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Peace Lily Yellow Leaves: How to Fix Them

This guide will explain everything about Peace Lily leaves turning yellow. The peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp) is a houseplant, characterized by its quick and easy way to adapt to low-light spaces. However, you may have a sudden appearance of leaves turning yellow. The most common question when that happens is Why Are My Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow? In this article, learn all about Peace Lily leaves turning Yellow, how to choose a suitable fertilizer, and how to fix this problem.

Why Are My Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow?

The Peace Lily is an indoor plant widely used for domestic use that presents a crucial white flower. Also, Peace Lily is appreciated as one of the Feng Shui allies plants that purify and balance the home energy.

Although it is native to tropical climates, today, it is adapted to practically all indoor areas, with controlled temperatures and almost no variation between day and night.

However, a Peace Lily plant can become quite sensitive to substrate, fertilization, and watering, so controlling the main steps for proper maintenance is essential. Therefore, when we begin to notice that your Peace Lily is drooping leaves or suddenly detect the appearance of yellowing or browning leaves, this is a clear sign that there is something wrong with the plant.

In the following paragraphs, we will review some tips on Peace Lily care to diagnose what is going on with our Peace Lily and what causes yellow leaves on a Peace lily plant.

Why Are My Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow? Since they are plants of humid environments and temperatures, it is necessary to establish a series of guidelines for the perfect care of the Peace Lily. We will discuss the main points you can control and correct in case you are doing it wrong or detect problems in your plant.

  • Verify that Peace Lily is located in the right place. Peace Lily is grown as a potted houseplant directly at home. We will look for a point where there is good lighting but without direct sun at any time. Peace Lily is usually placed in pots on tables or stands away from windows (it does not like drafts) and direct sun, especially during the flowering period.
  • Check that your Peace Lily has a suitable substrate. The plant requires high humidity levels but also has serious problems with drainage. This crossroads in decision-making is because its roots are short and cannot run out of oxygen.
  • Check that the substrate for your Peace Lily is acidic pH peat mixed with coconut fiber. This natural material allows the accumulation of an ideal humidity for the cultivation of the Peace Lily plant but, at the same time, drains very well the excess water.
  • Indoors it will not be subjected to sudden changes in temperature or excessive heat, but it will be subjected to environmental dryness. Therefore, in the summer months, it will be necessary to spray the leaves with water (preferably with little lime) and allow them to hydrate well.
why are my peace lily leaves turning yellow
Peace lily in a pot with yellow leaves.

Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow Due to Sunburn

Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow Due to Sunburn. The peace lily plant is quite sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, humidity, and location inside the house. The peace lily is one of the best plants for the kitchen. If we deviate from the above-mentioned plan, the leaves may become chlorotic (excess of water), pale, with little turgor or brown spots appearing.

One recurring problem with this indoor plant is that direct sun exposure, even if it is behind glass, burns the leaves. Peace lily plants do not need too much direct sunlight. They should have indirect light. If it is direct, it should be when the sun is not so intense, or it will burn the leaves. So, one of the causes of yellow leaves on peace lilies may be too much sun.

Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow Due to Soil Problems

The soil of the peace lily should be kept moist but never waterlogged, so it must have good drainage. If you overwater the peace lily, it will have yellow leaves. It is best to water it once a week.

As mentioned in previous paragraphs, Peace Lily requires high humidity levels but also has severe problems with drainage. The best substrate for Peace Lily is acid-pH peat soil mixed with coconut fiber.

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Learn more about the best soil for a peace lily in this article

Should I Remove Yellow Leaves From Peace Lily
Peace Lily requires high humidity levels but also has serious problems with drainage. The best substrate for Peace Lily is acid-pH peat soil mixed with coconut fiber. If the tap water has too much calcium, it will cause the leaves to turn yellow and brown.

Irrigation Problems May Cause Leaves to Turning Yellow

Peace Lily Yellow Leaves Due to Irrigation Problems and Overwatering. Flaccid and yellow leaves on Peace Lily may be the first symptom of excess water but without the initial presence of the fungus. They usually have a weak and drooping appearance due to lacking cell turgor.

For this, we will shorten the water supply and reduce the irrigation frequency until we see changes in the appearance of the Peace Lily plant. If the problem is not overwatering, it may be water quality. Tap water usually has many additives that are not good for plants.

Peace Lily Yellow Leaves – It is recommended in this case to try another type of water, such as rainwater or filtered water.

If the tap water has too much calcium, it will cause the leaves to turn yellow and brown. Check the base of the pot (holes). If you see white spots, this may be an excess of calcium in the water.

Check the humidity of the soil or the Peace Lily container. As we have commented before, the spathiphyllum demands moisture, so our premise will be to maintain the humidity levels always at the same level.

Watering in spring and summer should be done twice a week, with 300 to 500 ml of water per irrigation. In this water, we can take advantage and add the liquid fertilizer to the concentration that puts us on the product label.

