I finally stopped killing my peace lily after 2 years of trial and error

Used to water it every Tuesday on a set schedule like my grandma taught me. Then last spring it started turning yellow and drooping no matter what I did. A guy at the local nursery told me to stick my finger in the soil and only water when the top inch is dry. Has anyone else had a plant bounce back after changing how often they water?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_bailey2d ago

You mentioned the finger test thing, which is good advice but the top inch being dry might not be deep enough for a peace lily. They actually like their soil to stay a bit moist, just not soggy, so I usually wait until the top two inches feel dry to the touch before watering mine. What worked for me was taking it out of the pot and checking the roots when I got home from the nursery guy - brown mushy roots meant I was still overwatering from before. Also if the soil is really compacted from years of that Tuesday schedule, the water might be running straight through the pot without soaking in right. Maybe try repotting with some perlite mixed in so the soil drains better and you can actually feel when it needs water.

karenw902d ago

Because @nathan_bailey you brought up the compacted soil thing, did your peace lily's leaves perk back up within a few days of repotting or did it take like a whole month? I'm wondering if cramming perlite in there makes an immediate difference or if the shock of moving it slows things down first before it helps. That slow drainage pattern you described sounds exactly like what I was dealing with, the water would just sit on top then rush out the bottom.