The peace lily is a popular houseplant that is known for its dark green leaves and white flowers. However, many people don’t know that the peace lily’s flowers can also turn black, brown or yellow. So why does this happen? And what can you do to prevent it?
The most common reason why peace lily flowers turn black, brown or yellow is mainly down to three reasons: being overstressed, not caring for them properly or browning because of age.
It can be frustrating because you believe you have been doing everything right, from watering them, feeding them the right fertilizer and giving them the right amount of light… so what gives?
In this post, we’ll go into further detail about what causes your peace lily flower to turn brown. we’ll also discuss how long the average peaceful lily blossom lives for and what you can do to extend its lifespan.
Continue reading so you’ll know how to get the best out of your Peace Lily:
Table of Contents
Why is my peace lily flower turning brown or Black?
Before we delve further into the discolouration of peace lilies flowers, we’d like to clarify that this post is solely about the flower or spadix of the peace lily plant. The leaves of a peace lily plant can become brown or yellow and, in certain circumstances, black.
Okay, now that we’ve addressed the reason for your peace lily flower’s unfortunate hue, let’s go into further detail about why it’s so terrible:
Peace Lily Flower Stress
An unhappy houseplant is always a stressed houseplant and a Peace Lily is no exception to that. There are many reasons that can cause a peace lily to become stressed. The most common reasons are as follows:
- Incorrect watering (either too much or too little), low humidity, high temperatures and direct sunlight.
- Repotting the plant too often, transplanting it into a pot that is too small, or moving the plant from one location to another can also cause stress.
- Poor soil quality
- Inadequate or direct light
- Lack of the right nutrients
Take a look at the leaves first if you’re worried about your peace lily’s well-being. They can change shape, becoming misshapen or wilted. Their colour might also shift, turning brown, yellow, or even black.
If the colour of the leaves matches that of the peace lily spadix, then it’s likely in distress. In this instance, overwatering is most likely to blame. This is a mistake that many novice indoor gardeners make, we’ve made this mistake in the past.
Not Caring For Your Peace Lily Properly
Some houseplants are quite hardy and can survive for days, if not weeks, without your attention. Peace lilies are not one of those plants! You’ve got to ensure that your peace lily is well-cared for if you want it to flourish. You can do this by following these simple steps:
The peace lily’s best-kept secret is its dislike for direct sunshine
Although peace lilies don’t require intense levels of light, they still need a lot of dappled light. Dappled sunlight is filtered sunlight that falls through other trees, vegetation, or leaves in nature.
You can replicate this by putting your peace lily plant near a window with blinds. This shattered light can be recreated indoors with solid and transparent items in between the sun and your peace lily.
Place your peace lily near a window that faces east. This provides some sun for them, but not too much. Peace lily flowers should be exposed to indirect or dappled light.
Maintain the temperature of your Peace Lily
Peace lilies are native to tropical regions. They love warm, humid climates. You can recreate this climate at home by maintaining an indoor temperature of around 22C (7F).
The cooler the ambient room temperature is, the more likely your peace lily will develop brown flowers and leaves. This can be caused if you place your plant next to a window or radiator in wintertime or on top of hot appliances such as televisions and computers in the summertime.
Peace lilies flourish in humidity, just like many other plants. A humidifier or simply filling a tray with gravel and water (setting the pot on top of the water and gravel tray) can be used to alleviate high humidity levels around your peace lily. Alternatively, you may also mist your plant from time to time.
Something to remember – Avoid fertilizing too often and excessively, as fertilizer may help your peace lily bloom on time if you adhere to the proper timetable. However, avoid overfertilization and fertilizing too frequently. Peace lilies are apparently vulnerable to fertilizer burn, so I propose that you only feed them every six weeks once winter is past.
Peace lilies can grow in soil or in water
You can purchase a peace lily that is pre-soaked in water, or you can place the plant in a pot with soil. If you choose to grow your peace lily in water, remember to change the water every week and add fertilizer every other month.
Watering Your Peace Lily
When watering your peace lilies, we recommend using distilled water or filtered water that is just warm. If you don’t provide enough moisture to your peace lily, the leaves will brown and blacken. Overwatering can cause leaf discolouration and deterioration, as well as leaf browning or blackening if the soil has dried out (this can also discolour and brown the spadix).
The Age of Your Peace Lily
The Life Cycle – Peace lilies have been cultivated by humans for a long time. It takes approximately 3-5 years to get the peace lily to full maturity and bloom, whether you’re starting from scratch or trying to revive an existing plant that has stopped flowering.
Similarities – The peace lily is similar to other common household plants in this regard; it will only produce flowers if it’s big enough and old enough. When considering how long your peace lily should live before blooming, keep in mind that they can grow up to two feet tall at full maturity.