How do you fix yellow leaves on a peace lily?
Yellow leaves on peace lily due to incorrect caring.

Diseases in Peace Lily May Cause Leaves to Turning Yellow or Brown

The primary disease that affects the peace lily is a fungus that affects its roots, so Lily’s first leaves start to turn yellow/brown and end up killing the plant. You will see yellow leaves turning brown.

Peace lily yellow leaves turning brown with a flaccid appearance may be due to the action of Phytophthora. This fungus takes advantage of excessive humidity conditions due to water abuse in irrigation.

Watering should be cut back until a lower humidity level is maintained, without waterlogging the pot, and the affected leaves should be eliminated. However, against this, it is practically impossible to find a solution.

Why Are My Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow
Peace lily yellow leaves turning brown with a flaccid appearance may be due to Phytophthora, a fungus that takes advantage of excessive humidity conditions due to water abuse in irrigation. Watering should be cut back until a lower humidity level is maintained, without waterlogging the pot, and the affected leaves should be eliminated.

Nutrient Deficiencies in a Peace Lily Cause Yellow Spots and Yellow Leaves

Peace lilies are not a plant that requires a lot of fertilizer. However, the yellow spots on leaves and leaves turning yellow in a Peace Lily plant may be due to a lack of nutrients.

The peace lily is susceptible to a lack of magnesium but is also affected by a lack of nitrogen, potassium, and iron. Nutrient deficiencies in plants can cause yellow spots on leaves, yellow leaves, and brown spots.

When the cause of yellow leaves is a lack of nutrients, we will see that the leaves generally have a yellowish appearance, even the adult ones. It is a symptom of a lack of nitrogen. It usually coincides with reduced leaf size and lack of growth.

With a 3-1-2 NPK liquid fertilizer every few months, we can give the necessary nutrients to your peace lily. Before the flower buds, you must recover the nutrients lost in the substrate by watering and fertilizing.

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fertilizer for peace lily
With a 3-1-2 NPK liquid fertilizer every few months, we can give the necessary nutrients to your peace lily.

Lack of Flowering of Peace Lily

Darkness negatively affects the growth of the plant and, in particular, the production of buds and flower buds. It is necessary to place the plant in a brighter location but without direct sun.

If your Peace Lily is not flowering, this is our recommended article to learn How to Get a Peace Lily to Bloom

Dry Tips on Peace Lily – Brown Tips on Peace Lily

Dry tips and brown tips are symptomatology contrary to the excess water. The environmental dryness and a lack of water in the substrate cause necrotic edges and brown spots of dry aspect.

Learn more about How to Treat Brown Tips On a Peace Lily in this article.

Should I Remove Yellow Leaves From Peace Lily

Trimming and removing the affected leaves with very sharp scissors and previously adequately disinfecting is recommended when appears yellow leaves in a Peace Lily plant, mainly due to sunburn. Then we will place the pot in a correct position, where it receives abundant light but not great luminous intensity or heat, and of course, no direct sun.

Remember that as an indoor plant, it is perfect because the constant temperature of our home provides the range of pleasant and non-fluctuating temperatures that this plant needs.

Peace lily does not require abundant light. It should not be placed under the air outlet or heating because it does not tolerate drafts well. So by removing the damaged leaves and placing the container in a suitable location without excessive light and air, we should see improvement.

Finally, I recommend liquid fertilization to provide the Peace Lily with the best conditions for new leaf formation.

Conclusions Regarding Peace Lily Leaves Turning Yellow

In conclusion, the vibrant and graceful Peace Lily, with its elegant white blooms and lush green foliage, can sometimes present gardeners with the challenge of yellowing leaves. While it’s natural to feel concerned when you notice this issue, remember that yellowing leaves don’t have to spell disaster for your plant. By paying close attention to the factors outlined in this blog post – from watering habits and light exposure to fertilization and container size – you can effectively diagnose and address the underlying causes of yellowing leaves in your Peace Lily.

Every yellow leaf can be an opportunity to refine your care routine and deepen your understanding of your plant’s needs. With patience, observation, and a willingness to adapt your approach, you can restore your Peace Lily to its lush, vibrant glory. As you continue to provide the right balance of water, light, nutrients, and a suitable environment, you’ll not only witness the rejuvenation of your plant but also grow as a more skilled and confident gardener.

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About Henry Morgan

Henry Morgan is an agronomist horticulture founder of The Garden Style Company and The Garden Style Website. He previously worked for Mondelēz International as an Agronomist Engineer specializing in agricultural products management in highly populated areas. In 2000, Henry started working with farmer-producers in agricultural businesses selling wholesale fresh produce and retail plants in Van Buren, Arkansas. Nowadays, Henry lives in California, where he offers expert consulting services for organic vegetable gardening. As a science writer working with his wife, Julia, Henry shares his passion for gardening and farming, trying to reach and teach as many folks as possible.

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