Peace lilies are one of the most popular houseplants due to how easy they are to look after, but most people do not know they need to be cared for differently in the autumn.
My peace lily’s leaves began wilting around a month ago and I had no idea what was wrong, but after doing a little research I realised I was not watering the houseplant properly.
One of the biggest reasons peace lilies die is being overwatered and in autumn people are more likely to keep watering their plants like they did in summer during the warmer temperatures.
I used to water all my plants twice a week but that was far too much, and now that the weather is getting colder I have stopped watering my peace lily on a regular schedule.
Instead, I realised the best way to tell if a peace lily needs to be watered is to feel the soil, and only if it feels dry do I give it a thorough watering.
When peace lilies are watered correctly their soil should feel lightly moist to the touch but not extremely damp as this could harm the roots.
Making this adjustment has made my peace lily stop drooping, the leaves look much healthier, and even the flowers look a little bigger.
It is extremely helpful to have a watering indicator if you can afford one so that you tell when houseplants need to be watered and how much to give them, but if you cannot buy one then feeling the soil is a simple method to keep peace lilies happy.
However, a great thing about owning a peace lily is that it will always tell you when it is thirsty as it will begin to droop so you will know when to do the soil test.
When watering peace lilies, always make sure to water around the base of the plant in the soil rather than watering overhead and getting water on the foliage.
Always lift the plant if you can and check the roots after watering to make sure they are not sitting in water as it can attract diseases such as root rot.
One tip I have learned is to move my peace lily to the bathroom after a shower as they love humidity and will soak up the steam.
It is a simple way to keep it moist without having to check on its water levels constantly, but you can also try keeping a peace lily in the kitchen so it will soak up the condensation left after cooking.
Another thing to check in autumn is to be careful where you place peace lilies as they are sensitive to the cold and should not be placed near a drafty window.
Since peace lilies love humidity so much it is also important not to keep them near a radiator as it can dry them out.
I have discovered the best spot to keep my peace lily is on my desk so it gets enough sunlight while not being directly at the window.
Making sure my peace lily is being watered correctly and has not been left somewhere dry or cold in my house has helped me keep it healthy during the chillier autumn season.
