Peace Lilies were first discovered in 1824 in the Columbian Jungles. Since then, these plants have been admired for both indoor and outdoor gardening.
Peace Lilies are labeled as the ‘Perfect Houseplants’ because they are easy to grow, bloom periodically and get few pests or diseases. These plants also adapt well to low-light environments.
If you are growing a Peace Lily, you have obviously heard the flowers are white. But yours are green which leaves you wondering if you are doing something wrong.
Table of Contents
Why Your Peace Lily Flowers are Green?
Peace Lily plants produce unique white flowers that stand tall above the foliage. The flowers on a Peace Lily are green in two cases. They are either newly formed or declined older blooms. However, overfertilization and improper sunlight can also be the reason behind the greening of flowers.
What Color Are Peace Lily Blooms?
Peace Lilies symbolize purity, hope, and healing. Therefore, they are a popular gift for several occasions.
Most Peace Lily varieties bloom heavily in winter, but they can also bloom in spring or fall, and this plant can bloom periodically throughout the year with consistent plant care.
Although the Peace Lily flowers are a white curved spathe, the bloom can develop hints of green or turn completely green.
The flowers are large but have a single petal (spathe) on a cream-colored stem. The actual flowers are the spadix, clustered around the stem.
The blooms that consist of a spadix and spathe are known as inflorescence. In the development stage, the spathe is wrapped around the spadix. Once mature, the spathe unfurls to expose the flowers.
The inflorescence appears green at first, but as the plant prepares to unfurl the blooms, the spathe turns cream white.
As the blooming phase ends, the spathe slowly starts turning green. This type of greening is part of the natural blooming process of the Peace Lily plant.
This green color is due to chlorophyll because the flower is a modified leaf. Therefore it can perform photosynthesis.
Peace Lily flowers are long-lasting compared to many other houseplants, but sadly they will die. The flowers start dying and darken after turning green.
Some people like keeping the green flowers until they are completely black or brown. But if it reduces the overall beauty of your plant, you can prune the flowers when they start greening.
Once the flowers lose their glossy finish and turn yellow then brown, you can consider them dead. This might happen overnight or over a period of few days.
Separating these faded flowers will focus the useful energy towards new growth or blooming. Deadhead pruning will also prolong the blooming period for your Peace Lily plant.
Other Reasons for Green Blooms
Over Fertilization
As tropical plants, Peace Lilies benefit greatly from the regular application of fertilizers. However, too much feeding is not good for the blooms. Similarly, under fertilizing will result in no blooms.
If you have managed to produce blooms on your Peace Lily, but they never turn white, this is a clear sign of over-fertilizing.
If your blooms have remained green due to over-fertilization, the color cannot be reversed even after you reduce fertilization. But it will definitely prevent your plant from producing entirely green blooms next time.
Improper Sunlight
Peace Lilies are known to thrive in low sunlight. However, the plants that are younger than 12 months or those who have been recently transplanted do not bloom if placed in very low light.
Peace Lilies are low-light houseplants. If you place them under very strong light, the plant produces green blooms. More sunlight means your plant will perform photosynthesis at a higher rate, and the green pigment in the flowers dominates.
Improper sunlight is also the common cause behind no blooms on Peace Lilies. Never place the Peace Lilies in a dark shady place. They will never bloom.
Avoiding Green Blooms on Peace Lily
Apply a mild dose of fertilizer at different times throughout the year when the plant is blooming or growing actively.
You should apply the fertilizer according to the instructions by the manufacturer, but in the case of permanently green blooms, you should reduce the rate by half. I apply a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer to my Peace Lilies every three months.
Improve light conditions for your plant by moving it to a brighter location with indirect sunlight. But make sure your Peace Lily does not sit under direct sunlight.
Peace Lily care includes planting them in a peat-based soil mixture and allowing the mixture to dry in between watering.
For healthy blooms, you should also maintain the recommended temperature. My Peace Lilies are blooming perfectly in temperatures ranging from 68 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 29.4 degrees Celsius).
You should also take care of the humidity in winter since the central heating creates a dry atmosphere. The preferred humidity for any Peace Lily variety is usually above 50%.
Indoor humidity can be easily elevated using a humidifier or a pebble-tray.
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Blooms on Peace Lilies
Should I cut the green flowers on Peace Lily?
I would suggest cutting the flowers only when they turn brown or black. However, some growers do not find the green flowers appealing. If that is the case for you, you can trim the green flower if you like to do so.
My Peace Lily flowers never turned white, why is that?
If the young spathes retain their green color and never turn white, the most common reason is lighting. Your plant was placed under poor light. I would suggest keeping it in bright indirect light to have beautiful white blooms in the future.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.