Why Is My Peace Lily Drooping? I hear that question often, and I know it can be a real thorn in a gardener’s side. The problem starts with those once proud leaves sagging down like they’ve lost all their spirit. The drooping gets worse, and it’s not just the appearance; the whole plant seems to be suffering. But don’t lose heart, my gardening friend! The solution to this drooping dilemma is likely simpler than you think. With a little attention to watering, sunlight, and perhaps a change in location, we can perk that Peace Lily right up. Stick with me, and we’ll have her standing tall in no time!
Have you been noticing that your peace lily is looking a little droopy lately? It’s normal for plants to lose leaves as they adjust from one environment to another, but if this one seems especially wilted and tired-looking—maybe there’s something wrong. In today’s post we’re going explore what might be causing it (and offer some solutions), so stay tuned!
Why Is My Peace Lily Drooping?
If your Peace Lily is drooping, that’s usually the first sign that something is wrong.
When you see your Peace Lily wilting, it can be heartbreaking. The leaves and stems will droop until they’re almost touching the sides of the pot, and sometimes even the flowers will follow suit. At this point, it’s easy to think that your plant is dying. But don’t worry – with a little care, your Peace Lily will soon be back to its usual self.
Check the following most common reasons why your Peace Lily droops and how to quickly resolve them. In most cases, your plant will simply need a good watering, but it is worth investigating other causes in order to avoid any future problems.
How Underwatering A Peace Lily Causes Drooping:
Not giving your Peace Lily enough water will cause the plant to droop as the stem and leaves are not receiving enough nutrients from the root system. The lack of hydration then leads to the plant dehydrating and sagging.
Peace Lilies are prone to wilting rather quickly when they do not have enough water. You may notice your plant looking healthy one day and then see it significantly drooping the next day.
The key to keeping a Peace Lily alive is watering it before the leaves start to droop. The plant is quite resilient, so if you do forget to water it and the leaves are drooping, simply give it some water and wait for the revival.
Not watering your Peace Lily for extended periods will result in yellow, dry leaves, so water your plant as soon as you notice it starting to droop. Developing an understanding of the elements that dictate how often you need to water houseplants is a useful skill to have if you want healthy indoor plants.
Overwatering Can Also Cause Drooping Leaves
If the leaves on your Peace Lily are drooping, it might be due to overwatering. To check, touch the soil and see if it is holding too much water or is soggy. The ideal situation would be for the soil to be moist but not drenched. From there, you can adjust how much water you give your plant accordingly.
If your home is warm, you can leave the plant for a couple days until it dries out more. If you’re worried about it, you can remove some of the wet soil and replace with dry soil to fix the issue faster — just be careful not to damage any roots in the process.
A Drooping Peace Lily Can Also Indicate Drainage Issues
As we stated before in this post, if there is too much water, your Peace Lily will start to droop. A way to fix that is by ensuring that the pot has proper drainage. Check if there are holes at the base of the pot; If not, you can make some with a corkscrew. Another tip is to clear any debris from the soil so it does not clog up the pots drainage holes. You can do this by adding small stones in bottom of pot.
Once you have finished watering, make sure to pour out any leftover water in the saucer or planter. Not only does this stop overwatering and drooping leaves, but it also reduces the risk of smells from stagnant water and root rot.
High And Low Temperatures Can Lead To Your Peace Lily Drooping
Related to their tropical origins, you might not believe that Peace Lilies prefer average indoor temperatures. Most of them will actually do quite well in an indoor temperature range of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperature drops by around 10 °F at night, your Peace Lily will be okay. If the temperature rises or falls much higher than that, your Peace Lily will start to droop.
How To Ensure Your Peace Lily Is Not Exposed To Temperature Fluctuations:
- If you want your house plants to thrive, keep them away from any doors or windows that experience a lot of drafts. The sudden changes in temperature can be damaging for your plant.
- Keep your house plants away from heat sources like fireplaces and space heaters. The sudden changes in temperature will be too much for the plant to handle.
