Peace lilies are a popular houseplant, but they can be fickle when it comes to blooming. Thankfully, there’s a natural home remedy that can help your peace lily burst into bloom this spring
It’s the simplest natural hack to exist(Image: OsakaWayne Studios via Getty Images)
With the UK now firmly in the midst of spring’s warmth, gardening fans are busy tackling tasks which will deliver the finest displays.
One particular plant that blossoms and flourishes from spring through to autumn is the cherished peace lily, though it requires care that’s precisely tailored to its requirements.
Countless plant lovers will have encountered the frustrating scenario where their peace lily sits healthy and green on the windowsill, yet stubbornly fails to produce those sought-after elegant white flowers.
So what steps can you take to encourage your treasured peace lilies to flower this spring? There’s one natural household solution that’s proven remarkably effective on non-flowering peace lilies.
The natural remedy has been widely praised for its results on flowerless peace lilies(Image: Getty)
The natural household solution for peace lily blooms
Numerous gardeners choose to steer clear of aggressive chemicals for their indoor plants, favouring instead natural methods and techniques that are gentler on both the plant and the planet, reports the Express.
One such natural household trick that’s received widespread acclaim for its impact on non-flowering peace lilies is watering the plant with a cup of uncooked rice water once monthly.
Rice water is regarded as an excellent natural fertiliser for peace lilies because it contains modest amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus – three vital nutrients that houseplants need to enhance their flowering capacity, promote leaf growth, and support their root system development.
Rice water is also rich in zinc, iron and sulphur — all of which act as natural boosters for plants when applied to soil in the right quantities.
It’s crucial to ensure the raw rice water solution is kept free from oil, salt or any seasoning, as these can prove harmful and detrimental to the growth of your peace lily.
The easy kitchen hack has been known to work wonders for peace lilies(Image: Getty)
Furthermore, rice water contains trace amounts of minerals such as magnesium and B vitamins, which support the plant’s energy production, resulting in larger and more impressive blooms — particularly in peace lilies.
How to use rice water to encourage peace lilies to bloom
Simply add cold tap water to a cup of rice and rinse it thoroughly, either using your hands or stirring with a spoon. The water will quickly turn cloudy — and that’s where the real benefits lie.
Once the rice has been rinsed, pour the remaining starchy solution into a cup or container and use it to water your peace lilies once a month.
If the mixture appears too concentrated, it can be diluted with a little fresh water. It’s worth noting that raw rice water should not be stored for extended periods.
Tishana, gardener and founder of Coco and Seed, explains: “After you wash your rice, the water that is left back contains starches and minerals. The minerals contain trace macronutrients of NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that help your plants grow.”
It appears peace lilies have a surprising affinity for rice, as yet another rice-based tip is said to make “so many flowers explode” on these low-maintenance houseplants.
Peace lily flowers will ‘explode’ with this natural fertiliser(Image: Getty)
On the widely followed YouTube channel Plant Tips, a houseplant and gardening expert revealed how combining rice flour with water can produce spectacular blooms on peace lilies.
The specialist said: “Amazing result, grow peace lily with one cup of rice flour, so many flowers explode.”
To try this method, mix one cup of rice flour into water until you achieve a thin, smooth consistency. This solution can then be used to wipe down the leaves of your peace lily, and any remaining mixture can be poured directly into the plant’s soil.
As with similar natural remedies, it is essential to apply this treatment no more than once a month, as overuse can prove seriously harmful to your plant’s health and development.
The Plant Tips expert was filmed watering their peace lily with the rice flour solution, even decanting it into a spray bottle to mist the plant’s surface.
Three months on, the expert showcased the results, with the peace lily bursting into bloom and appearing considerably healthier and more vigorous than in the earlier footage.
With both of these rice-based methods, it is vital to use the natural fertiliser sparingly — no more than once monthly — and to continue feeding your peace lily with ordinary tap water or rainwater in between treatments.
Comments are closed.