Key Takeaways

  • Peace lilies are easy to grow and maintain indoors, making them a great choice for first-time plant growers or those looking for a low-maintenance houseplant.
  • These plants can tolerate low-light conditions and still bloom, unlike many other plants that require specific sunlight requirements.
  • Peace lilies are excellent natural air purifiers, removing up to 74% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 68% of odors from the air, making them a great addition to improve indoor air quality.

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) makes a beautiful houseplant and is common in many homes for good reason. These ornamental plants have large, glossy leaves with multiple delicate, white blooms. Unlike their name suggests, peace lilies are not actually true lilies. They are part of the Araceae family, alongside other plants like calla lilies, philodendron, and elephant ear plants.

These plants add a pop of greenery to your space, along with having many other benefits to enjoy! Discover seven different benefits of peace lily plants.

1 Easy To Grow Houseplant

Caring for your peace lily indoors

Peace lily houseplant with a self-watering globe

The peace lily is a great houseplant for first-time plant growers, or those looking for a low-maintenance plant to beautify the home. They are considered easy to maintain indoors for a variety of reasons.

  • Peace lilies do well in indoor environments as the temperature is typically favorable. They prefer indoor temperatures ranging between 68 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which are attainable standards for even the most novice of growers.
  • They enjoy room-temperature water, however, they are sensitive to chlorine and fluoride that is often found in tap water. Instead, water your peace lily with filtered water or collected rainwater.
  • Peace lilies like moist, but not soggy soil and only need water once the soil has recently dried, about once a week. They are great communicators of their moisture level, as they will quickly wilt if they do not receive enough water.
  • These plants enjoy life in a pot. Only repot a peace lily if the roots start growing through and plugging up the drainage holes in the pot.
  • Peace lilies do not require much fertilizer when growing indoors. Apply fertilizer every six to eight weeks, using a balanced houseplant fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 20-20-20.

These standard plant practices make the peace lily a great addition to your houseplant collection!

2 Tolerates Low Light

Peace lilies tolerate multiple lighting conditions

An inviting arrangement of vibrant Peace Lily by a sunlit window.
Image credits: Thiea Alhoz via Pexels

Another added benefit of a peace lily indoor plant is its low-light requirements. While some plants have very specific sunlight requirements, the peace lily is able to handle varying light conditions.

  • Peace lilies flourish when given bright, indirect light, but can adapt to shady conditions as well.
  • The peace lily is so tolerant of low-light that it will still bloom under these conditions, unlike many other plants. This tolerance allows the peace lily to thrive in locations within the home that may not work for other plants.
  • For the best results, provide peace lilies with indirect sunlight, avoiding direct sunlight which may scorch its leaves and lead to brown tips. Opt for an east or north-facing window and provide six to eight hours of indirect sunlight daily.

3 Natural Air Purifier

Cleanse the air by adding a peace lily plant indoors

Peace lilies are among the most air-purifying houseplants out there, cleansing the indoor air and allowing you to breathe more easily. Especially during the colder months, many people will find themselves spending more time indoors. Staying inside and not getting the benefits of fresh outdoor air can sometimes affect your health.

  • Our homes have many chemicals due to the products we use within them — like paint, varnishes, various household cleaners, nail polish, and more. These contaminants can be a challenge to get rid of indoors and impact the overall air quality.
  • The peace lily is one of the top houseplants to have in the home to help clean the air. Studies have shown that the peace lily removes up to 74 percent of the Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) in the air and up to 68 percent of odors.
  • Some examples of TVOC that these plants eliminate are benzene, ammonia, formaldehyde, and acetone vapors.

4 Promotes a Better Sleep

Enjoy a restful sleep with a peace lily in your bedroom

blooming peace lily in a bedroom

One of the benefits of a peace lily in your bedroom is their ability to promote better sleep, and who doesn't want more of that?

  • Poor quality of sleep impacts your everyday life and can lead to a whole host of problems, such as the increased risk of depression, obesity, and injuries to name a few.
  • By purifying the air and improving air quality, peace lilies can remove allergens that may prevent a restful slumber.
  • Not only that, plants in general will help convert CO2 into oxygen and increased oxygen helps to promote a more relaxing night's sleep as well.

5 Removes Mold Spores From the Air

Peace lilies rid the air of mold spores and allergens

healthy peace lily plant
Image credits: Nika_Akin via Pixabay

If you notice a theme here, peace lilies make the air cleaner! Having clean air brings a long list of advantages, including removing mold spores from the air, along with preventing mildew from forming.

  • Peace lilies effectively remove these mold spores and various allergens from the air. In fact, the plant converts these contaminants into food for themselves.
  • Mildew and mold spores can cause an individual to experience symptoms such as respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion, watery eyes, and sore throats to name a few.
  • Place your peace lily in your bathroom where mold and mildew are more likely to form due to the moist environment.
  • If you can reduce the chances of getting those symptoms indoors and have a pretty plant to enjoy at the same time, it's a no-brainer!

6 Adds a Decorative Touch Indoors

Refresh your indoor space with a peace lily

Aside from all the health benefits that peace lilies provide, the aesthetic appeal is also important to note. Decorating with houseplants like peace lilies adds lots of character and charm to your living space.

  • Peace lilies have beautiful glossy deep green leaves with white blooms that have a light and pleasant fragrance.
  • Their long-lasting blooms can last for up to a month at a time. Once blooms wither away, you can deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage new blooms to form.
  • They can grow anywhere from 1 to 6 feet tall, depending on the environment. When growing indoors, peace lilies are more likely to grow smaller.
  • With around 40 different species of peace lilies, there is sure to be a variation you will enjoy in your own home!

7 Feng Shui Benefits

Invite good vibes into your home

Large peace lily in a white pot

Peace lilies have been used in feng shui for decades due to their strong symbolism. According to feng shui principles, peace lilies invite good vibes into your home in a few ways.

  • Peace lilies symbolize purity, innocence, and harmony, along with dedication and strong will.
  • This plant gets its name from its beautiful white flowers that are said to represent white flags of peace.
  • Peace lilies bring good fortune and attract positive energy. Those who practice feng shui believe that peace lilies have the ability to transform negative energy into positive energy and allow for a better flow of energy in your living space.

The Perfect Companion

Now that you know the many advantages of owning a peace lily plant, consider adding one to your home! Peace lilies are one of those plants that are not only beautiful but also offer an abundance of health benefits. This well-known houseplant purifies the air, providing you with cleaner air indoors, along with better sleep and the removal of allergens and mold spores. Overall, they make a wonderful addition to your living space and provide you with multiple benefits for years to come!