good idea to promote new growth and prevent health issues. Check to see if your peace lily is receiving enough light, water, and the right kind of soil if any of its leaves start to turn brown.

Use sterile pruning shears to avoid contaminating the plant. A peace lily needs to be pruned, the watering schedule, the soil, and the plant's health should all be evaluated if you see more than half of the leaves turning brown.

Will a Peace Lily Grow Back?

With a little bit of love, care, and patience, a peace lily is probably going to grow back. But if root rot has advanced to the point where the plant cannot be saved, it might already be too late.

Remember that wherever a peace lily blooms, that bloom will eventually fade and require pruning. New blooms will eventually appear on a peace lily as long as it is healthy and has some leaves. Read More: Why Is My Peace Lily Not Blooming

Other Tips to Keep a Peace Lily Healthy

Besides keeping your peace lily moist, there are few other things you can do to make your plant more robust. Some of these include:

• Dust leaves—Regularly dust the tops and bottoms of plant leaves with a soft, damp cloth.
• Boost humidity—An ideal relative humidity range for peace lilies is 40% to 60%. The ideal humidity level for these plants is frequently not met during the winter heating season. For peace lilies that need a quick boost in humidity, steamy bathrooms can offer high humidity levels. Humidifiers can offer a longer-term solution, but you can also use a pebble tray if you'd like something more straightforward. To begin, take a shallow saucer or tray, fill it with pebbles, add water, and then place your potted plant on top of the pebbles, just above the water level. The humidity in the immediate area will rise as the water evaporation continues.
• Fertilize—Feed your plant with an organic, slow-release fertilizer once a month during the growing seasons of the year, which are usually spring and summer. (Read More: When & How to Fertilize Peace Lilies)
• Check roots and repot—You should occasionally check your plant's roots in addition to its foliage to determine how healthy it is. To check if the roots appear healthy and have room to expand, carefully pull the pot away from the soil. You might need to repot the plant if it has root rot symptoms or is root-bound. Trim any rotting roots, carefully loosen the roots by hand when repotting, and keep an eye out for transplant shock.

When Should I Repot My Peace Lily?

The spring season is the ideal time to repot peace lilies. After moving up a pot size, use caution when adding fertilizer. To lessen stress, give the soil at least two months before introducing nutrients. Too much fertilizer can harm the soil conditions and injure the plant's roots.

Of course, if you notice your peace lily's roots are displacing the soil, you might not want to wait for spring to repot the plant. Use similar soil conditions and be gentle when relocating the plant.

Conclusion

We hope you feel more confident about reviving a troubled peace lily the next time you notice discolored leaves or signs of distress. Because they are hardy, simple to maintain, and attractive, peace lilies make great plants for both novice and seasoned gardeners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you having problems with your peace lily? Here are some typical issues and their appropriate solutions to assist you!

Why Does My Peace Lily Dying Even After Watering?

This is frequently an indication that you have overwatered your peace lily, which makes the leaves droop. To prevent waterlogging, dredge the soil, and look for any signs of rotting in the roots. Trim off brown ends.

 

Why Does My Peace Lily Dying After Repotting?

Your plant may be in shock either due to excess water or insufficient water. If you've just replanted your plant, make sure the soil is barely damp and give it vitamin B1; it helps reduce repotting shock.

Why is My Peace Lily Dying After Applying Fertilizer?

The intoxication and burning of plants can result from the application of too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen. Use a starter fertilizer alternative that promotes root growth.

How Long Will a Peace Lily Recover?

When you follow the appropriate steps to revive your plant like giving enough water and placing it in a room with a warm temperature (65-75 degrees Fahrenheit), it may take up to two weeks for your peace lily to revive.

Read More: 

• Are Peace Lily Plants Toxic to Cats
• 12 Amazing Peace Lily Benefits