Does your peace lily look a little too large for its pot? Does it have yellow, drooping leaves or hardly any new leaves? Then, perhaps, it’s time for you to repot your peace lily. This will give the plant more room to stretch, and the roots will get sufficient moisture and nutrients.
Not repotting your leafy baby at the right time negatively impacts its growth and appearance. On that note, it’s vital to understand when it’s best to undertake this task.
So, read on, as our comprehensive guide covers everything that there is to know about how to repot a peace lily and when.
The peace lily also known as Spathiphyllum, is one of the most popular houseplants. With its lush green leaves and delicate white blooms, it’s easy to see why proper care is essential to keep your peace lily healthy and happy. Choosing the right pot is a key factor.
When picking a pot for your peace lily there are a few key things to consider
Pot Size
Pot size has a big impact on the health of your peace lily. Here are some general pot size guidelines:
- Start with a 4-inch pot for a new young plant. This small pot will keep the peace lily from getting too large too quickly.
- Move up to a 6-inch pot once the roots have filled the smaller pot. This gives the plant more room to grow.
- Increase pot size by about 2 inches each time you repot, until the plant reaches maturity. A mature peace lily does well in a 10-12 inch pot.
- Don’t put a small peace lily in an oversized pot. This can lead to problems with excess moisture and root rot. Go up in pot size gradually as the plant grows.
Pot Material
The material the pot is made from also affects your plant. Here are some top choices:
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Terracotta Terracotta clay pots are porous and allow air to pass through, This creates a healthy breathing environment for the roots and prevents overwatering, Peace lilies tend to thrive in terracotta,
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Plastic: Plastic pots are also a good option for peace lilies. They are lightweight and inexpensive, and they tend to retain moisture better than other materials like terracotta.
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Glazed Ceramic: Glazed ceramic pots are another good option for peace lilies in hotter climates. They are non-porous, which means they will retain moisture better than terracotta pots.
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Metal: Metal pots are not as common as other materials, but they can be a good option for peace lilies. They are durable and typically have a more modern look.
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Concrete: For peace lilies growing outside in colder, windier climates, concrete pots are a reliable option. Their weight makes them hard to tip over. Additionally, concrete is a porous material, so excess water will evaporate quickly.
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Wooden: Wooden pots are another option to consider. They are generally more expensive than other materials, but they can add a natural touch to your home. Keep in mind that wooden pots are not as durable as other materials and they may rot if they are constantly exposed to moisture.
Whichever type of pot you choose, make sure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out.
Drainage
One of the most important considerations when choosing a pot for your peace lily is drainage. Regardless of the material, the pot must have drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out and prevent root rot.
If possible, choose a pot with multiple drainage holes. This will help to ensure that excess water can drain out quickly and prevent the roots from sitting in water.
Pot Size Recommendations
- Start with a 4-inch pot for a new young peace lily.
- Move up to a 6-inch pot once it becomes rootbound.
- Increase by 2 inches each time you repot.
- 10-12 inch pot for a mature peace lily.
Most Recommended Materials
- Terracotta – porous, breathable, prevents overwatering
- Plastic – retains moisture well, inexpensive
- Glazed ceramic – retains moisture, decorative
- Concrete – heavy, hard to tip over
Key Considerations
- Always choose a pot with drainage holes
- Pick a pot size about 2 inches wider than the root ball
- Go up in size gradually as the plant grows
- Avoid oversized pots that lead to excess moisture
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you repot a peace lily?
Most peace lilies need repotting every 2-3 years. More frequent repotting can shock the plant. Repot in the spring when the plant is actively growing.
Can you transplant a peace lily when it’s blooming?
It’s best to wait for it to finish blooming to reduce stress on the plant. But urgent repotting like pest control can be done while blooming if needed.
Do peace lilies like deep or shallow pots?
Peace lilies have shallow roots so don’t need very deep pots. Medium depth pots are ideal. Choose based on root ball size.
How long does a peace lily take to recover from repotting?
It may look weak at first but will recover in 1-2 weeks with proper care. Drooping leaves and slow growth can be reversed in that time.
Why is my peace lily drooping after repotting?
This can happen from shock. Ensure proper watering, light, temperature, humidity, and avoid moving to a too large or small pot.
Picking the perfect pot for your peace lily involves getting the size, material, and drainage right. Focus on providing a pot with adequate room as the plant grows, breathable material, and plentiful holes for drainage. With the right pot, your peace lily will flourish for years to come!
Post-Repotting Care Tips for Your Peace Lily
Once you have repotted your exotic beauty, you need to apply proper care for your peace lily. Follow these steps:
To avoid transplant shock, water the peace lily thoroughly. Then, follow a watering schedule of hydrating the plant weekly or once every 10 days. Prevent overwatering or underwatering by checking the top two inches of the soil. Water it only if it feels too dry.
Peace lilies need a bright spot with indirect sunlight and preferably partial shade. But right after repotting, it’s better to keep it away from sunlight in a more shady area. Once it gets adjusted to its new home within a week, you can place it in indirect or filtered sunlight near a east-facing window.
Peace lilies thrive within 65F-85F, at a humidity level of 50%-60%. Extreme temperatures and humidity levels can weaken the plant. Use your HVAC system to control the temperature indoors, and the humidifier to ensure the best growth conditions for your plant.
For the first six weeks, do not feed your peace lily. Once, the plant adapts after being repotted, use an universal houseplant fertilizer. Always dilute the fertilizer when you administer it every 6-8 weeks.
Peace lilies can get stressed and look droopy after repotting. The reasons might be the following:
- You replanted the peace lily without loosening and pruning the root ball.
- It’s getting too much or too little water, leading to waterlogged or parched soil.
- The new pot is either too large or too small for the plant.
- You have not met the recommended light requirements for your peace lily after transplanting it, for example, being placed in a spot thats too sunny.
Right after repotting a peace lily, it may look weak and unhealthy. But if you care for it properly, the plant will recover within 1-2 weeks.
It is worth noting that if the plant develops pale leaves, they won’t change back to green. However, droopy, curling leaves, slow growth, etc., can be reversed.
Unless its urgently needed, repot a peace lily once every two years. If the plant experience issues and starts looking unhealthy, then consider repotting it as a remedial measure.
As mentioned above, instead of repotting it into a bigger pot, a very large peace lily can be divided into smaller plants to give away as gifts or to expand your indoor plant collection.
How Do I Know When a Peace Lily Needs Repotting?
Generally, repotting a peace lily plant once a year during or around the blooming season is sufficient. But, sometimes, you must gather your supplies and immediately repot your peace lily if you notice these tell-tale signs:
- Unhealthy plant appearance: Your peace lily is turning yellow, brown, or droopy and looks unhealthy due to poor nutrient absorption from depleted soil.
- Stunted plant growth: You’ll notice that the plant is hardly growing new leaves or flowers, and the few new ones are small.
- Roots visible on the soil surface: When the plant grows too big for its pot, theres no room for growth, and the roots appear above the topsoil.
- Roots growing through drainage holes: Plant roots may outgrow the pot and poke through the drainage holes.
- Cracked pot: When the roots dont have sufficient space to grow, they put pressure on the pot walls and cause cracks.
- Root rot: Rotten roots often imply disease issues or the need for better drainage. Repotting the plant into a pot with fresh soil, after the roots have been cleaned and trimmed, may solve the problem.
- Soil drying too quickly: If the pot soil gets compacted, dry, and lacks proper aeration, you need to repot the plant with a new potting mix.
- Insect infestation: If insect pests infest the pot soil, infecting the plant and its roots, you’ll need to repot your peace lily.