The Best Way to Divide a Peace Lily
Peace lily leaves rise directly from a thick root called a rhizome. Long, glossy leaves form a shrub-like plant that periodically puts up one or more creamy white spathes, specialized leaves that bear clusters of tiny flowers arranged on a finger-shaped spadix. Peace lilies tolerate low indoor light but they require bright light to flower. Spathiphylla grow best in moist, well-drained soil and signal their need for water by drooping. When plants become crowded, about every 18 months, they need water more than once a week and benefit from division. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Water the plant well and allow it to drain completely a day before dividing. Never allow a peace lily to sit in water; tilt the pot to help drain water if necessary.
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Tap the pot to drop the plant's root ball out of the pot on its side. Pick the root ball up and remove as much dirt as possible. The plant will splay apart into two or more bunches of crowns.
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Pull the divisions apart. If necessary, cut through the rhizome with a sharp knife. Depending on the size of the plant, divisions may have a few crowns or a dozen or more. Each crown should have at least three leaves rising from it.
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Prepare new pots while waiting for cuts made on the rhizome to dry. Use clean pots that have drainage holes on the bottom. Fill them partially with new, light potting soil that will drain well.
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Set divisions in pots, one at a time, and spread the roots over the soil in the pot. Fill the remaining space and tamp the soil, positioning the crowns just under soil level. Leave 1 to 2 inches of space between the rim of the pot and soil level.
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Water well and put divisions in bright, but not direct, light away from drafts. Water plants when leaves begin to droop. Wait a month to fertilize plants.
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Tips & Warnings
Start a peace lily nursery by planting individual crowns in 3- or 4-inch pots. Plants will mature within a year.
Spring is the best time to divide peace lilies.
A summer on a covered porch or under a shady tree encourages spathiphylla to bloom.
Plants that encounter drafts, cold air or fertilizer in their soil may enter dormancy when divided. Water only lightly while they rest from two to three months. Set them in bright light and water as usual when they begin growing again.
References
- Photo Credit Medioimages/Photodisc/Valueline/Getty Images
