How often to water peace lily

The interval

A peace lily is watered about every 5 days in the growing season and about every 8 days in winter. The growing season is spring to early autumn wherever you live, so the northern and southern hemispheres are on opposite halves of the calendar, and the Royal Horticultural Society advises reducing watering slightly in winter when growth slows. This plant is kept lightly moist, not dried out between drinks, so the interval is a ceiling and not a target.

Push a finger into the compost and water when the top 2 cm is dry. The RHS says to water once the top few centimetres have dried, and the Missouri Botanical Garden says to let the soil dry between waterings without letting the plant wilt. Weight is the second check. Lift the pot after a drink and again when the finger test says it is time, and a pot that has gone light has run dry. If the compost dries out very quickly after watering, the RHS says the plant may need a larger pot.

This plant tells you about thirst in the most dramatic way a houseplant can. It collapses, and it stands back up within an hour or two of a drink. Do not be reassured by that, because every wilt kills a few roots and browns a few leaf tips. Too much water is quieter and more dangerous. The lower leaves turn yellow, and in compost that stays wet the roots rot, which is what actually kills a peace lily.

Keep the mix lightly moist rather than soaking it every time. Pour slowly over the compost until a little runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. The RHS says the fluoride in tap water can damage the leaves, so use rainwater or filtered water where you can.

The thing particular to this plant is the air. Humidity is high on its list of needs, and dry air browns the leaf edges however well it is watered. A tray of damp pebbles under the pot, or a bathroom, does more for it than extra water.

Related guides

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