I brought home a gorgeous Peace Lily from my little brother's funeral---I nicknamed it "Bubba" and look forward to sharing my home with him for years to come. He'd been in the same container since October 2001. Last week I decided to repot him into a larger container, one more decorative for where he's displayed.

When I cut him out of the old plastic pot, there was nothing but thick, heavy roots. I cut into them and loosened them up quite a bit. Also I separated the clump of growth a bit. Then placed him in his new home and returned him to his perfect spot in our billiards room.

I mix my own soil. Using composted materials, perlite, some scattered river rocks and bark/leaves.

I'm afraid I may have gotten carried away. Does anything I've described sound incorrect? If so, what can I do at this point to ensure "Bubba" will be okay? Mostly the older, original leaves are turning yellow while new small leaves are appearing almost daily. I cut away these yellowing leaves and the blooms as they begin turning brown. I fertilize very dilutely with Miracle Grow monthly.

Thank you for any insights and enlightenment you can share.

Toni Medford
Gainesville FL

I think you did the right thing. It was severly root-bound by the way you described it. It needed to be repotted. Be sure to always use a pot that has very good drainage. Just be careful with the fertilizer. You really should not feed a plant that has just been repotted. It is good that you dilute it, just feed it during it's active growing season and lay off the fertilizer in the winter.

ONLY water the plant when the top inch or so of soil is dry. Add water just until it starts to drain out of the bottom. Discard the drained water from the saucer. Do not let the plant sit in drained water for more than an hour. Follow that watering procedure and you should not ever have an issue with watering. I use distilled water to water my house plants, including my two peace lilies, to help avoid brown leaf tips.

Peace lilies are pretty resilient. Just make sure to water properly and don't give it direct sunlight. Here is a helpful care sheet on peace lilies you may find useful:

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.