Peace Lily Yellow Leaves – 10 Reasons [+Best Remedies!]

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Peace Lily Yellow Leaves?

Look no further. I am going to tell y0u everything about the causes of yellow leaves on a Peace Lily and what you can do about it.

The Peace Lily plant is known for its broad tropical leaves and its classic blooms that people often confuse for flowers.

This plant is the most recommended plant for beginners as it is not a demanding plant.

However, a Peace Lily can suffer from yellow leaves, and this can seem a bit discouraging. But the solutions for yellow leaves are simple, and if followed correctly, your plant can thrive again.

 

Peace Lily Yellow Leaves

Peace Lily leaves can turn yellow for a number of reasons, such as aging leaves, overwatering, underwatering, water quality, lighting issues, nutrient deficiencies, repotting, temperature, and pests, diseases. However, treating these issues is not difficult and but it can take time. But first, understanding what caused your Peace Lily leaves to turn yellow may take some time.

 

 

 

10 Reasons Why Peace Lily Leaves Are Turning Yellow

 

1. Aging Leaves

The most natural reason for a Peace Lily to develop yellow leaves is aging.

Once the leaves on a Peace Lily become old they will turn yellow and fall off.

So if the oldest leaves on a Peace Lily are turning yellow, it is completely natural.

The plant is reclaiming the water and nutrients and is sucking it out of the old leave that has served its purpose.

Please do not cut it off immediately as this way your Peace Lily cannot reclaim the nutrients and moisture.

 

 

2. Over-watering and 3. Under-watering

Over-watering is one of the main reasons why your Peace Lily is getting yellow leaves.

It is one of the most common problems faced by indoor plant owners.

Having too much water close to the roots prevents oxygen from being delivered to the roots. The problem with over-watering is that too much water can cause the roots to rot.

This can be due to a lack of drainage holes or having a poor draining potting mix.

However, over-watering is not the only issue faced by plant owners. Oftentimes indoor plant owners also end up under-watering their plants.

It is not good for Peace Lily if this practice continues for a long period of time.

They are not drought resistant, and starving them of water will cause the leaves to fall off and damage the plant.

 

 

4. Water Quality

Though Peace Lily is not a delicate plant, it is sensitive to chlorine.

Chlorine is known to cause yellow leaves on plants.

Tap water is the main culprit behind high chlorine in water, which is why it is best to avoid watering your Peace Lily with it.

 

 

5. Lighting Issues

In their natural habitat, they grow as forest undergrowth, so they prefer shaded areas.

Peace Lily is one of the few house plants that can survive in dim corners.

Peace Lily plants can live in low light conditions.

However, they can only survive in them but can not produce blooms in low light.

Therefore you should increase the intensity of light, but very high light can cause the leaves to turn yellow.

 

 

6. Temperature Issues

The Peace Lily plant thrives in temperatures between sixty-five to eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit (eighteen to 29 degrees Celsius).

This is why they can be kept as indoor plants.

However, if your plant starts developing yellows leaves, then the cause can be that it is being kept under high or low temperatures.

 

 

7. Nutrient Deficiencies

Peace Lily does not require a lot of fertilizer as they only need basic nutrition to survive.

However, like many other plants, even Peace Lily starts developing yellow leaves due to a lack of nitrogen.

Magnesium or iron deficiencies can be another cause, and they are easier to spot.

If the plant has either deficiency, then leaves will turn yellow, but the veins remain green.

 

 

8. Repotting

This plant is easygoing and does not need to be repotted or transplanted often.

But like any other plant, it still needs space to grow and enough nutrients in the soil to thrive.

If the plant has become too large for the pot, then the soil will not be able to retain the nutrients needed by the plant, which results in yellow leaves.

 

 

9. Pests

Peace Lily does not attract a lot of pests, unlike other houseplants.

If they are kept clean and healthy, then bugs will stay away from them.

However, they are not immune and can be attacked by insects and pests.

The pests feed on plant juices which can easily cause yellow leaves.

 

 

10. Disease

If your Peace Lily is affected by Cylindrocladium spathyphylli and Phytophthora parasitica fungi, then this can be the cause for yellow leaves as well.

These two diseases live in the soil and can cause the roots to rot.

 

 

Solutions for Yellow Leaves on Peace Lilies

 

Provide Proper Amount of Water

It is best to plant your Peace Lily in a soil mix that is light and holds on to moisture but drains.

You can use perlite, vermiculite, and tiny rocks to help retain moisture and promote drainage as well.

Organic mixes are also a good choice and are perfect for Peace Lily. Make sure there are proper drainage holes present at the bottom of the pot.

If you do not know when to water your plant again, let the roots dry up before watering the plant again. This will stop the roots from rotting.

Peace Lily likes moist soil.

Thus, the other way to know when to water your plant is by checking if the top half of the soil is dried up.

 

Look into Water Quality

Providing your Peace Lily with proper water is another way to prevent it from developing yellow leaves.

It is good to let your houseplant water sit overnight. This lets the chlorine out of the water and won’t cause your roots to burn.

For best results, consider using rainwater or distilled water for your Peace Lily rather than tap water.

Also, make sure to read our water guide for houseplants!

 

Fix Lighting

Your Peace Lily can develop yellow leaves if it is kept under sunlight that is too strong.

Direct sunlight can burn or scorch the leaves.

You can fix this issue by simply filtering out the light or moving the plant into a shaded area.

 

Keep Under Proper Temperature

Remember to keep your Peace Lily in temperatures between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 29 degrees Celsius). If it is too hot or gets too cold, then the leaves will turn yellow.

The solution is to move your plant to a temperature zone where it can survive and not be harmed.

 

Provide Enough Fertilizer

The best option for Peace Lily is to keep them in organic soil as it can provide the plant with all the nutrients that it needs.

You can also give your plant a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once a month.

A 20-20-20 fertilizer will ensure that your plant not only has good foliage but can also grow blooms.

 

Repot Your Plant

Try to repot your plant during the spring seasons as it is the start of its growing season.

This will allow your plant to get used to its new pot and grow into it a little.

But if your Peace Lily starts to develop yellow leaves after repotting, then you need to give it time and care.

 

Get Rid of Pest and Fight Diseases

The main pests that attack every indoor plant are mealybugs and aphids.

If you do not water your Peace Lily enough, then you can also see spider mites.

To get rid of these pests, simply use neem oil or insecticidal soap spray.

If your plant is suffering from a disease such as Cylindrocladium spathyphylli and Phytophthora parasitica fungi, then it may be too late to save it.

But you can stop them from affecting your Peace Lily by letting the soil dry out between watering and using sterilized equipment.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Peace Lily Yellow Leaves

 

Should I cut off the yellow leaves on my Peace Lily plant?

Cutting off some parts of your plant promotes growth, so cutting off yellow leaves will not harm your plant. You can cut off yellow leaves, but trying to solve the issue is a better option.

 

Will the yellow leaves of my Peace Lily turn green again?

The yellow leaves on your Peace Lily will never turn green again, but they can still be beneficial for your plant. If your whole plant has yellow leaves due to issues such as under-watering, then let the yellow leaves stay on the plant.