I purchased a peace lily, which was beautiful while in flower, about a year and a half ago. It continues to put out new leaves, but it has been a few months since it’s flowered. What can I do to encourage it to flower?
— Linda Hauser, Algonquin
You made a good choice for a houseplant since this one is easy to care for. Spathiphyllum, or peace lily, is an evergreen tropical plant found on the forest floor of rainforests. Most people buy peace lilies when they’re in flower since, naturally, they’re drawn to flowering plants in garden centers. Peace lilies can be erratic in flowering and are not restricted to any one season, but there are lots of free-flowering varieties on the market that you could look into purchasing. A mature plant should flower every couple of months if it’s healthy and in a good location. The part of the plant that provides the color is not the flower, but the spathe, a large bract or modified leaf that forms a sheath to enclose the flower cluster.
I wonder if your peace lily is in too dark of a space in your home. Peace lilies are tolerant of low-light conditions, but they’re less likely to flower in extremely low light. Putting the plant on an east-facing windowsill or near a south- or west-facing window might encourage it to bloom since it likes bright, indirect light. In summer, when the temperature stays above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you can move your plant outside to a shady location — peace lilies will burn in direct sun. Also, I recommend using diluted fertilizer for peace lilies twice a month during the growing season.
This plant needs evenly moist, well-drained soil while growing and flowering. Let the growing medium dry out some between waterings when the plant is in a slow growth mode. To keep it healthy and fresh-looking, wipe dust off the leaves with a damp cloth as needed, and trim off any yellow leaves. You can also remove spent flowers, so the plant will continue blooming. Increasing light, water, humidity, and fertilizer may nudge a plant to flower. Keep in mind, though, that older plants sometimes don’t flower as well as young plants. I would purchase another peace lily and try again if you can’t convince this one to bloom.
For more plant advice, contact the Plant Information Service at the Chicago Botanic Garden at plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
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