When Peace Lilies are struggling they are usually either overwatered or underwatered, these are relatively tough plants but improper watering can really stunt their growth. Usually, the most common reason why Peace Lilies tend to shrivel up and die is due to overwatering, however, underwatering can have the same consequences and a thirsty plant will deteriorate really fast.
To fix an underwatered peace lily, you can provide it with a deep watering. Place the pot in a sink or basin and fill it with water. Allow the plant to soak for at least 10 minutes, giving it enough time to absorb water through the roots and rehydrate the soil. Ensure that the water reaches all parts of the root ball. After the soak, allow any excess water to drain out of the pot. Going forward, make sure to monitor the moisture levels of the soil and water the peace lily when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
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Peace Lilies come from a humid environment, they do like some moisture around the roots, some people even mist their Peace Lilies to mimic their natural environment. These plants are not drought resistant, in nature they grow in moist soils, under the shade of shrubs and trees. Once the Peace Lilies do not get enough water they will start to wilt, and if they go a couple of days without water after wilting they might not be able to bounce back.
The problem with underwatered Peace Lilies is that the symptoms are almost the same as when you overwater them. To figure out if your Peace Lilies are suffering due to underwatering simply put one of your fingers into the soil, if the top inch of the soil is dry and the plant is also wilting then you need to water it asap. If you want to know what are the symptoms of overwatered Peace Lilies then check out my recent article Overwatered Peace Lily ( Top 9 Symptoms & Treatments ).
Underwatered Peace Lily
Underwatering is a common issue that can affect the health of a peace lily. When a peace lily is underwatered, its leaves may start to droop and wilt. The plant may also show signs of dehydration, such as dry and crispy leaf edges. Underwatering can hinder the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients, leading to stunted growth and diminished flowering. To address an underwatered peace lily, it is important to provide it with adequate water.
Water the plant thoroughly until the water drains out from the bottom of the pot, ensuring that the soil is evenly moist. It is crucial to maintain a consistent watering schedule, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. However, be cautious not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot. Additionally, providing a humid environment and placing the plant away from direct sunlight can help prevent excessive moisture loss.
Drooping And Wilting
One of the tell-tale signs that your Peace Lilies are being underwatered is that they will start to droop and wilt. The wilting process will start slowly, some of the leaves will become weak and almost flop over. Once most of the leaves are already wilting the plant is really stressed out and in need of water. To fix this problem simply water it, but make sure to use room temperature water, as colder water will shock the plant, and as it is already weak this shock can actually kill the plant. If you want to know the most common reasons why your Peace Lilies are drooping then check out my recent article Peace Lily Drooping ( Top 12 Reasons & Treatments ).
Dried Out Roots
If you haven’t watered your Peace Lilies in so long that the potting mix has dried up entirely then the roots of the plant are most likely damaged. Peace Lilies need to have some moisture around their roots, if they are allowed to dry out entirely the plant will not be able to absorb water and nutrients. If your Peace Lilies are wilting, and once you water them, they do not bounce back then odds are that the plant can simply not use its roots to absorb water.
The fix for this issue is to remove the plant from the pot and cut off all the roots that are brown and dried out, healthy roots are white. After this process, place the Peace Lilies in a vase or in a jar with some lukewarm water. Leave the Peace Lilies there for a couple of weeks until they grow healthy roots after which you can repot it. If you want to know why your Peace Lilies are not flowering then check out my recent article Peace Lily Not Flowering ( Top 11 Reasons ).
Compacted Soil
The soil in most pots can dry out extremely fast, especially if you have underwatered your plants. The more compact the soil is the harder will it be for the plant to absorb water. Usually, when you water compacted soil, most of the water will go right through it. In certain cases, Peace Lilies can survive in compacted soil as long as they can absorb water from the plant saucer. On the other hand, it will be extremely difficult for the plant to grow new leaves and roots as it simply can not penetrate the compacted soil.
To see if your Peace Lilies are struggling due to compacted soil, simply take out the plant from the pot, and look at the soil, if it is dry, clumped up, and hard then you have compacted soil. In this case, you have to repot your Peace Lilies with a fresh potting mix.
Roots Growing Outside The Pot
Once the Peace Lilies need more water they will actively grow their roots in order to access water, and the longer it goes without having water the longer these roots will be. Oftentimes these roots will get so long that they get into the plant saucer. If your Peace Lilies have roots growing outside the pot then it doesn’t necessarily mean that the plant is underwatered. If you water your Peace Lilies from above and the roots are sticking out of the pot then, the plant is either too big for the pot or it is stressed out because it doesn’t get enough water.
On the other hand, if you water your Peace Lilies from below, in the plant saucer, then it is normal to see a couple of roots sticking out of the pot. Do not cut off these roots, either repot the plant into a larger pot or try to water it more frequently.
Key Takeaways
- The most common signs of underwatered Peace Lilies are drooping and wilting. In addition to this, the potting mix can become compacted and some of the Peace Lily’s roots will grow outside the pot. If the soil is compacted due to underwatering then simply repot the plant with a new potting mix, if the soil is not compacted but the roots are sticking out from the bottom then you should still repot the plant.
- Most Peace Lilies will recover from being underwatered, but you have to be careful not to overwater them as this also could damage them.
- If the Peace Lilies go without water regularly then the potting mix could compact and when you water the plant it won’t be able to absorb the water as it will simply runoff.
