Houseplants 101

By Yasmin Concepcion

Hi, my name is Yashie and I’m an indoor plant addict.

Being a self-confessed plant addict does not, by any means, make me an expert on indoor and tropical plants. All I have to offer is my experience with the varieties I’ve had and lost, those that I still have and struggle to keep alive, and the ones I have successfully kept alive and healthy for months or years.

The peace lily, or Spathiphyllum wallisii, is not a real lily despite its name. It is actually a member of the Araceae family, same as anthuriums, calla lilies and monsteras, native to the tropical regions of the Americas and southeast Asia. They thrive on the forest floors, receiving dappled sunlight which makes them perfect house and office plants.

Self-confessed plant addict Yasmin.

Aside from the gorgeous foliage, with creamy white flowers giving a striking contrast to their rich, deep, emerald green leaves, another reason they are great houseplants is their air cleaning ability. Identified by the NASA Clean Air Study to be one of the top 10 indoor plants for air purification, the peace lily is able to break down and neutralize toxic gases like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. So, it’s good to have a peace lily plant, or two… or three.

One of the reasons I love the peace lily is because its care and growing requirements are very straightforward and effortless. It tells you what it needs, you just have to know what it’s telling you.

Light

They usually thrive in medium to low light, even artificial light. But if you want your peace lilies to produce more of those white spathes and flowers, give them more light, but not direct sunlight as that will burn their leaves.

Good drainage is very important!

Water

Peace lilies like evenly moist soil. Have a regular watering schedule once a week or check the soil. When the top one to two inches of soil is dry, it’s time to water. If they go too dry between waterings, they wilt. But don’t worry, just give them a deep and thorough drink of water and they will bounce back. The best way to bring them back to life is to put them in the sink (or tub) and just give them a shower. Make sure that water runs out of the pot’s drainage holes to make sure that the water reaches the roots. Don’t let your plant sit in water as this will cause root rot. And remember that underwatering is better than overwatering. A peace lily will tell you when it is thirsty and will come back after watering. But if you overwater your plant, there is no coming back from that.

Like most tropical plants, peace lilies like high humidity.

Humidity

Peace lilies like high humidity like all other tropical plants. But living in Canada where the seasons are extreme, it is difficult to get those “tropical conditions” without help. So, place your peace lily by a humidifier or just mist it every day. You can also place the pot on a pebble tray with water to increase the humidity around your peace lily.

Feeding

Peace lilies don’t need too much fertilizer. I’ve fertilized my variegated peace lily ‘Domino’ probably once this summer with a regular house plant fertilizer and it is doing just fine.

Repotting and soil

If your peace lily starts drooping less than a week after watering, it means that it has outgrown the pot that it’s in. To verify this, check the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. If roots start to come through it, it’s time to move to a bigger pot. Choose one that is one size bigger than its current pot. The soil should be well-draining but also able to retain water.

Peace Lily in bloom.

Some plant enthusiasts would say the best way to make sure that you’ve got the right soil is to mix your own. One of my peace lilies is still in the same nursery pot and soil it’s been in since last year. I just topped up the soil with regular potting mix.

Toxicity

The peace lily is mildly toxic to pets and small children. It contains a chemical called calcium oxalate crystals which can cause severe irritation, pain and swelling in the mouth if you bite the leaves. Make sure to keep it away from curious pets and children.

Varieties

There are about 40 varieties of peace lilies which are mostly hybrids of the original plant. The ones that are worth mentioning, and are easy enough to find in garden centres and even box stores, are:

‘Domino’: A variegated hybrid with beautiful dark green leaves speckled with white streaks.

‘Sensation’: The largest of the hybrids with massive leaves; it can reach a height of six feet.

‘Little Angel’: A dwarf variety that will be great for your desk or shelf.

Peace lilies are stunning and easy houseplants. Just be mindful of their needs and they will live a long and happy life. C