Saving a dying Peace Lily is not that difficult, as long as you know why the plant is dying, and if the plant still has enough strength to recover it will bounce back eventually. Even if the Peace Lily doesn’t have any roots, or the leaves are drooping and yellow, the plant can recover, as long as you address the issue as fast as possible. Most people tend to overreact when they see that their plants are not doing so well, but some wilting and discoloration on the leaves is normal and rarely a sign that the plant is actually dying.
To save a dying peace lily plant, adjust the watering schedule to once per week and ensure proper drainage to prevent overwatering. Apply half-strength fertilizer monthly during the Spring and Summer to address nutrient deficiencies. If the leaves turn black, it may be due to exposure to cold weather or fungal disease. Protect the plant from extreme temperatures and provide adequate airflow to prevent fungal issues.
Usually, too much or too little water is the main cause of Peace Lilies dying, my personal recommendation is to use a soil moisture meter this way you know if you are over or underwatering them Click here to check it out on Amazon.com
Generally speaking, Peace Lilies tend to die off once you bring them home, established Peace Lilies that are growing in the same home for a number of years will rarely die off. Plant nurseries grow Peace Lilies under ideal conditions, this way the plant will grow as fast as possible and the nursery can make a nice profit. Usually, Peace Lilies grown in nurseries have an ideal temperature, humidity, fertilizers, and no pests.
Once you bring the plant home, the plant will be in a massive shock, established Peace Lilies will be able to recover but younger ones might not have the necessary energy to do so. If your Peace Lilies have root rot then check out my recent article How To Repot A Peace Lily With Root Rot ( In 11 Easy Steps ).
How To Save A Dying Peace Lily Plant
If your peace lily plant is showing signs of decline, there are steps you can take to try and save it. First, assess the plant’s environment and make adjustments as needed. Peace lilies prefer bright, indirect light, so ensure they are not exposed to direct sunlight. Check the soil moisture level and adjust your watering routine accordingly. Peace lilies like consistently moist but not soggy soil, so water them when the top inch of soil feels dry. Trim any yellow or brown leaves to promote new growth and improve the plant’s appearance.
If the plant is severely wilted, you can try a process called “water therapy” by submerging the pot in a basin of water for about 30 minutes to rehydrate the roots. Lastly, consider repotting the peace lily if it is root-bound or if the soil has become compacted. Use a well-draining potting mix and a slightly larger pot to provide the plant with fresh soil and space for root growth.
Water It Less
One of the most common reasons why Peace Lilies tend to die is due to overwatering. Peace Lilies do like a humid environment but if you overwater them they will start to droop, eventually, the plant can also develop root rot. Ideally, you should water your Peace Lilies only when the top inch of the soil is dry. If you overwater your Peace Lilies for a longer period of time you will notice black mold will grow on top of the soil, which competes for nutrients with the plant, and oftentimes the plant will not be strong enough to survive. If you think your Peace Lilies are dying due to underwatering then check out my recent article Underwatered Peace Lily ( Top 4 Symptoms & Treatments ).
Repotting It
If your Peace Lilies are dying your best option is to simply repot them, this way you can examine the roots of the plant if they are sick, and a fresh potting mix can also help the plant to bounce back. If your Peace Lilies are growing in the same pot for a couple of years already, then the odds are that the potting mix lacks the necessary nutrients which the plant needs in order to survive. Once you take out the Peace Lilies from the pot make sure to look at the roots, white roots are healthy and brown roots are rotten.
Cleaning Up Its Roots
Usually, when Peace Lilies start to die, they oftentimes have an issue with their root system. Either the roots are rotten, or the potting mix is simply unsuitable for the plant. Oftentimes the roots of Peace Lilies will grow in a circle at the bottom of the pot, which is a clear indication that you have to repot them into a bigger pot. To clean up the roots of Peace Lilies, simply remove them from the pot and wash away all the soil.
Cut off all the roots that are brown, as these are already dead, and if they are also mushy then the roots have simply rotten away, you will have to remove these as well. Only leave white roots as these are the healthy ones, and make sure to repot the Peace Lilies into a new and clean pot. If you want to reuse the old pot then make sure to clean it out as best as you can.
Putting It In A Vase
Peace Lilies can survive in vases, although you will need to add some nutrients from time to time to the water. Oftentimes when you pull out the Peace Lilies from the pot you might have to remove all of their roots, especially if the roots have rotten away. The good news is that you can still save your Peace Lilies, by simply placing them in a vase. Add some rooting hormone to the water, this way the plants will grow healthy roots in a couple of weeks.
Once there are a couple of healthy roots, you can repot the plant, although my recommendation is to wait 2-3 months until the plant has a lot of long roots.
Cutting Its Leaves Back
The more leaves the Peace Lilies have the more nutrients and water they will need. In case the plant is sick or stressed out, it will lose some of its leaves as it won’t have the energy to keep all the leaves alive. The leaves that are getting discolored should be removed entirely, and you should cut off 30-50% of every healthy leaf. Do not worry, the plant will still be able to photosynthesis even if the leaves are cut back.
Cut Back On Fertilisers
A lot of people tend to go overboard with fertilizers, although Peace Lilies tend to thrive in relatively poor soil and too much fertilizer can actually harm them. In certain cases, the fertilizers can actually burn the roots of the plant, or even kill the plant. If you have added some kind of fertilizer to your Peace Lilies and you noticed that they started to droop after a couple of days then it is extremely likely that it is due to the fertilizer.
If you are using a slow release fertilizer, then you have to repot the plant and cut back on fertilizing, ideally, you should only fertilize the plant before it starts to flower as it needs more nutrients at that point. If you want to take the safe route then my personal recommendation is to use a foliar fertilizer once or twice per month, but if you see the leaves turn brown or yellow then stop fertilizing for a couple of months. If you notice that the flowers of your Peace Lilies are small then check out my recent article Why Are My Peace Lily Flowers Small? ( Top 6 Reasons ).
Key Takeaways
- To save a dying Peace Lily you should repot it as soon as possible. Make sure to cut off the roots that are brown and mushy as these ones tend to be rotten. If all the roots are rotten away, then simply remove them and place the plant into a vase and let it grow some roots. After repotting do not fertilize for a couple of months, allow the plant to get established in the new pot first, usually, the dying Peace Lily will bounce back in a couple of weeks.
- If your Peace Lilies are dying due to overwatering, then make sure to repot them, and cut back on how much or how often your water them.
- If the roots of the Peace Lily are growing in a circle at the bottom of the pot, then you have to repot them into a bigger pot.
