Houseplant of the month: peace lilies
Our houseplant of the month for January is the beautiful peace lily (Spathiphyllum)! Air purifying and a symbol of peace and purity, the peace lily makes a wonderful addition to any home.
With their distinctive white spathes and glossy green leaves, the peace lily is relatively easy to care for and a great choice for a beginner plant enthusiast.
Popular types of peace lily
Did you know that peace lilies come in all kinds of shapes and sizes?
Whilst they all boast luscious green foliage and stunning white bracts, there are around forty different varieties that differ in size and shape!
Some, like the Vivaldi variety, are distinguishable by their spreading crown that grows on a shorter stem, or the Bellini offers a larger inflorescence than some of its counterparts. Sweet Laurettas have longer stems and larger leaves, and the Cupido type have neat, pointed leaves.
How to care for your peace lily
Peace lilies are relatively low maintenance and will let you know when they need a bit of TLC as their leaves will droop when the soil gets dry.
Light: Bright but indirect sunlight is best for your peace lily, so we’d recommend placing by a north-facing window.
Water: Rehydrate the soil with water once the top third has dried out – you can check this by inserting a finger into your pot to feel.
Soil: Pot your peace lily in peat-free houseplant potting mix, and feed with houseplant fertiliser every third watering to keep your plant thriving.
Humidity: Your peace lily can brown if it's in a room where the air is too dry, so keep away from cold draughts or hot radiators.
Where to put your peace lily
Peace lilies are air purifying, which means they remove airborne toxins and promote a cleaner environment in your home. Place your plant somewhere you spend a lot of time in the house, like a bedroom or living room.
Fun facts about your peace lily
Peace lilies are not actually lilies but instead belong to the arum family of plants.
You could probably already guess by their name, but peace lilies symbolise peace, prosperity, and purity, characterised by its iconic white flower.
The flowers are the small buds that grow on the stem, the white spathe which surrounds them is a type of leaf called a bract.
Peace lilies were first introduced to Europe in the late 1800s, and its name literally translates to ‘spoon leaf’.
Unfortunately, peace lilies are not pet friendly, so be sure to keep out of little paws’ reach!