Spathiphyllum 'Strauss' - Peace Lily

Peace Lilies stand out for their lovely white flowers, and are known for their air-purifying qualities. This variety stands out even more for its stunning variegated foliage, as its broad leaves are striped deep green and white. It will love a bright spot out of direct sun and time for the soil to dry between waters, which will help to produce gorgeous lily-like blooms. While the NASA study which stated that Peace Lilies purify air has been brought into question (you'd need a whole jungle in every room to make a real difference!), this beautiful plant can still improve your wellbeing simply by adding colour and greenery to your surroundings.

Scientific Name
Spathiphyllum 'Strauss' (sword-leaved, flower-bearing plant)

Common Name
Peace Lily

Origin
Originates in tropical South American rainforests, especially in Colombia and Venezuela

Light
Peace Lilies can thrive in a variety of indirect light conditions, including in shadier spots. As long as it's bright enough to read in daylight there, your plant will be fine, and shadier/cooler spots can help them bloom for longer! Just make sure not to overwater in a shady spot.

Water
Make sure at least the top third dries out between waters. if it gets too thirsty, the lily will droop dramatically; this is much easier for it to recover from than being overwatered though, so don't panic, just give it a water! Use tepid water when the plant is blooming as cold water can shock the plant and damage the flowers.

Humidity
Peace Lilies like high humidity and will benefit from regular misting or the introduction of a humidity tray. If its leaves start to go brown, curled and crisp at the edges this is probably a sign that the air is too dry.

Soil
Use a well-draining, moisture retentive soil (something suitable for Calatheas will also work here!). Repot every couple of years in spring as the plant grows. We wouldn't recommend potting directly into a terracotta pot as these can keep the roots a little too cold!

Food
Feed every four waters in spring and summer; reduce to every six in autumn and winter.

Temperature
Temperature should ideally be between 12-25°C- make sure it doesn't drop below 10°C in winter.

Pet-safe
No, this plant is toxic to pets and small humans.

Sprouts Top Tips
Peace Lilies are likely to react badly to soggy soil, so keep an eye out for overwatering symptoms like foliage going brown or lower leaves going yellow, brown spots on leaves, stunted growth, or wilting. If you spot any of these and your soil is wet to the touch, you probably need to water less frequently! Make sure the soil has plenty of time to dry out before you next water it, and check the roots to make sure they are tinged with yellow and not going brown or mushy. Keep an eye on this, especially in cooler or shadier spots.