- Keep your houseplant away from the air conditioner and any direct line of drafts. If you have any fans in your home, keep them out of reach as well. Fluctuating temperatures can damage the plant.
If you believe that temperature fluctuations might be the reason your plant is drooping, relocate the plant to a more suitable spot and monitor its progress for a few days. If there’s still no improvement, it’s possible that changing temperatures aren’t the issue, meaning you’ll have to carryout further investigations.
Inappropriate Soil Conditions
If you want your peace lily plant to grow and thrive, be sure to provide it with a well-draining soil mix that allows for plenty of airflow around the roots. This will ensure that the roots don’t become too wet or dry.
If your peace lily’s leaves are drooping or wilting, check the feel of the soil. If it feels waterlogged, then the soil doesn’t have enough drainage. Try mixing in materials like sand or perlite to improve drainage.
If you notice that your peace lily’s leaves are drooping and the soil is dry, this means that the plant isn’t getting enough water. The problem likely lies in quick drainage; to fix this, add more potting mix or houseplant compost to help the soil retain moisture better.
Peace Lilies Do Not Like The Following Soil Types:
- Soils with a lot of clay in them often cause waterlogging or very slow drainage, both of which are terrible for Peace Lilies.
- Soil that is gritty or sandy in texture does not allow for proper absorption of nutrients and moisture.
You can improve your Peace Lily’s appearance by repotting it in fresh soil that is more suitable. Look for a potting medium that is fine yet porous when choosing new soil for this house plant. The mix should contain perlite, peat moss, and fine bark if you want the best growth results from this particular plant variety.
Too Much Direct Sunlight Can Cause Your Peace Lily to Droop
Partially shaded spots are preferable for Peace Lilies to grow in, although they can also do well in low-light environments. This is likely because they grown under the forest canopy in nature and rarely receive direct sunlight. Although a Peace Lily will tolerate a few hours of direct sunlight per day (especially cooler climates), prolonged exposure will result in burnt leaves that develop brown patches or tips.
The reason drooping occurs is due to the amount of light and heat exposure. With more light and heat comes a higher transpiration rate, meaning the plant loses more water. Consequently, the plant will then sag or bend over.
What To Do If Your Peace Lily Is Drooping From Too Much Direct Sunlight:
- Relocate your potted plant away from the window.
- Choose a spot for your plant that is bright, but not in direct sunlight.
- Bring your houseplant inside if it typically resides in a sunny or bright area.
The plant needs repotting
Peace lily plants may have drooping leaves due to a lack of space in their pot. These types of plants don’t grow quickly, so they should only be repotted once per year at most. When a peace lily plant is crowded, its’ leaves will sag because it isn’t getting enough water or nutrients for growth. If you see roots coming out from the bottom holes of the nursery pot, then the peace lily definitely needs to be transplanted into a larger container.
You can improve your peace lily’s growth by repotting or dividing it. Repotting means transferring the entire plant to a new, larger pot, while divided simply creates multiple plants from one. Be sure to use a similar soil mix to what the plant was originally growing in so that its leaves will perk back up after acclimatizing to its new home.
Insect Infestations Can Cause Your Peace Lily To Droop And Wilt
Mealybugs are one of the few types of bugs and insects that enjoy feeding on Peace Lilies. If not taken care of, Mealybugs can cause a lot damage to your plant.
These pests attach themselves to the stem and leaves of a plant and feast on the sap, which robs the plant of its water and nutrients. As a result, the plant will start to wither and die.
Mealybugs are insects that feast on plants, and if you have a Peace Lily, check its stems and leaves for little white tufts of fluff. If your plant is drooping, this might be the issue.
Since mealybugs live in colonies, you will never have just one at a time to deal with. Instead, you’ll be facing a lot of them all at once.
How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs:
To rid the plant of any bugs or insects, clean it with alcohol.