Peace Lilies Change A lot – Even if you do everything correctly for your peace lily, the spadix and leaves will turn brown and black. Why does this happen? Over the course of its lifespan, peace lily blooms do not retain a constant colour or tone. When you first buy or grow a peace lily, it’s green and closed. The flower begins to open up shortly thereafter, changing color from white to pure white as it does so. Then the spadix turns back to white before becoming once again green.
Things to keep an eye on – The seed is beginning to settle in place, and pollination is taking place. The spadix may fade back to white or remain green before turning brown. This is all part of the peace lily’s life cycle. When the spadix becomes brown, it is well on its way to dying. It will begin to wilt and perhaps fall off on its own as a result of this treatment.
People also ask
How Long Do Peace Lily Flowers Last?
Once your peace lily flowers, they will only last only around 10 days. The petals on the flower fall off as the pistil (the stem) matures and the next generation of seeds are ready to be dispersed.
The leaves of the peace lily also turn black or brown as it enters its final stages of life. As with the flowers, this is part of the natural process and should not cause alarm. Eventually, even the leaves will die and fall off, leaving just the bare stem behind.
When Do I Cut Off My Peace Lily’s Dead Parts?
At some point you’re going to have to cut off your peace lily’s dead parts – there’s no getting around it. If you don’t do it, the dead parts will continue to sit there and rot. They’re taking up valuable space that your plant needs, and they can start to smell bad if you let them go too long.
Can You Prolong the Life of Your Peace Lily Flowers?
The peace lily, like every other plant, will eventually die. There is no way to prevent it from happening. However, you can prolong the life of your flowers by taking care of them properly and providing a healthy environment for them to thrive while they’re alive.
Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy your peace lily blossom for longer than about 30 days? Yes, but is it feasible? Perhaps. The spadix may appear healthier and more attractive for longer if you really fine-tune your care regimen for your peace lily plant.
What are peace lilies good for?
- It purifies the air.
- It’s a low-maintenance houseplant.
- It absorbs the acetone vapours.
- It aids in the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone.
- It’s a great way to style up your house décor.
- Maintains a clean home to keep mildew at bay.
- Mould spores are removed from the air.
Can I put peace lily in my bedroom?
Peace lilies are excellent plants for the bedroom. In addition to their elegant appearance and ability to absorb harmful substances from indoor air, peace lilies may assist with sleep quality. They produce small amounts of oxygen at night, which can have a calming effect on the body’s natural circadian rhythm while they’re asleep.
Can I put my peace lily outside in the summer?
In the summer, your Peace Lily will be delighted to be outside in the garden. Place it in the shade for protection. Many people believe that the white spathes are the flowers of the Peace Lily, when in fact they are tiny and blooms on the pointed spadix.
Are coffee grounds good for peace lilies?
The coffee grounds will be beneficial to the peace lily plant. These can be deposited directly around the base of this potted plant. A boost in nitrogen and potassium, which are essential nutrients for healthy growth, is provided by these leftover coffee grounds. You’ll notice a difference in how your peace lily grows as a result of this addition to its soil.
Are Overwatered Peace Lilies Salvageable?
Over-watering damages the roots of peace lilies, making them unable to absorb water or other necessary substances from their environment (nutrients). They’re also prone to root rot when overwatered since they don’t have good drainage and air circulation around their roots due to being placed into container pots with no holes at the bottom.
The leaves of an overwatered peace lily will be wilted and the plant will not bloom. If you catch it in time, before too much damage has been done, there is a chance that your plant can be saved by reducing water and increasing air circulation around the roots. You may need to repot the plant into a pot with drainage holes to ensure good health in the future.
How do you make peace lily leaves bigger?
To encourage your Peace Lily to thrive, give it bright indirect light, carefully monitor watering needs, and lightly fertilize the plant every 2-3 months if necessary. To avoid causing stress on your plant, promptly address any concerns.
What kind of potting soil do peace lilies need?
A high-quality potting mix that drains well is best for peace lilies. You can either purchase a pre-made mix or make your own with equal parts sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. Be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
What kind of fertilizer do I use on my peace lily?
Fertilize your peace lily every other week during the growing season (spring through summer) using a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Are eggshells good for peace lily?
Eggshells are a great source of calcium for your peace lily plant. When you have a few eggshells to spare, crush them into small pieces and sprinkle them around the base of the plant. The shells will decompose over time and release the nutrient-rich goodness directly to the soil where it’s needed.
What is wrong with my peace lily leaves?
One or more of the following may be causing brown or black spots on your peace lily leaves:
- Overwatering.
- Poor drainage in pot.
- Lack of sunlight.
- Fertilizer burn from applying too much fertilizer at once.
