The Benefits of Owning a Peace Lily

The peace lily is a beautiful plant and a long-time favourite of plant owners and growers alike. The scientific name of this stunning plant is Spathiphyllum and derives from the Greek word ‘spath’ which translates to spoon. The suffix ‘phyll’ refers to leaves or leaf structures. It is no surprise that this calming plant of lush green leaves and seasonal flowers represent peace. Peace lilies are also known to symbolise prosperity, tranquillity, and the white flowers are often seen as a signal of truce, symbolic of waving the white flag.

This plant is hardy and produces beautiful foliage year-round, with stunning seasonal white flowers that symbolise hope due to the flowers blooming season after season. The white flowers will bloom in spring, lasting around two months. A well-cared-for peace lily will sometimes bloom again in the autumn. 

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The peace lily also carries some incredible benefits of residing in your household. The plant has previously been recognised by NASA as one of the Top Ten Household Air Cleaning Plants. Initially, the study planned to find ways to clean the air by removing volatile organic pollutants in space stations. As such, the study found that this tropical plant breaks down and neutralises toxic gases in the air like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Once broken down, it stores the toxicity inside its pores. 

According to Feng Shui principles, peace lilies are also very powerful at harmonising the energies of the environments they inhabit. The five elements that create balance and promote the good flow of Chi are Water, Fire, Metal, Wood, and plants are part of the last important element, Earth. Since this plant is known for its ability to clear toxins, it’s no surprise that the plant is also believed to create calm, cleansing vibrations. 

The peace lily offers more than just cleaner air: resilience and minimal care make this plant a popular gift. This tranquil plant is often gifted during times of sympathy and is commonly seen in funeral flower arrangements. Gifting a peace lily means you acknowledge the journey someone is on, and wish them peace and support.

Maintaining Peace Lilies

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As mentioned before, the peace lily is a hardy plant that requires minimal care. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need some love, care and attention. Good news: peace lilies can tolerate most indoor light levels, as long as they’re not in direct sunlight as this can burn and damage their leaves. The plant also grows well in pots or outdoor gardens, as long as it’s out of the direct sun, and can drain excess water. Yellowing leaves are a sign that your plant is receiving too much light, so it’s best to move it somewhere shadier.

Once you’ve decided where you will house your peace lily, it’s smart to liquid feed your plant over peak growing times like in spring, and feed it with a quality control-release fertiliser once a year. Even though this plant is hardy, there are some common issues with growing a healthy, long-lasting peace lily. Over-watering is a common problem for this house-plant, but since they’re susceptible to root-rot, you need to be careful. To check if your plant needs watering, use your finger to determine the moistness of the soil. If the soil is dry for the first centimetre or two, then it needs some water. Misting the plant every day or two is also a good option in an air-conditioned environment.

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Pruning and re-potting are also necessary to care for your peace lily. Remove dead and yellowing leaves and flowers as they go out of season and re-pot your plant roughly every 12-18 months — replace the soil and upgrade the pot size if needed. You can also grow a new peace lily from your original plant through propagation — otherwise known as using off-cuttings to sprout a new plant.

Top tip: house your peace lily in the bathroom as this plant prevents mildew formation. Peace lilies love humid environments and they help decrease excessive moisture in a room. This reduces the development of mildew and mould that often thrives in bathrooms. Mould can also cause many health issues to the immunocompromised such as throat and eye irritation, nasal stuffiness, wheezing and coughing, and skin irritation. Buying a peace lily for your immunocompromised loved one is a thoughtful gift since the peace lily absorbs airborne mould spores.

Peace Lily Hampers

What more could you want? A cost-effective, gorgeous peace lily which purifies the air of toxins and requires a small amount of care! Are you ready to gift this stunning plant to someone? We at Edible Blooms have multiple Peace Lily Gift options that have all the green thumbs, and plant-lovers who seem to kill all of their plants, raving.

As much as peace lilies are beautiful and great detoxifying houseplants, we wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we didn’t inform you of the toxicity of the plant. All parts of the peace lily are mildly poisonous so keep an eye on young children who may try to eat any part of the plant. Contact dermatitis and stomach upsets are potential side effects in humans. In pets — especially cats — lilies are highly toxic and can result in a severe bodily shutdown, long-term health issues, and death.

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