Worst watering mistake with peace lilies in summer that can kill the houseplant

Peace lilies are beautiful flowers which tend to be very easy to take care of - as long as houseplant owners know the best way to water them.

Matt Slaymaker, a gardening expert from Lively Root, has shared that many peace lily owners make the mistake of watering flowers on a regular schedule, which can kill them as they need to be watered much more in warmer temperatures. 

He said: “During the summer, your plant's soil will likely dry out quickly and require more frequent watering. 

“The opposite happens in the winter when the plant’s soil tends to lose water at a snail’s pace, due to excess moisture in the air."

It is best not to follow a fixed watering schedule for peace lilies and instead regularly check the houseplant’s soil moisture. 

Matt said: “It's a good time to water your peace lily again if the soil has slightly dried out. You can identify this by testing the top layer with your finger or if you notice that the soil surface is of lighter colour.”

Water a peace lily by putting it directly under a lukewarm water tap and leaving it until the water begins to run out from the pot drainage holes.

Make sure to water peace lilies deeply but do not allow the plant roots to stay sitting in water, as it can attract pests and fungal diseases. 

Extremely cold or hot water can shock the plant, cause the leaves to turn brown from stress or even kill it but they tend to prefer mildly warm water over cold, so check the tap temperature before watering a peace lily. 

However, make sure a peace lily soil has only slightly dried out and do not wait too long after watering or it can lead to stunted growth, which will result no leaves and lack of flowers. 

Matt said: “You can look for the signs of stress to tell the difference between overwatered and underwatered plant lilies. 

“While an overwatered plant will have yellow, wilting leaves, and smelly, soggy soil, an underwatered plant will have droopy leaves and dry soil.” 

Taking care of a peace lily in the summer is quite easy as long as you observe its soil and adjust watering based on moisture level, but you can also boost the plant at this time of year by feeding it banana peel-infused water. 

Matt added: “Flowering plants like peace lilies like banana water. This is because it’s rich in potassium, which helps the plant’s well-being.” 

Potassium is the nutrient which helps improve flowering, disease resistance and water regulation in plants, which can help a peace lily withstand the high summer temperatures. 

All you have to do is place a banana peel in a jar of water and leave it alone overnight or for a couple of days. 

Once the water is cloudy, remove the peel by pouring the water into a jug or watering can and water your peace lily. 

Water it once every few weeks in the summer with the banana water to get a thriving, healthy and blossoming peace lily.