How often to water peace lily is an issue that depends on the climatic conditions of where it grows. In hot areas, peace lilies of the Araceae family require daily watering, while those in wet climates can be watered once a week.
The best approach to knowing how often to water the plant is by checking the soil moisture. Here, we will talk about how to water lilies and dehydration signs.
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How Often Should You Water Peace Lilies?
️⚡ You should water peace lilies every week because they would need moist soil to thrive. But in winter, water them every two weeks. The number of times to water these plants depends on the location’s weather, and lilies thrive in the humidity level of the soils in their natural habitats.
However, the frequency of watering should be determined by the climate; for example, lilies in wet areas require less watering because too much water can cause root rot. The type of potting mix your lily grows in can also dictate the number of times to water it.
Spathiphyllum wallisii, or spathiphyllum kochii, are also common names for the peace lily, which blooms twice a year. They produce striking white flowers that can last a month in spring and fall. Once their blooming period ends, they will have other flowers after a year.
However, most lily commercial growers use gibberellic acid, a chemical hormone that fastens the blooming of these plants. The chemical causes the lilies to produce flowers for sale prematurely. So, if you bought your lily with some flowers, do not worry if you don’t see more flowers until the year ends.
But, you can help your plant to bloom faster by exposing it to enough light and if you grow your lily outside, you might wonder, ‘how much light does a peace lily need?’ Peace lilies can survive in low light, but do not put them in areas with no light. Besides helping with its growth, exposing the plant to indirect light daily helps it produce flowers faster than growing it in the dark.
Different varieties, such as the spathiphyllum silvicola and spathiphyllum cochlearispathum also bloom when exposed to enough light and moist soils. Therefore, ensure you water the plant adequately; if you are worried how often do peace lilies bloom when properly watered would be a solved matter.
– Irrigating in Summer
The frequency of watering peace lily in summer depends on how hot the climate is. Water your lilies at least once every week during summer to be safe. But don’t forget to check the soil water content; this way you will ease your worry about how often should you water peace lily in summer.
Most gardeners are tempted to cool their lilies in summer by using chilled water to feed them. But, it is advisable to water plants with water at room temperature to avoid shocking the roots. Also, avoid using chlorinated tap water because chlorine can kill them.
The moisture level is such an important determiner when it comes to these plants, as the factor would also depend on the condition of the soil, because a well-draining soil would lose water faster, meaning the plant will want water within a short time. On the other hand, if you have placed it in heavy soils like clay have small spaces between the particles, meaning they hold much water for a longer time, and note that lilies growing in such soils require less watering, even in summer.
When unsure about your peace lily watering, stick your fingers in the soil to check the moisture levels. If it feels dry, and your fingers come out clean, you should water it. An alternative to the fingers guesswork is using a moisture meter, which gives accurate results and shows if your peace lily plant requires watering.
– Irrigating in Winter
You should water lilies after every two weeks in winter. During this time, the soil takes longer to dry because of the plant’s slow growth and dry air. So, watering frequently can lead to overwatering, which causes root rot and other problems, if you think about how often should you water peace lily in winter.
Since the outside air is too cold, you can take your plants inside and grow them as indoor plants. If you have concerns about how to care for a peace lily indoors, it is as easy as planting the flower outdoors. If the top of the soil no longer feels damp, consider watering your plant; however, if it is moist, do not add more water to avoid overwatering, because in winter it will take more time for the soil to dry its soil.
– After Repotting
Water your lily variety immediately after repotting. Ensure you know when to repot peace lily after spring, to allow the plant to recover. Repotting the plant causes it to stress, and it needs a lot of water to go through it. Once the repotting process is over, you can return to the regular schedule of watering once the topsoil becomes dry.
When repotting the peace lily, ensure you get a big-enough pot for it. Consider using well-draining soil and making holes to enable the excess water to drain. It prevents the ground from becoming soggy and reduces the chances of root rot in your plants.
What Are the Best Ways to Irrigate Lily?
The best way to irrigate lily is to pour water directly into the container; in addition, you can also use a bottom irrigation system so that you won’t risk their development. You may also try watering slowly to help it grow.
Lilies thrive well in moist environments and areas that receive enough light. Watering the plant every week can keep it alive, but you can kill it if you water it wrongly. They would be over-watered, and this matter is not the right one for their growth and prolonged development.
– Pour Water Directly into The Container
When watering, do not pour water on the leaves; on the contrary, try to irrigate the soil with around one inch of water. Ensure you aim at the container and water the soil directly. Wetting the leaves creates a conducive environment for fungal pathogens, which attack the plant causing its death.
