Give your peace lily a boost and watch its beautiful flowers bloom for longer
Peace lilies have long been loved by plant parents for their showy foliage and statement blooms. The good news for owners of these classic houseplants is that you can fertilize them to keep them blooming for longer and even encourage more flowers.
Having indoor plants that flower all year round in your home is a great way to brighten your interiors and fertilizing will help keep them thriving for longer. Peace lilies are among the best indoor plants to add floral interest, so getting to grips with how to feed them can prove beneficial.
We’ve asked experts exactly how to go about fertilizing a peace lily so that you can correctly feed yours.
How to Fertilize a Peace Lily
Fertilizing a peace lily can be beneficial if you want its classic blooms to last longer and showy foliage to stay in prime condition. Our expert guide on how to fertilize a peace lily can help you feed this flowering houseplant correctly.
When it comes to fertilizing a peace lily, timing and using the right fertilizer are key. Improper fertilizing a peace lily can lead to problems like root rot, drooping leaves, and yellow foliage. However, with the right approach, fertilizing a peace lily is easy and will reward you with lush green leaves and long-lasting flowers.
The first step in how to fertilize a peace lily is choosing the right fertilizer. Look for a balanced fertilizer specifically formulated for blooming houseplants. A fertilizer with an NPK ratio like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 is ideal for feeding peace lilies.
Avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen (represented by the first number) as too much nitrogen will promote leafy growth over blooms. High-phosphorus fertilizers can also cause issues for peace lilies. Too much phosphorus leads to salt buildup.
Many plant parents have success with liquid fertilizers diluted to half strength for peace lilies. Others prefer granular or stake fertilizers. Whichever you choose, always follow application instructions carefully.
When applying, simply sprinkle granular fertilizers on the soil surface or insert stakes around the plant’s perimeter. For liquid fertilizers, pour the diluted solution over the soil, avoiding getting any on the plant itself.
Be sure never to fertilize a peace lily with a dry, compacted soil. Water the plant thoroughly first to ensure the fertilizer can access the roots properly.
When Should You Fertilize a Peace Lily?
Timing is also crucial when fertilizing a peace lily. These plants have a distinct seasonal growth cycle and go dormant during winter months. Fertilizing a peace lily at the wrong time can stress the plant.
Peace lilies only need regular fertilizing from early spring through late fall. This is their active growth season when the plant is putting out new foliage and blooms. Feed every 4-6 weeks during this time using a balanced fertilizer at half strength.
Stop fertilizing peace lilies completely in late fall/early winter when the plant’s growth slows. Applying fertilizer during the dormant period will not benefit the plant and may cause fertilizer to accumulate in the soil.
Resume fertilizing again in early spring once new growth appears. An early spring application of a balanced fertilizer gives peace lilies a nutrient boost to kick off their growth cycle.
Also read this post:Cold Shock
How to Fertilize Peace Lily Plants
Now that you know the basics of which fertilizer to use and when to apply it, let’s go over the proper steps for how to fertilize a peace lily:
1. Water the plant thoroughly 1-2 days before fertilizing so the soil is evenly moist.
2. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength or apply granular or stake fertilizers according to package directions.
3. Pour the diluted liquid fertilizer over the soil surface, avoiding leaves and stems. Or sprinkle granular fertilizer evenly over the soil and gently work it in.
4. Apply fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the spring to fall growing season. Reduce to every 6-8 weeks in summer’s peak heat.
5. Avoid getting the liquid fertilizer solution on the leaves as this can cause browning.
6. Always water after applying fertilizer to help distribute it to the roots.
7. Stop fertilizing completely for 2-3 months over the winter while growth is dormant.
Follow those steps for properly fertilizing a peace lily and you’ll have a lush, blooming houseplant to brighten up your home! Feeding these plants gives them the nutrition they need for beautiful growth.
