code: 977
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’) is the most popular air-filtering plant. It has bold, long, elliptical leaves held on foot long leaf stems. The leaves grow upward and arch outward at their tips. The flower stem can be up to 20 inches long and bears unusual blooms, each with a finger-like floral column surrounded by a large petal-like leaf. These are held above the foliage atop leafless stems. The snowy white blooms are long-lasting and turn green as they age. Flowering can occur year round but is most prevalent from winter to summer. According to the NASA Clean Air Study, the Peace Lily filters indoor air pollution, particularly benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, ammonia, xylene, and toluene.
Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’
Common Names: Peace Lily
How to grow and maintain Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’):
Light:
It thrives best in bright light, but no direct sun. Direct sunlight will burn the leaves. This plant will tolerate low light but may bloom poorly.
Soil:
It grows well in a well-drained, peat-based potting mix with perlite is ideal or other peat based mixes.
Water:
Water your plant regularly during the growing season and always keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. You can allow the top 1 inch of soil to dry out between each watering. During the winter months, reduce watering.
Temperature:
It prefers average room temperatures 65°F of – 75°F / 18°C – 24°C. Avoid lower than 55°F / 12°C in the winter.
Humidity:
The peace lily is especially sensitive to dry air and should be kept on trays of moist pebbles throughout the year. The leaves should also be mist-sprayed frequently. It needs a relative humidity of 40% or higher.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer that includes micronutrients, using half the recommended strength. Yellow edges on leaves are an indication of nutrient deficiency.
Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by division in the spring. Pull rhizomes apart gently, making sure that each piece has at least two or three leaves attached. Plant individual pieces in 3 inches pots of either of the recommended potting mixture, burying each piece at the same depth as the entire rhizome was planted. Try not to apply any fertilizer to the newly potted rhizome sections for three months.
Pests and Diseases:
Peace Lily has no serious pest or disease problems. Watch for Red spider mites and mealybug.
