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Joined: 11/9/2007 Posts: -205
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My boss had brought in a peace lily for my co-workers to help care for it. They had it on the top of their cubicals almost right below an air conditioning vent and a flourescent light. They had forgotten it there over the weekend. When they came back on Monday the plant was extremely droopy so they had taken it outside for a while & it started to look good. They had also watered it on that Monday. Well yesterday they took it back outside for a while and it was left out overnight. When we noticed it today the wind had knocked it down. Now, I have rescued the plant and am trying to save it. I've never had one of these plants so I don't really know what I am doing. But I want to save it. The leaves are yellow,brown, and are crisp to the touch on parts of the leaves(mainly the tips). I think that it was sunburnt from being outside. Should I water it today since it was watered Monday? Do I cut the damaged leaves or the stems?(there is quite a few damaged leaves) I don't know what to do. Someone please help me.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007 Posts: -205
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Also my boss said that he doesn't remember this plant blooming. I think that he has had trouble with this plant since he got it. Any help would be appreciated.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007 Posts: -205
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Peace Lilies are actually east to care for. First thing you need to do is keep your coworkers away from the plant. Only water when the top inch or so of soil is dry. This is very important! Water slowly until it drains out of the bottom. Discard any drained water. Make sure it has very good drainage. Always use that watering rule and you should not have a problem. You may trim away the damaged leaves if you like. Place the plant in an area where it will get indirect sunlight (near a window). Only water when the top inch of soil is dry. Leave the plant alone for a while. It is probably already in shock and you don't want to cause any more damage. Do not repot and do not fertilize until it is looking better. Here is some additional info:
Spathiphyllum , Peace Lilies There are very few plants that really do well in a low light situation and this is the best of them. Spathiphyllums are commonly used in homes, offices and shopping malls because they are so easy to grow and will adapt to a wide variety of conditions. They are also one of the few low light plants to bloom reliably. Spathiphyllums are also called peace lilies, named for the creamy white spathes that look very much like a calla lily. Botanically, a spathe is a bract (modified leaf) enclosing a flower cluster or spadix (fleshy spike). The elegant white spathes on peace lilies are referred to as their flowers. Spathiphyllums are clump growing tropical plants with many stems emerging from the soil. The different varieties may vary in the size of the leaves and overall size of the plant. A new compact version has become very popular in the past few years. Their foliage is always glossy, green, long and narrow. Different varieties now offer darker greens or narrower leaves and some also bloom more than others. To select a good, healthy spathiphyllum, look for a plant that fills out the pot. It should have new foliage emerging within the mature leaves. If you are buying the plant for the blooms, be sure to select a specimen that has at least one flower open because they do vary greatly in size and color.
Tips for Growing Healthy Spathiphyllums (Peace Lilies) What are the light requirements for spathiphyllums? They are low light tolerant plants. If you can comfortably sit and read in the spot, the plant will do all right. Winter sun is fine, but avoid direct afternoon sun in the summertime.
How much water do they need? Keep the soil evenly moist all year round. Do not allow it to stand with water in the saucer for more than an hour or two.
Do they have any special temperature requirements? They are well suited to average indoor temperatures. If they are kept where it is warmer, be sure to keep the soil moist and raise the humidity around the plant.
Do peace lilies need much humidity? They need high humidity and should be misted daily or kept near a humidifier or on a humidity tray.
How much fertilizer do they require? During the spring and summer, when the plant is most actively growing, feed them every two weeks with a liquid or water soluble fertilizer such as Excel Gro. In fall and winter, cut back to a half strength solution once a month.
What type of soil do they prefer? Use a peat-based potting soil such as Bachman's Exceloam.
When should I repot my peace lily? Repot them each spring. They like to be a bit crowded in the pot and require excellent drainage.
Will they need any grooming? Give them an occasional shower to remove any accumulated dust from the foliage. Also, as flowers fade, clip off the stem as low as you can reach.
How are they propagated? Almost all spathiphyllums are now propagated through a laboratory procedure called tissue culture. They can also be divided.
Troubleshooting Problems with Spathiphyllums (Peace Lilies) Why won't my spathiphyllum bloom? The most common reason a peace lily doesn't bloom is a combination of too little light and too little humidity. Sometimes very mature plants don't bloom well. Try increasing light, humidity, fertilizer and dividing if it is severely root bound. What caused spots on the blooms? Sprays, especially leafshine or insecticides, will spot the blooms. If the whole plant looks wilted, what it the problem? Too much or too little water will cause wilting. So will temperatures that are too cool. What make the leaves look dull? When a spath is kept too cool (below 60º), it tends to get a dull look to the foliage. Extended periods of too much cold will lead to problems with stem rot. What causes brown tips or edges on leaves? Most brown tips are caused either by low humidity or a build up of salt in the soil from fertilizers and alkaline tap water. Why do some stems seem too weak? This can be caused by drought or high temperatures. Spaths can stand higher temperatures if they are kept moist and the humidity is high. If some of the leaves are yellow, what it the cause? Yellowing, especially on inner leaves, usually indicates that the plant is being kept too wet. Too much sun might also result in a few yellow leaves, but they will usually be outer leaves. Are there insect problems with spathiphyllum? Watch for the occasional outbreak of aphids on the young succulent growth. If the humidity is low and the temps are high, they may have problems with spider mites too. Are they prone to any disease problems? Except for root or stem rot from too much water, spathiphyllum rarely have a disease problem.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007 Posts: -205
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Should I clip just the leaves or the whole stem. The leaves are pretty damaged. Most of the stems seem fine.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007 Posts: -205
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You can leave the stems to see if they produce any new growth. You can always trim them later if they don't.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007 Posts: -205
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I just received a Peace Lily. It is in a 6" plastic pot, It seems crowded and has I don't know what for soil. It is that light soil that dries out quickly. I'd like to know how large and what type of a pot I can repot it in and what kind of soil to use.
Thank you, Judy
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