Peace lilies, also known as closet plants, can be a lovely addition to any home as their white flowers allow them to blend into any environment and aesthetically improve it.
Alongside their beauty, peace lilies are considerably easy to care for as they do not require too frequent watering or fertilizing, making them a perfect choice if you already have a large number of houseplants.
Just as how a plant looks and how easy it is to care for, the lifespan of a plant is also often a deciding factor for potential owners, which will be our topic today.
So, how long do peace lilies live?
Assuming that they are in good health with no issues (such as a pest infestation or root rot) affecting them, peace lilies live between 3 and 5 years on average.
With proper care and conditions, your peace lily can live a long and happy life.
Moving on, we will be taking a deeper look into the lifespan of peace lilies and the conditions you should provide to allow your peace lily to live as long as possible.
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How Long Do Peace Lilies Live?
Just as any other plant, the lifespan of a peace lily highly depends on the conditions it lives in and the care it gets.
There isn’t much that can go with caring for a peace lily as it’s a plant that does not require too much, and ensuring that it gets enough light and water is usually more than enough for a peace lily to live as long as possible.
On average, a peace lily can live between three to five years with the right conditions in the right environment.
While this may seem like a short time for a plant, most indoor plants live between two to five years on average, meaning that the lifespan of a peace lily is standard for a houseplant.
As pest infestations and plant diseases can bring the lifespan of a peace lily down drastically, it’s vital to ensure that your peace lily gets the best care possible.
How to Make Your Peace Lily Live Longer?
While your peace lily can’t live forever, it’s up to you to provide the conditions that will allow it to live as long as possible.
Here are some of our care tips to prevent disease and pests from making their way into your peace lily and make it live as long as possible.
- Only water your peace lily after ensuring the soil is dry. Peace lilies can handle underwatering much better than they can overwatering. As a result, it’s best to water your peace lily after confirming that the soil is entirely dry by checking it for its moisture status every day instead of following a set watering schedule.
- Fertilize your peace lily with an organic fertilizer once or twice a year. Peace lilies don’t require frequent fertilizing but don’t forget to fertilize your plant at least once or twice a year to keep it as healthy and happy as possible. Organic fertilizers work best as peace lilies can be sensitive to chemicals.
- Let your peace lily get medium to low light. Peace lilies don’t need too much light, making a spot that receives medium to low light optimal for your plant. North-facing windows and shady spots that are close to sunny areas usually provide the conditions your peace lily needs. You can also use a fluorescent light to provide light to your peace lily if sunlight isn’t an option all the time.
- Use a container with drainage holes. As peace lilies are susceptible to root rot, it’s vital to use a container with drainage holes and ensure that the water drains well.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes. Peace lilies need to avoid sudden temperature changes and cold drafts to stay healthy, so try to place your plant in a spot where it won’t be exposed to these factors. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to keep your peace lily away from open windows and outside doors.
Warning Signs to Look Out for on Your Peace Lily
Being on the lookout for warning signs that tell you the health of your plant is deteriorating is a vital part of peace lily care, as the sooner you catch such a sign, the higher the chance your peace lily goes back to its usual health.
Here are a few signs and symptoms that tell something might be wrong with the health of your peace lily.
- Yellowing or browning and wilting (drooping) leaves. Overwatering and root rot are the primary causes of yellowing and wilting leaves on a peace lily. If you notice yellowing and wilting, check the moisture level of the soil and the roots of the plant for sogginess.
- Stunted growth. Stunted growth can either be a sign of overwatering or pest infestations. While it’s a symptom that isn’t too easy to notice, it’s certainly a factor to keep in mind.
- Brown or black spots on the leaves. Brown or black spots on leaves usually mean that your peace lily is receiving too much direct sunlight.
- Blackened leaves. Blackened leaves are often a sign of sudden temperature changes, too much fertilizer, or overwatering.
Is It Normal for Peace Lily Flowers to Die?
It’s normal for peace lily flowers to die just as it is with all other flowers, but they will rebloom during the next flowering season with adequate care and pruning.
Once a flower blooms on a stalk and dies, that stalk can’t produce more flowers. As a result, cutting it off is the best course of action to make room for new stalks and flowers to grow.
When pruning a peace lily, try to cut the stalk at a point that is as close as possible to the base of the plant to prevent the plant from using energy on the dead stalk.
Alongside the leaves, it’s also a good idea to prune yellowing and shriveling leaves at their base to make room for new leaf growth.
Are Peace Lilies Easy to Keep Alive?
Peace lilies are one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive, as they only require small amounts of water, don’t need frequent fertilizing, and can easily live in low light.
Overwatering is pretty much the only thing that can go wrong with peace lily care as it can easily cause root rot and kill your plant, which is why it’s best to check the soil for moisture every day by touching it and only water the plant if the soil is dry.
As peace lilies can handle underwatering better than overwatering, it’s always better to stay on the side of underwatering if you are unsure whether you should be watering your peace lily or not.
Wrapping Up
Their beautiful white flowers will surely make peace lilies lovely addition to your home if you are looking to add another houseplant to your collection, especially considering how easy it is to care for them.
With an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years, peace lilies don’t live any shorter or longer than any other houseplant, so feel free to get one if you were initially concerned about their lifespan.
Remember that the primary factor that decides how long your peace lily will live is how much care you give it, and with adequate care, your peace lily will be a part of your house for a long time.