How to Propagate Peace Lily?
As a gardener or plant lover, you always want to add more beauty to your garden. One of the best ways to do this is by learning how to propagate peace lily.
Peace Lilies are not only beautiful and vibrant, but they’re also surprisingly easy to take care of and quite portable, making them perfect for any indoor space.
This article will provide an in-depth look at the process of propagating peace lily so that you can enjoy more of these eye-catching plants in your home or garden.
From choosing the proper pot size and preparing the soil, through taking cuttings and maintaining it during its growing period.
We discuss it all so that you have everything necessary for success.
Types of Peace Lilies
Types of Peace Lilies come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each boasting their signature glossy evergreen spathes and white flowers.
Mauna Loa
The Mauna Loa is the most common peace lily and is easily recognizable for its large leaves and abundant blooms which can be seen year-round.
This variety can reach heights of up to 3-4 feet tall when mature.
For those looking for a more petite lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii provides a good option to consider.
As the only non-hybridized peace lily, it has smaller stature than other varieties, often reaching heights of only 1 foot tall.
Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum
Another popular option is Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum, also known as the “white sails” peace lily.
Due to its elongated leaves which give them the appearance of white sails billowing in the wind.
This variety does best in lower light conditions and typically reaches a height of 2 feet tall when mature.
For those looking for something with a bit more color, Spathiphyllum ‘Clevelandii’ offers deep green foliage and delicate creamy white flowers.
This makes it an eye-catching addition to any home or office space.
It generally grows between 1-2 feet tall at maturity.
How to Propagate Peace Lilies
1: Gather the supplies you will need to propagate your peace lily.
This includes a pair of scissors or sharp knife, potting soil or perlite, a container for the new plant, and water.
2: Carefully remove any faded or dead leaves from the existing peace lily by cutting them off with the scissors or knife at their base.
This will help prevent them from sapping energy from the new plants you are propagating.
3: Cut away a few healthy and mature leaves from around the edge of the existing peace lily plant.
Each cutting should have three to four leaf nodes on it.
Make sure that each leaf node has at least two leaflets attached to it as this will help promote successful propagation.
4: Place each cutting into its own pot filled with either potting soil or perlite.
Making sure that each leaf node is covered with material but not submerged in it entirely.
Water each cutting and cover them with plastic bags if necessary to retain moisture until they have rooted securely into their soil containers.
5: Transplant each newly rooted peace lily when they are big enough for individual pots and once all danger of frost has passed in your local area.
Choose pots that are slightly larger than what was used for rooting these smaller plants for the best results.
As this allows for better airflow and access to nutrients over time.
6: Place your new peace lilies in indirect sunlight. Since these plants prefer bright but indirect light and can scorch easily if exposed directly to too much sun at once.
7: Take care not to overwater your new peace lilies.
Instead, wait until the top inch of soil is dry before adding more water.
Generally speaking, allowing one inch of water per week is sufficient. Depending on the humidity level of your home as well as other environmental factors like temperature and ventilation indoors.
8: Fertilize your new peace lilies every six months using a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
This ensures that there won’t be too much fertilizer available at once.
As this could cause root burn or other damage to young roots and foliage alike.
Where do you cut a peace lily to propagate?
To propagate a peace lily, you need to make a clean cut at the base of the plant.
It is best to use a sharp blade such as a knife or pair of scissors for this.
You should cut into the crown of the plant and try to take with it some roots attached.
In general, the section taken should have at least two leaves and contain multiple crowns.
A useful piece of advice is to use rubbing alcohol on your cutting tool before making the cut so that any potential diseases are not passed onto the new plant.
It is also important to keep in mind that peace lilies are quite resilient, so it is likely they will survive most divisions regardless of what methods or tools are used.
When making a cut for propagation, it is best to take only one section since taking too many at once can cause shock and injury to the plant.
Additionally, it is advisable to minimise any stress on the mother plant by taking no more than 25% of its mass in total during successive divisions over its lifetime.
It can be beneficial for both plants (the mother and new) if you wait until spring when growth activity starts before trying your hand at propagating peace lilies.
This way both plants will have access to more sunlight and resources so that they can recover more quickly from any wounds suffered during division.
Common problems with peace lilies
Fungal diseases
Common problems with Peace Lilies include fungal diseases that can cause their leaves to die or fall off.
The most common fungal diseases of Peace Lilies are Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium aphanidermatum, both of which cause root rot.
Other fungi that can infect Peace Lilies include Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora parasitica, andBotrytis cinerea.
The symptoms of root rot in Peace Lilies include wilting, yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and leaf drop.
Poor drainage and/or overly wet soil can also contribute to disease development.
To help prevent fungal infections in Peace Lilies, it is important to water the plant when the top inch of soil is dry and use well-draining potting mixes.
If signs of infection become apparent, move the plant to a different pot with fresh potting soil and treat it with a fungicide according to the product label’s directions.
Underwatering
Another common problem with Peace Lilies is underwatering.
When underwater, the tips of Peace Lily’s leaves will start to turn brown as its roots struggle for water resources.
If this happens, immediately move the plant into a larger container filled with fresh potting mix and water regularly until it starts to revive again.
It may take some time for the brown tips on its leaves to go away.
But by increasing watering frequency gradually over time, you should be able to jumpstart your plant back into good health soon enough.
How to get peace lilies to bloom
Getting peace lilies to bloom can be challenging, but with proper care and environmental conditions, you can enjoy beautiful blooms twice a year.
Here are 5 tips on what you need to know:
First, provide the right lighting.
Peace lilies prefer medium, indirect light.
Keep them away from direct sunlight, as it can scorch their leaves and compromise the health of your plant.
If your peace lily is not near a window that provides enough natural light. You may need to supplement its exposure with fluorescent or LED lights designed for indoor plants.
Second, give them enough water and humidity.
Water your peace lily regularly, but don’t overwater. Let the top inch of soil dry out between each watering session.
Additionally, these tropical plants love humidity, misting the leaves every few days will help encourage blooming.
You can also put your peace lily on top of a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase humidity levels around the plant.
Thirdly, fertilize regularly.
Use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer or slow-release pellets at least once every 6 weeks during spring and fall for optimal results.
Make sure to dilute liquid fertilizer according to instructions before applying it to avoid burning your plant’s foliage or roots.
Finally, give your peace lily ideal growing conditions.
Keep the temperature between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit (18-27 Celsius), and avoid drafts near windows or doorways that could disturb its fragile environment and harm its growth cycle.
Moreover, if possible rotate your plant every few weeks. So all sides receive equal amounts of light for even growth and flowering potential.
With adequate lighting, proper hydration levels, regular fertilization and optimal temperatures in mind, as well as patience.
Your peace lily should produce beautiful flowers for up two months in the spring and fall seasons.
Do peace lilies multiply?
Yes, peace lilies can multiply and reproduce fairly quickly.
Division is the most common way of propagating them, as one single plant can be split up into multiple pieces to create new plants.
This is done by gently pulling apart the rootball of an adult peace lily and separating it into several smaller sections with a sharp knife.
Each section should have a few healthy leaves and roots in order to survive and thrive after being replanted.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is clear that propagating a peace lily can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
With the right care and attention, your peace lily will thrive and quickly become a beautiful and vibrant addition to any space.
Always remember to start with a healthy mother plant, use sterilized tools when dividing and repotting, and keep your propagated pieces in warm and moist soil.
With these tips in mind, you will find that propagating peace lilies is a breeze. In no time at all, you’ll have more peace lilies than ever before.