I need some help with one of my peace lilies. I have three and two of them they are doing very well I have had two of them for about two years.
Well I recently got this one about 2 months ago and I had to repot it bc I bought it at Home Depot and you know they have really crappy pots that they come in.
So I was watering it once a week (like I do my other ones) and it started to bud a new leaf and then all the other leaves just went down. It looks so pitiful. I don’t know what to do! Then I was thinking it wasn’t getting enough sun so I moved it closer to the window and it still looks the same. Then I thought I was watering it too much (but I didn’t see how when I was only watering it once a week) and as of now I haven’t watered it in about 5 days and it still looks the same. HELP I don’t want it to die!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is one I have had for 2 years.

My 2nd one that I have had for 2 years.

This is the one that needs help............

What it looked like when I bought it!

What it looks like now!!!!!
HELP!!!!

Thanks Phoenix, I honestly can't remember what they look like?
But would a new leaf be budding out like it is if the roots where rotten?

What kind of soil did you use? ~ I use miracle grow.

Did you remove a lot of the soil it came in? ~ Not too much just enough to get the roots free so it can grow in the new pot.

Are there drainage holes in the bottom of the new pot? ~ There are rocks at the bottom of the pot.

How dry does the soil feel after a week of no water? ~ It feels a little dry but a little damp if that makes any sense the dirt isn’t dry and flaky but it isn’t soaking wet either.

The roots are rotting. The culprit is the lack of drainage holes. Rocks or other drainage material in the bottom of the pot is an old-fashioned notion that has been discredited as a helpful horticultural practice.

Not only does the excess water have no place to drain out, but neither do the gases that build up around the roots. No drainage holes is a particularly deadly combination with plants like peace lilies that stay in evenly moist soil.

You can unpot and try salvaging it, but my guess is that there are few if any healthy roots remaining. If there are, put the slimmed down rootball into a small pot that has drainage holes.

Wish I had better news, but it is good learning experience about potting.

I can't say for sure why there is a difference. However, the soil and your watering of the two plants is not identical. It is possible to maintain a plant in a drainless pot, but it is very dicey and, more often than not, results in eventual root deterioration.

Will

I am sorry, but not surprised, about your peace lily.

Using pots without drainage holes is a risky venture with any potted plant. It is more risky with plants that need to dry out often, such as succulents.

The problem is that the damage done by the slow accumulation of water and gases in the bottom of drainless pots is very slow and hidden from view. By the time it becomes apparent, it is usually too late.