The peace lily is a beautiful houseplant with shiny green foliage and stunning white flowers. This tropical plant is easy to grow, purifies the air, and has over 40 different varieties. However, the most common mistake people make when caring for their lilies is overwatering.
Overwatering peace lilies can lead to a variety of problems. Follow along to find out if you’ve been giving your plant too much water and what to do to prevent it going forward. Below are four signs that you may be overwatering your peace lily plant and how to fix it, so your plant continues to flourish and thrive.
Table of Contents
1. Yellowing Leaves
The most common sign that you have been overwatering your peace lily plant is yellowing leaves. If you notice the leaves start to turn yellow, it probably means you have given the plant too much water.
Peace lilies can survive for a few weeks without water. However, you want to have a regular watering schedule to ensure the plant gets water frequently and not sporadically. Typically once a week will suffice. Always check the soil first to ensure the plant requires a drink. If the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch, give the plant more water.
It’s important to notes that sometimes older leaves will turn yellow and die off near the bottom of the plant. This process is normal and is part of the plant’s natural life cycle to lose leaves over time, so it doesn’t mean you have overwatered your peace lily. To identify if you have made a mistake and gave your plant too much H2O, look for multiple yellowing leaves throughout the plant.
If you think you have overwatered the plant, wait for the soil to dry out. Leave the plant in a bright location and create a regular watering routine going forward.
Note: Peace lilies are sensitive to chlorine that can be found in tap water. It would be best to care for your peace lilies with rainwater, or treat your current water to reduce the chemical levels.
2. Wilting Leaves
Another sign of overwatering your peace lily plant is wilting or drooping leaves that curl inwards. Sometimes plant owners get confused and think wilting leaves indicate that the plant is not getting enough water. By mistake, they continue to overwater their plant, causing further damage.
Occasionally underwatering can cause wilted leaves, but to confirm it, check the potting soil first. To determine if the plant is wilting from too much water, put your finger in the soil about 2 to 3 inches deep; The potting soil shouldn’t be saturated, it should only be slightly moist. If your peace lily is wilting and the soil is wet, it might indicate that you have overwatered the plant and caused the roots to rot.
If overwatered, peace lilies will only survive for a couple of weeks before the plant completely dies off. Keep an eye out for overly wet soil and droopy leaves so you can correct the issue right away.
3. Root Rot
Peace lilies can experience root rot if you consistently give them too much water. Root rot is a fungal disease that is a problem for any plant. This disease causes the plant to completely die off.Â
Common signs of root rot include wilting or drooping leaves, stunted plant growth, and a brown or black stem. To identify root rot, look at the roots of the plant. To check for this, carefully remove the plant from its container and inspect the roots to see if they appear black or brown and are soft to the touch. If only certain roots appear to be diseased or smell bad, simply trim the infected roots and repot the plant in a new container with sterile soil.
To prevent root rot, make sure to plant peace lilies in a container with drainage holes, so water doesn’t build up in the bottom of the container. Ensure you stick to a regular watering routine from here on out.Â
4. Moldy Soil
The last thing to check for when determining if you have overwatered your peace lily is moldy potting soil. Mold loves to grow in moist, damp environments. Plants that receive too much water can grow mold on the top of their soil due to the excess moisture. In turn, this causes damage to the plant and can stunt its growth if not remedied in time.
Another reason for moldy soil is caused by using cheap potting soil. So, when planting, purchase high-quality potting soil from a reputable source.
Pro tip:Â Bottom water your plant to prevent overwatering and moldy soil. To do so, use a tray or container filled with water and place your pot inside. Wait a few minutes, allow the roots to soak up the water from the bottom, then room it from the tray and let it drain.
Stop Overwatering!
When it comes to watering your houseplants, sometimes less is more. Always check on your peace lily regularly to prevent overwatering the plant. When in doubt, purchase a moisture meter that tells you exactly how much moisture is in the soil.
Have you overwatered your peace lily plant before? What did you do? Leave a comment down below and share your experience!