Shop Peace Lily Fertilizer Online
Ready to give your peace lily the perfect fertilizer? Here are some top options to pick up online:
- Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food (liquid)
- Jobe’s Organics Fertilizer Stakes (for recycling nutrients)
- Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food (recharging granular)
- Aquatic Arts Peace Lily Fertilizer Spikes
- Shultz All Purpose Plant Food (water-soluble formula)
Many gardeners prefer Miracle-Gro or Shultz liquid fertilizers since they allow precision feeding. The granular and spike options are also great for steady, slow-release fertilizing. Any balanced bloom booster should keep your peace lily thriving!
What’s the Best Fertilizer for a Peace Lily?
With so many fertilizer options out there, you may be wondering which one is truly best for peace lilies. Plant experts recommend a balanced fertilizer with key nutrients.
“For a peace lily you want a 2-2-2 fertilizer, any organic fertilizer or one specially formulated for blooms,” says Jeannie Psomas, plant expert and owner of The Plant Lady: San Francisco. “Stay away from higher nitrogen formulas, as those will emphasize leaf production rather than flower production.”
A fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (the NPK ratio) provides the well-rounded nutrients peace lilies need. Most “bloom booster” fertilizers fit this balance.
While both synthetic and organic fertilizers work for peace lilies, going organic is a great option. Organic fertilizers provide nutrients through natural ingredients like bone meal, kelp, and feather meal. This provides a gentle feed ideal for houseplants.
No matter which fertilizer you choose, proper dilution and application timing are most important. Carefully follow packaging instructions anytime you fertilize houseplants like peace lilies.
What Happens If You Use Too Much Fertilizer on a Peace Lily?
Like all good things, too much fertilizer can absolutely be a problem for peace lilies. Using too much fertilizer or fertilizing at the wrong time leads to issues like:
- Leaf burn or browning
- Excessive growth/lush foliage
- Slowed/stunted blooming
- Yellow leaves
- Root damage
- Salt/mineral deposits in soil
- Drooping, wilting plants
Over-fertilizing essentially overloads peace lilies with too many nutrients and salts. This can chemically burn the roots and foliage. Excess fertilizer also causes a buildup of mineral salts that make it difficult for the plant to absorb water and nutrients properly.
If a peace lily seems sick despite religious fertilizing, too much food may be the issue. Flush the soil thoroughly with water to leach out excess fertilizer. Then take a break from fertilizing for a while.
When in doubt, go easy on the fertilizer for peace lilies. Too little is better than too much. Following instructions for houseplant fertilizers ensures you don’t overdose your plants.
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Of course, fertilizing is just one part of caring for peace lilies and keeping houseplants thriving. There’s still watering considerations, humidity requirements, pest control and more.
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Peace lilies are beautiful flowering houseplants that every plant lover should grow. With the right fertilizing routine tailored to their needs, you can maximize their lush growth and prolific blooms.
Now that you know how to fertilize a peace lily, you can feed yours with confidence. Apply a bloom-boosting balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks from spring to fall. Allow your plant a dormancy period in winter. With proper fertilizing, you’ll be rewarded with bountiful white blooms all year.
FAQs:
When to fertilize peace lily?
You should fertilize a peace lily every 4-6 weeks during the spring, summer, and fall growing seasons. During the winter months when the plant is dormant, avoid fertilizing as it can lead to fertilizer burn or other issues.
What is the best homemade fertilizer for peace lily?
A great homemade fertilizer for peace lilies is a compost tea made by steeping compost in water for a few days. You can also try making a banana peel fertilizer by soaking banana peels in water for a week or two.
Do peace lilies like banana water?
Yes, peace lilies benefit from and seem to enjoy banana water. The nutrients in banana water act as a gentle fertilizer that gives peace lilies a nutrient boost to promote lush growth and blooming.
What is good for peace lily?
Bright, indirect light, consistent moisture, and high humidity are ideal conditions for peace lilies to thrive. Using a peat-based potting mix amended with perlite for drainage is also beneficial for these tropical plants.