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» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2003 » peace lilly

   
Author Garden: peace lilly
doogie
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Member # 760

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Why is my peace lilly getting brown on the tips of the leaves? Also, how can I get it to bloom?
Plants: 3 | From: home | Registered: Apr 2003  |  Seeded: 205.188.208.104
Will Creed
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Discoloration on the edges and tips of peace lily leaves is very common and sometimes hard to eliminate. Unfortunately, there are numerous causes of these symptoms, including natural aging, improper light, allowing the soil to get too dry, overfertilizing, and using hard water.

If these symptoms are appearing on only a few of the older (lower) leaves, then it is just natural aging as the older leaves are replaced by healthy new leaves. If it is more extensive than that, then continue below.

The best light is bright indirect light. That would be right in front of an unobstructed, uncurtained north window. It might also be in front of a south window that is covered with the sheerest of curtains. Or it could be right under overhead office fluorescent lights. Any window with the shades drawn will not provide adequate light. Any direct sunlight is too strong for peace lilies.

It is best to water your peace lily just BEFORE it starts to wilt. Although peace lilies do perk up after watering, wilting does cause leaves to yellow several days later. Soil that is constantly wet will cause leaf tips to turn black.

Fertilizer and hard water both contain mineral salts. These minerals build up over time, burn tender roots, and cause leaf margins to discolor. The solution is to stop fertilizing (fertilizer doesn't help much anyway) and to use filtered or distilled water if your local tap water is on the hard side.

Sometimes it is just easier to trim off the discolored leaf edges when they appear and not worry about it. These symptoms are almost never a sign of disease or poor plant health.

As for flowering - Provide lots of bright indirect light, keep it potbound, and add some fertilizer at half strength every month or so. Some varieties of peace lily are better bloomers than others.


Seeded: 24.239.134.109
   

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