The best way to kill Mealybugs is to use 70% isopropyl alcohol. Although it won’t harm your Peace Lily, the alcohol will be deadly for the Mealybugs. You can purchase this type of spray bottle at most stores, and it works great against all kinds of houseplant bugs. To make sure that the entire plant gets treated, thoroughly spray the foliage from both the top and bottom.
After you finish the treatment, place your Peace Lily in the bath and rinse it with cool water to get rid of any dead bugs. If there are still some alive, grab a cotton swab or piece of cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to kill each bug individually.
If you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol, dish soap is always an effective solution. Pour 1 teaspoon of dish soap into 1 liter of water and mix until it’s combined. Spray your plant until it’s dripping and be sure to cover every inch!
The next day, as previously suggested, rinse the plant with water. Even though using dish soap on plants is usually safe, you must make sure that it is highly diluted. Although Peace Lilies will be okay after this treatment, other plants won’t be able to tolerate dish soap at all. I learned this the hard way.
Diseases Can Cause Your Peace Lily To Droop And Wilt
If your Peace Lily is wilting and the leaves are changing color, it may have Cylindrocladium root rot. This disease typically occurs during summer months.
To check if your plant has this disease, here are some things you can do:
- Check the roots of the plant.
Root rot only affects plants when the roots are wet and looking discolored. If you see any brown or mushy parts on the roots, then that is a clear sign of root rot.
- Use a fungicide.
Gently take the plant out of its pot and get rid of all of the old soil around the roots. Use clean pruning shears to cut away any badly affected roots. Spray or dip the roots in a fungicide to destroy any fungi that are still present.
- Refresh the living environment and growing medium.
In order to give your Peace Lily the best chance at recovery, replant it in a new pot with fresh soil that drains well. Also, be sure to get rid of the old contaminated soil and wash any gardening equipment you used–fungal diseases can easily spread through unclean soils and tools. If you don’t take these precautions, not only will your plant continue to suffer from the same issue, but you could also infect other plants.
These are all of the main reasons that you might find your Peace Lily is drooping — and really it’s not as big of a deal as it may seem, they’re just a very dramatic plant. If you would like to learn more about your plant do check out our Peace Lily care guide.
How to Fix a Drooping Peace Lily Plant
To keep your peace lily plant healthy, it’s important to provide the ideal growing conditions. This means a warm, humid environment; well-draining soil; indirect sunlight or partial shade; and regular watering. By following these simple tips, you can help your plant thrive!
The ideal temperature for a peace lily plant to prosper is between 55 and 85ºF. To maintain around 60% humidity, mist the plant every other day or every three days. If you don’t have time for that, you could also use a humidifier, pebble tray, or put the peace lily in a steamy bathroom instead. Keep in mind that recently propagated or repotted plants are more delicate to chilly drafts or imbalanced temperatures.
For a thriving peace lily, you need a soil mix that drains well but can still retain some moisture. To achieve this, create a mix of drainage material, nutrient-rich compost, and perlite using a 2:2:1 ratio. These plants are accustomed to growing in shadier conditions found deep in jungles rather than exposed to bright lights or direct sunlight. Look for an east or north-facing room with indirect light or partial shade instead.
Although peace lilies need moist soil, you should never water to the point of flooding, as this leaves the plant vulnerable to root rot and pests. A good rule of thumb is to check the top inch or two of soil; if it feels dry, then your peace lily needs watering.
Finally, every 6 to 8 weeks during the spring and summer months, fertilize your peace lily plant. You should also trimmedicate any excess growth. Doing so will help the plant maintain its shape and look more attractive.
We’ve thoroughly examined the query, “Why Is My Peace Lily Drooping?” and unearthed the root of the problem, be it water, sunlight, or something more subtle. The agitation that comes with seeing a beloved plant suffer is something every gardener has faced, and it’s something that demands a precise and thoughtful response. The solutions we’ve explored offer a path forward, tailored to the unique needs of the Peace Lily. By understanding the underlying issues and applying the appropriate care techniques, you can transform your drooping Peace Lily into a thriving, vibrant specimen. May your garden continue to bloom with success!
