When should you water a Peace Lily? These aroid plants are water hungry. They can be very dramatic when underwatered and will sag visibly.
But if you overwater a Sphatyphyllium, on the other hand, you will be confronted with root rot and might lose your plant.
Finding the right rhythm to water this plant took me a while. I was late for a few times just for 2-3 days. The result was a saggy Peace Lily.
Indoor and outdoor conditions determine how and when to water your peace lily.
Main Takeaways
| Topic | Peace Lily |
|---|---|
| Soil Humidity | Keep the soil slightly humid |
| When to water a Peace Lily | Every 7 days once the soil is almost dry |
Table of Contents
When to Water a Peace Lily?
Water a Peace Lily once the soil is almost dry every seven days. The temperature, lighting, ventilation, and surrounding humidity levels will influence how fast the soil dries out. But factors related to the pot’s size and the plant’s size also affect how much water your Peace Lily requires, as well as the season you are in. Spring and Summer are the main growing seasons where your Peace Lily needs more water than Autumn and Winter.
What Time Should You Water Peace Lily?
Your Peace Lily will need water once the top half of the soil has become almost dry. You should ensure you water your plant before the leaves start to sag.
Water your Sphatyphyllium until you see the water pouring out of the drainage holes. Use well-draining potting soil so that excess water can easily drain out.
If excess water does not drain out, the roots of your plant will start to rot.
Factors That Impact the Watering Schedule of Your Peace Lily
1. Temperature
High-temperature levels will cause your Peace Lily to grow faster but also increase the evaporation rate.
The higher the evaporation, the faster the soil will dry up, and the more often you will have to water your plant.
The other way around, the colder it gets, the less water is required. This is why your Peace Lily needs less water in Autumn and Winter and should be watered more frequently in Spring and Summer.
Since Peace Lily is a tropical plant, it needs to be kept at a temperature over 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 degrees Celsius).
You should also keep your Peace Lily away from cold windows since low-temperature levels can damage your plant.
Keeping the surrounding at 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit (18-30 degrees Celsius) is optimal for your Peace Lily.
2. Lighting
The stronger the sunlight is, the more it will affect the temperature around your plant. It will also affect the growth rate of your Peace Lily since they do not grow blooms indoors.
Growth and temperature have a significant effect on your plant’s water requirements. Over-casting weather conditions can lower light for your plant, and indoor temperatures can also drop.
This means your Peace Lily will require less water in these conditions.
You must always keep your Peace Lily out of the afternoon direct sunlight. But keep it close to an area with bright, indirect sunlight available.
3. Ventilation
Increased ventilation in your house can increase the evaporation level of water. This will cause the soil to lose water faster, and the transpiration rate can also increase.
A little ventilation is good for your plant, but you must keep it away from heaters and air-conditioned rooms.
If the ventilation and airflow are increased, you must water your Peace Lily more frequently.
Lower air circulation will cause less evaporation, so you must water your Peace Lily less.
4. Humidity
Peace Lily loves to be kept in humidity levels that are moderate or high. 60% and more humidity is advisable.
Low humidity levels can cause the leaves to have brown tips, causing your leaves to curl up and droop.
Most plant owners cannot keep humidity levels high around indoor plants, which is why watering is affected as well.
Lower humidity levels cause your plant to dry faster since the transpiration rate increases. Thus, it would be best to try increasing the humidity level around your Peace Lily.
Remember to water your plant often during low humidity levels and use a humidifier to keep the surrounding humidity level high.
5. Pot choice
The larger the pot is, the more soil it has and the slower it will dry out. A mature Peace Lily that is kept in a small pot will use up any water that is available to it.
But a smaller Peace Lily in a large pot will not be able to use up all the water in the soil. Also, remember that the type of pot you choose also determines how often you must water your Peace Lily.
A porous clay pot causes more water to seep out of it and causes the soil to dry up much faster.
A plastic or ceramic pot that has been glazed will be more waterproof and can hold more water in the soil. You must have proper drainage holes at the bottom of every pot.
This is because excess water needs to be drained out of the pot so that the soil is not waterlogged.
Peace Lily generally likes pots that are larger than their size and can tolerate being slightly root-bound.
This will help your soil dry out a little faster, so this is a good option if you have a habit of overwatering.
Letting your Peace Lily stay lightly root bound in a larger pot creates the perfect scenario for you to soak the soil. Then let it remain like that for a week before you water it again.
6. Size of The Plant
The size of your Peace Lily also determines how much water it needs. A large plant will need to consume a larger amount of water as compared to the small one.
Thus, once your plant has matured, you cannot provide it with the same amount of water as you once did when it was young.
Read all about Sphatyphyllium care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I avoid overwatering my Peace Lily?
It is better to underwater your plant than to overwater since recovering it from dehydration is easier. The best is to avoid both. Check if the leaves on your Peace Lily droop slightly before you water your indoor plant again.
How often do you water Peace Lily plants?
Water a Peace Lily about once a week, based on how dry the soil is. Water your Peace, Lily. If the soil is almost dry, one inch deep into the potting mix (2.5cm). A general rule is once a week, but this heavily depends on the environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, airflow, potting mix, the pot, the size of the plant, and the season.
Closing Notes
This houseplant is not the plant you want to forget to water. Water once the soil is almost dry and keep it slightly humid. Knowing when to water a Peace Lily is crucial.
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.