– Use Bottom Irrigation
Another better way to water and keep your lilies healthy is by practicing bottom irrigation. Gardeners place the plant’s pot in a giant water bowl to absorb moisture. The plant will take in enough water.
Since you don’t pour water into the pot, there won’t be an excess of it. The method ensures there is no overwatering which causes root rot, making it hard for the plant to transport minerals to the leaves and causing its death.
– Water Slowly
Consider taking short breaks when watering a peace lily to ensure the soil saturates with water thoroughly. Pour small amounts of water and let the soil absorb it before pouring the next. Pour the water until it drains from the bottom drainage holes.
You can stop watering the plant when the excess water passes through the drainage holes. It ensures the soil remains dumped and not soggy. Leaving the plant ‘half-watered’ makes it dry quickly, and it starts showing signs of drying, like brown and droopy leaves.
Also, overwatering leads to stress, whose signs are yellow leaves, wilting, and brow tips. However, insect infestation and plant infections also cause discoloring of the leaves, so ensure you investigate to know the causes of brown leaves. Since the brown leaves reduce lily aesthetics, you can cut or trim them; alternatively, remove the entire leaf to allow the plant to produce new leaves.
What Are Signs that Show Lily Needs Water?
The signs that show peace lily needs water are the curling of leaves and even the drooping of the leaves. You may also see some signs such as browning of the tips of the leaves, and the growth slowing down.
In addition, the easiest and most sure sign that your lily needs quenching is a dry potting mix. You can identify this by touching the top of the soil and squeezing your finger to see if it can go an inch through the ground.
Keeping it dry for over a week can start to weaken the leaves and turn them brown. Lack of water also causes wilting of the foliage. However, you must check the soil’s moisture level to avoid overwatering your lily.
– Curling Leaves
Lack of water causes curling leaves in most plants, and peace lily leaves are no exception. Low moisture lowers the rigidity of the plant’s leaves and causes them to start curling. You will notice curling from the tips, and the edges start folding towards the center.
The leaves also fold to reduce exposure of the surface to the air. This happens to reduce water loss to the environment through transpiration. Watering the plant can bring the leaves back to their original shape because they regain rigidity.
– Drooping Leaves
Lily foliage droop when they lack water because there is less pressure to keep them full and smooth. The drooping also happens in stems because lack of water reduces rigidity, and they cannot stay upright.
Although some gardening enthusiasts prefer waiting until the leaves are droopy to water peace lilies, it is wise to do it as soon as the soil dries. The wilting and drooping can weaken the lily and affect its growth and flowering in the long run.
Understand that the drooping of leaves can be due to other problems like overwatering and low humidity; therefore, always check for other signs like dry soil to know if your lily needs watering. Don’t worry about the recovery from droopy leaves fast when you water them. The water will travel from the roots to the leaves, making them firm again. Ensure you don’t pour water directly on the plant’s leaves when watering because it creates a conducive environment for fungi to grow.
– Brown Tips
Failure to water lilies for a long time can lead to the death of the leaves. Most of these leaves turn yellow due to a lack of chlorophyll. The cells die at the edges, and the leaf becomes brown at the tips.
The brown ends later dry and become crispy. Browning and yellowing of leaves can be due to overwatering, high heat, and some plant diseases. If the cause is overwatering, the leaves will feel soft instead of dry. Again, confirm with your moisture meter if your plant’s soil is dry.
– Slow Growth
Water plays a vital role in plants’ growth, and lack of it can slow down the process. If your peace lily has stunted growth because you have not been consistent with its watering, consider creating a watering schedule to save it.
Although lilies are slow growers, they grow 6 inches yearly, and lack of water can make them gain fewer inches. Check if the plant has new leaves during summer and spring. If not, consider quenching it more frequently.
One thing to like about these plants is that they communicate when they need water, making peace lily care easy. A great sign of little moisture is leaves drooping and some turning yellow. The soil also feels dry and starts pulling away from the edges of the container.
Conclusion
Knowing how often to water lily plants can be challenging because these plants require water depending on the climatic conditions; however, most growers consider watering lilies every week to maintain the proper moisture. From this article, you will notice that:
- Peace lilies thrive well when grown in moist soil, so they need frequent watering once a week. If you live in hotter zones, you should water more frequently to prevent the plant from drying too much.
- To be sure you are watering your lily rightfully, test the soil’s moisture using your fingers or a moisture meter.
- Lilies growing in hot areas require more frequent watering than in winter regions.
- Always use room-temperature water for your lilies to prevent shock to the plant.
You can test the plant’s moisture test weekly to see if there is a pattern in your watering periods. It helps you know when next to water the lily.
