Peace Lily not blooming well :/
Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2005
by Will Creed on June 08, 2005 05:15 AM
Hi Therian,
There are two likely reasons. One is that the pot is too big. If you repotted it, then the plant's energy goes into producing roots at the expense of flowers. Keep it very potbound.
The other is genetic and you can't do anything about it. Most peace lilies are hybrids that have been "designed" to put out one enormous outburst of flowers at point-of-sale. Subsequent flowering is weak.
There are two likely reasons. One is that the pot is too big. If you repotted it, then the plant's energy goes into producing roots at the expense of flowers. Keep it very potbound.
The other is genetic and you can't do anything about it. Most peace lilies are hybrids that have been "designed" to put out one enormous outburst of flowers at point-of-sale. Subsequent flowering is weak.
by Therian on June 08, 2005 06:40 AM
Hi Will,
I haven't repotted it so it's still in its original pot. I had read peace lilies like to be root bound, so I hadn't touched it. I really hope it's not the genetic thing you mentioned. When I bought this plant the blooms were spectacular. Now when there are blooms they are nearly hidden in the foliage, and never rise to the glory they had high above the plant as they did when I bought it.
Are there peace lilies that are not "designed" to bloom at point of sale and then more or less fade out? I think I'm feeling a little snookered by this "design" if you know what I mean.
At any rate, thank you so much for your response. At least now I don't feel so much like I've done something horribly wrong to this poor plant that made it not be able to bloom. Less guilt is a good thing.. right?![[Smile]](im/smile.gif)
Oh, and I do have an additional question if that's ok. I have recently (like this afternoon) moved inside my house as house plants a few gorgeous crimson impatients I had left over from my garden plantings. My question is... how long could I maybe expect them to survive in the house?
I know they're annuals, but would it be unlikely that they could survive a year in the house? I mean assuming I do all the right things like remember to water them.
I haven't repotted it so it's still in its original pot. I had read peace lilies like to be root bound, so I hadn't touched it. I really hope it's not the genetic thing you mentioned. When I bought this plant the blooms were spectacular. Now when there are blooms they are nearly hidden in the foliage, and never rise to the glory they had high above the plant as they did when I bought it.
Are there peace lilies that are not "designed" to bloom at point of sale and then more or less fade out? I think I'm feeling a little snookered by this "design" if you know what I mean.
At any rate, thank you so much for your response. At least now I don't feel so much like I've done something horribly wrong to this poor plant that made it not be able to bloom. Less guilt is a good thing.. right?
Oh, and I do have an additional question if that's ok. I have recently (like this afternoon) moved inside my house as house plants a few gorgeous crimson impatients I had left over from my garden plantings. My question is... how long could I maybe expect them to survive in the house?
I know they're annuals, but would it be unlikely that they could survive a year in the house? I mean assuming I do all the right things like remember to water them.
by Carly on June 08, 2005 02:58 PM
Put it in a very dark corner of the house.
I had one in the office window and although it looked ok, leaf-wise, it didn't give any flowers.
I have moved it to a very, very shady corner of the office. It is doing quite well.
I think I'll visit the office this morning and check on it, maybe take a picture as it is right now.
* * * *
When sorting seeds, do not whistle.
I had one in the office window and although it looked ok, leaf-wise, it didn't give any flowers.
I have moved it to a very, very shady corner of the office. It is doing quite well.
I think I'll visit the office this morning and check on it, maybe take a picture as it is right now.
* * * *
When sorting seeds, do not whistle.
by Therian on June 08, 2005 05:46 PM
Hi Carly,
Hmmm a darker place huh? I hadn't thought about that. I don't really have any dark places in the kitchen, but I do in my bedroom.. so I think I'll try movinhg it there and see if something good happens. I'd just like to see this thing bloom like it used to. That's why I bought it in the first place, the magnificent blooms.. Which now goes back to the possible genetic "design" Will was talking about.. and now I feel snookered again... maybe.. I'll try moving it to the dark part of my room and see if I gets better before I really pout.
Hmmm a darker place huh? I hadn't thought about that. I don't really have any dark places in the kitchen, but I do in my bedroom.. so I think I'll try movinhg it there and see if something good happens. I'd just like to see this thing bloom like it used to. That's why I bought it in the first place, the magnificent blooms.. Which now goes back to the possible genetic "design" Will was talking about.. and now I feel snookered again... maybe.. I'll try moving it to the dark part of my room and see if I gets better before I really pout.
by Cricket on June 08, 2005 10:40 PM
Hi Therian,
Although peace lilies will survive in low light, they do best in bright indirect light. North or east windows are good. I empathize with your feeling "snookered". My peace lilies are doing the same thing. But Will is right, you can't get around the genetics of a specific plant. I, too, am interested to find an unimproved peace lily. Meanwhile, give your plant as optimal conditions as possible, hope for the best and please keep us updated.
Although peace lilies will survive in low light, they do best in bright indirect light. North or east windows are good. I empathize with your feeling "snookered". My peace lilies are doing the same thing. But Will is right, you can't get around the genetics of a specific plant. I, too, am interested to find an unimproved peace lily. Meanwhile, give your plant as optimal conditions as possible, hope for the best and please keep us updated.
by Will Creed on June 09, 2005 04:40 AM
Peace lilies often thrive under office overhead fluorescent lighting, but not in a dark corner.
Monthly fertilizer may help if yours has been in the same pot.
In fact, you have been snookered. We all have. It is all but impossible to find a Spathiphyllum species (non-hybrid) anymore. I have a few older ones in some of my accounts, but I cannot find new ones. For growers, it is all about getting you to buy one in the first place and they know you will buy the one that has the most flowers. Few retailers understand that they will not flower that profusely again. So you never find out.
Monthly fertilizer may help if yours has been in the same pot.
In fact, you have been snookered. We all have. It is all but impossible to find a Spathiphyllum species (non-hybrid) anymore. I have a few older ones in some of my accounts, but I cannot find new ones. For growers, it is all about getting you to buy one in the first place and they know you will buy the one that has the most flowers. Few retailers understand that they will not flower that profusely again. So you never find out.
by Carly on June 19, 2005 08:31 PM
That's where mine's working out best. I had blooms and the foilage is healthy looking.
No, I have not transplanted it. Don't think I will.
I guess as the season changes, it might want to come out into the window again. I'll see.
I keep forgetting to take a picture of it when I'm in the office.
* * * *
When sorting seeds, do not whistle.
No, I have not transplanted it. Don't think I will.
I guess as the season changes, it might want to come out into the window again. I'll see.
I keep forgetting to take a picture of it when I'm in the office.
* * * *
When sorting seeds, do not whistle.
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Any ideas why it's maybe not blooming very well?