A peace lily with drooping leaves is usually short of water: when its soil dries out, it droops dramatically, then perks back up soon after watering. If the soil is still wet, the cause is the opposite: overwatering is rotting its roots, which can no longer supply the leaves.
Don't wait for it to droop before watering, though: over time, the tips and edges of its leaves turn brown. Water it as soon as the top inch or two of soil is dry instead.
Thirsty or overwatered: how can you tell?
Push a finger an inch or two into the soil, then lift the pot. Dry soil and a light pot point to underwatering; wet soil and a heavy pot, to overwatering. The leaves then narrow down the diagnosis.
| What you see | Most likely cause | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Drooping leaves, dry soil | underwatering | water thoroughly, then empty the saucer |
| Drooping leaves, wet soil | overwatering: the roots are rotting and can no longer supply the leaves | don't water, and check the roots |
| Leaves turning yellow | soil that stays wet, or that dries out too often | feel the soil before every watering |
| Lower leaves turning yellow, roots coming out of the pot | a pot that has become too small | repot it in spring, in a pot only slightly larger |
| Brown leaf tips and edges | repeated drooping, dry air, tap water or too much fertilizer | water it before it droops, with rainwater or filtered water |
| Pale leaves with scorched edges | direct sun | give it bright light, out of direct sun |
| No flowers | too little light, or a plant less than a year old | move it closer to a bright window |
| White flowers turning green | normal aging | cut the spent stem off at its base |
💡 To stop waiting for its leaves to droop, you need Arroseo. The free app sends you a watering reminder for each plant, on the schedule you set, counted from your last watering: you remember to water your peace lily before it droops. Add your peace lily to Arroseo
Why not wait for it to droop before watering?
People often say a peace lily lets you know when it's thirsty: its leaves droop, and a drink sets it right again. That's true, and a single episode leaves no mark. But if it keeps happening, the tips and edges of its leaves turn brown, and those brown parts never turn green again.
So water it as soon as the top inch or two of soil is dry, from April to October, then a little less often in winter, when it grows more slowly. Water thoroughly and empty the saucer or cachepot: a peace lily left standing in water rots from the roots. The same finger test gives you the right watering frequency for most houseplants.
If the soil dries out very quickly after each watering, the roots have probably filled the pot. Peace lilies like being slightly pot-bound: repot only when roots come out of the drainage holes or circle on the surface, ideally in spring. Choose a pot only an inch or two wider: in a pot that's too big, the soil stays wet too long and the roots rot.
Overwatered peace lily: what should you do?
Drooping leaves in wet soil point to roots damaged by overwatering: those roots can no longer supply the leaves, even though water isn't lacking. Watering again would make things worse. Act fast, and wear gloves, since peace lily sap irritates the skin:
- stop watering and empty the saucer
- take the peace lily out of its pot and look at its roots: healthy ones are light-colored and firm; rotten ones are brown or black, and mushy
- cut off the rotten roots and remove the soggy soil
- repot it in a pot with drainage holes, only slightly larger than its roots, with fresh soil mixed with perlite (three parts soil to one part perlite)
- wait for the surface of the soil to dry before watering again
To recognize the other signs of overwatering, read our article on overwatered plants.
Why are my peace lily leaves turning yellow?
Start with watering, in one direction or the other: soil that stays wet turns the leaves yellow, and so does soil that dries out too often. Feel the soil before every watering to know which of the two is to blame.
If it's the oldest leaves, at the base, that are yellowing and your peace lily hasn't been repotted in a long time, its pot has probably become too small. A cold snap or a draft also turns the leaves yellow: keep it away from open windows in winter. Cut yellowed leaves off at the base of their stem.
Why are the leaf tips turning brown?
The tips and edges of peace lily leaves turn brown for one of these reasons:
- repeated drooping, when it runs short of water too often
- dry air, especially when the heat is on
- fluoride in tap water
- too much fertilizer, which leaves salts in the soil
- direct sun, which scorches the leaves
Water it before it droops, preferably with rainwater or filtered water. To fight dry air, set the pot on a tray of gravel kept moist: the evaporating water humidifies the air around the leaves. Indoor heating dries out the air in the whole house: it's also what makes calathea leaves curl.
As for fertilizer, a peace lily needs very little: a liquid houseplant fertilizer, diluted to a quarter of the recommended strength, every six to eight weeks in spring and summer, is enough.
Why isn't my peace lily blooming?
Most often it lacks light, or it's less than a year old. A peace lily tolerates shade, but it rarely blooms there and grows slowly. Move it closer to a bright window, out of the direct summer sun, which scorches its leaves.
Its flowers appear mainly in spring and summer and last for several months. As they age, they turn from white to pale green: that's normal. Then cut the spent stem off at its base.
Where should you put a peace lily?
Place it near an east- or north-facing window: it gets light there without direct sun. Keep it between 55 and 75 °F (12 and 24 °C), away from heaters and cold drafts.
Keep it out of reach of cats, dogs and young children: every part of the plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which burn the mouth and throat when chewed. If your pet has eaten some, call your veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if my peace lily needs water?
Its leaves droop, the top inch or two of soil is dry and the pot feels light. Watered thoroughly, it perks back up soon after.
Why is my peace lily still drooping after watering?
If it doesn't perk up while the soil is wet, its roots have probably been damaged by overwatering. Stop watering, take it out of its pot and cut off the brown, mushy roots.
Should I cut the yellow leaves off a peace lily?
Yes, at the base of their stem, wearing gloves. Cutting off a yellow leaf doesn't fix the cause: check the watering, the pot size and the temperature first.
Why are my peace lily's flowers turning green?
As they age, they turn from white to pale green: that's normal. Cut the spent stem off at its base.
Is a peace lily toxic to cats?
Yes, to cats and dogs alike: its calcium oxalate crystals burn the mouth and throat. Keep it out of their reach, and call your veterinarian if your pet has eaten some.
Water your peace lily before it droops
Arroseo reminds you to water your peace lily at the interval you chose, counted from your last watering, and keeps a history of its care. Yellow or brown leaves worrying you? Arroseo+'s health diagnosis points you to the likely cause.
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