Peace lilies tend to be laid-back houseplants to care for and should flower all year round, but it can be disheartening if their flowers begin to fade and wilt.
If this happens then do worry as while peace lilies should flower if their light, temperature and watering needs are being met, they tend to produce more blooms during their natural growing season from spring to autumn.
However, Jamie Donovan, a gardening expert from Lawn, has shared that one reason peace lilies may not flower is a lack of nutrients and you can “encourage flowering” to keep the plant looking stunning with some simple kitchen scraps.
He said: “Potassium is a vital nutrient for peace lilies that helps with flower production. If your peace lily lacks potassium, it’s unlikely to produce flowers.
“You can remedy this by using a potassium-rich fertiliser or adding some banana peels or eggshells to the soil to enrich it.”
How to make a homemade fertiliser for peace lilies
Natural homemade fertilisers are a cheap and sustainable way to give peace lilies a nutrient boost so you can get big bountiful flowers in no time.
However, if feeding peace lilies an organic fertiliser make sure to only feed it to them once a month during their growing season as overfertilising can damage the plant can do more harm than good.
The great thing about making your own fertiliser is that it can always be adjusted so make sure to check your peace lily regularly and stop feeding them the leaves turn yellow or brown as it is a major sign of overfertilisation.
How to use banana peels to feed peace lilies
It may seem strange but banana peels contain a lot of the nutrient potassium, which helps plant roots grow stronger and is essential for the overall health of a peace lily.
Banana peels also contain phosphorus, needed for flower production and magnesium, which improves a peace lily’s ability to absorb sunlight.
If you wish to feed peace lilies banana peels then all you have to do is soak the banana peels in a jar or glass container of water for a few days.
Sieve the banana pieces out of the water and feed the nutrient-rich water to the peace lily plant.
You can also bury the banana peels deeply into the soil, but make sure not to leave them on the surface of the soil as it can attract pests.
How to use eggshells to feed peace lilies
Dried-up eggshells are rich in calcium, which is needed for peace lilies to function and helps prevent diseases and weak stems in plants.
If using eggshells to feed peace lilies then make sure to thoroughly wash out the eggshells and then leave them somewhere to dry.
Alternatively, you can bake them in the oven for a few minutes until they have completely dried out.
Then all you need to do is crush them up and mix the eggshell pieces into the potted soil.
Crushing up eggshells allows them to break down more quickly to ensure that calcium and other nutrients reach the peace lily roots.
Taking the time to make your own fertiliser is a natural way to help the peace lily stay healthy so you can help them stay flowering for much longer.
