How to Care for Closet Plants

While the name, "Closet Plant" might lead you to believe that this type of plant could survive in a closet, it really can't. Closet plants, otherwise known as Peace Lilies, are low maintenance plants that thrive in low light or reduced light conditions. According to a NASA clean air study, Peace Lilies are helpful to people in interior environments in that they are effective at removing benzene, formaldehyde and carbon dioxide from the air. The characteristic broad, glossy evergreen leaves and striking white flowers of this plant are an added benefit to the air cleaning properties they possess. With proper care, this plant will provide beauty and utility for many years.

Instructions

1. Provide a potting mix of bark, sand and peat moss for the Closet Plant in order to prevent any drainage issues.

2. Place the plant in an area where it can receive filtered light, if possible. It can survive in low-lit interiors as well.

3. Provide an environment of 68 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit that is free from drafts and the risk of temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Water the plant with room temperature, filtered water, or allow tap water to sit for 24 hours in an open container before watering. Keep the soil evenly moist, and never allow it to completely dry out between waterings.

5. Fertilize the plant each month, during its growing season, with a standard household plant fertilizer that is diluted to 1/4 of the strength recommended by the manufacturer.

6. Wipe the leaves frequently to remove any dust that may have accumulated on them.

Tips & Warnings

• The growing season for this plant ends when the flowering cycle does, and it resumes approximately three months later.

• Optimal placement is about 5 to 10 feet away from an open window.

• Closet plants thrive in high humidity and can survive quite well in bathrooms.

• Be careful not to overwater. Drooping leaves may be the sign of a warm, dry environment and not the need to water. In a drier environment, periodically mist the leaves of the plant with filtered water.

References

• Flower Shop Network: Caring for Peace Lily Plants
• My Indoor House Plants: Peace Lily
• Zone 10.com: Nasa Study: House Plants Clean the Air