Peace Lily Planter – A Comprehensive Guide to Growing
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.) are among the bestselling houseplants, admired for their plush foliage and dainty white flowers, and loved for their easy-care nature. They not only look nice but also do nice. They literally clean the air. Having peace lilies in a stylish, functional planter will help to accentuate their loveliness and keep them vibrant and flourishing. This article will review key criteria for selecting a planter for your peace lily and how to plant and care for your peace lily and address common problems.
Understanding the Peace Lily
It is important to know the general traits and requirements of peace lilies to understand the context of planters yet to be described. As their common name indicates, these plants came originally from the tropical rainforests found in Central and South America. They thrive naturally in tropical environments where temperatures are warm and humidity is high. They need to be placed in a spot where they get indirect, light. Their sprouting flowers (more specifically known as spathes, which can be mistaken for flowers) grow around a central part of the plant known as the spadix, which is the real flowering part of the plant. Normally, they are quite easy to grow and care for, which is why many novice and experienced plant parents favour them.
Peace lilies should be kept in humidity but are easily killed by overwatering, so if your bathroom is dry or a bit cramped, do not place your new peace lily there. Peace lilies can also tolerate low light, but ultimately will flower more when given bright indirect light. By acquiring a basic understanding of your plant’s requirements, you will be better able to select the right vessel and care regimen.
Choosing the Right Peace Lily Planter
It’s important to choose a planter that reflects your needs and preferences and enhances the beauty and plant health of your peace lily. Here are nine considerations when selecting a peace lily planter:
Size of the Planter
Your peace lily’s health closely correlates to the size of its planter. Being a shrubby plant with a shallow root system, peace lilies do not require deep planters. Too large a pot can result in a larger amount of soil, which holds more water than it needs, increasing the risk of developing root rot. On the other hand, a planter that is too shallow will curb root growth, leaving you with a stunted plant.
A planter that’s between 10 and 12 inches in diameter will be a good match for a mature peace lily. If you are repotting a smaller plant or are dividing an already mature plant, a planter that’s around 2 to 4 inches larger in diameter than your peace lily’s current pot should fit nicely. The size of the planter will give your peace lily room to grow, as well as preventing your plant’s roots from becoming overwhelmed by a planter that’s too large.
Drainage
Drainage is the first and foremost requirement of any peace lily planter. That’s because peace lilies are sensitive to overwatering, so it’s crucial that your planter has enough drainage holes to allow excess water to escape and to keep water from pooling at the bottom of your planter.
If your planter of choice doesn’t have drainage holes, drill or poke some, or else just use it as a decorative topping for a functional planter with holes. At the bottom of that planter, a layer of gravel or small stones will help improve drainage and keep your roots from sitting in water.
Material of the Planter
Different kinds of planters are made of different materials, and each planter has different virtues and drawbacks, which may affect how much moisture, warmth and care your peace lily needs.
Terracotta Planters: Terracotta is porous, so air and moisture can pass through, which helps to prevent overwatering and reduce the risk of damping off, the particularly unpleasant condition that occurs when a plant’s roots rot and it’s ultimately killed by overwatering. However, this means that the soil may dry out faster, so water your peace lily more often when using a terracotta pot. Terracotta is a good choice for people who overwater their plants.
Ceramic Planters: ceramic planters are usually glazed which decreases their porosity compared to terracotta, and reduces the risk of them taking up salt in their structure. They also retain water for much longer, are decorative, lightweight and come in all colours and shapes. While ceramic pots are decorative, remember to check whether they have drainage holes to avoid waterlogging.
Plastic Planters: Plastic planters are lightweight, less expensive, and great at retaining soil moisture, making them a good choice for peace lilies. They’re also a good choice when it comes to weight – as these plants get heavy as they get bigger – and are more practical than ceramic or terracotta. If you go with plastic, put the planter inside a more decorative ‘cover pot’.
Modern: Metal planters can bring a clean-lined, modern look to your decor, but they’re much too hot for peace lilies. Slam a metal planter into the sun and its surface will heat up, fast. The last place for a peace lily is right next to a sunny window. If you choose metal, line it with a thermo-protective material, and be sure to regularly check soil moisture levels.
Style and Aesthetics
Functionality is an important factor but don’t forget the planter’s aesthetic appeal. A peace lily is a lovely plant, and choosing the right planter can make it look even better. Think about the style of your room when you pick a planter – whether your decor is Scandi, rustic or contemporary, there’s a planter out there to suit.
Planting and Repotting Your Peace Lily
Now that you’ve chosen your perfect peace lily planter, the final thing you need to do is plant or pot up your peace lily. Planting is the most important step in ensuring your peace lily’s perfect health for years to come.
Preparing the Planter
Make sure that your planter has plenty of drainage holes, and that it’s clean and ready for fresh soil. If you don’t have a planter with holes, consider using it as a decorative planter ‘topper’ for a functional, well-drained pot, or drill holes in it. A layer of small stones or gravel at the bottom of the planter can help maximise drainage and prevent the roots from sitting in water.
Choosing the Right Soil
Unless you use an organic potting media, peace lilies won’t do as well because they stay moister than potting mix, which they don’t need as much. The collection of soil used for peace lilies ought to be somewhat water retentive but at the same time shouldn’t give them too much moisture. A mix that works very well includes one part peat moss, one part perlite, and one part pine bark. However, many people prefer to use a high-quality indoor plant potting mix and, if it is coloured, they may add an additional 10 per cent perlite to the mix to ensure proper drainage.
Planting the Peace Lily
To plant or repot your peace lily, follow these steps:
Un-potted: Pull the peace lily out of its pot. If your peace lily is root-bound, use your fingers or a small tool to loosen the roots.
Stand the Plant: Put the peace lily in the middle of the new planter. Make sure the top of the root ball is an inch below the pot rim – to prevent toppling when you water, make sure it will be above the water line.
Fill With Soil: Place the potting mix around the root ball, pressing the mix in to remove air holes. The plant should stand upright and be stable.
Tend: Water them really well after potting – enough so that the water runs out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. You want to settle in the soil.
Placement: Put the planter in a very bright spot but out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.
Caring for Your Peace Lily
Ensuring that your peace lily is well-cared for is of paramount importance if you want it to thrive. The following aspects of peace lily care are key to any successful procedure.
Watering
Peace lilies likewise enjoy soil kept moist but not sodden. Gauge your peace lily’s watering needs by touching the top inch of soil when it feels dry, then watering with room temperature water to the point where excess will run out the drainage holes of the pot. If left standing in water, the roots can rot, so avoid letting water collect in the container. You are better off with slightly dry soil than soggy.
Light
Peace lilies like bright, indirect light but it will tolerate lower light situations – the plant will grow and flower less when in a low light situation. To get more flowers from your pc, put it in a brightly indirect lighted area. Avoid direct sunlight, though, which will scorch the leaves.