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Peace lilies

lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 300
in Plants
We went to Kew last week (side comment:  aren't we so-o-o lucky to have this amazing place in the UK; not only is it wonderful to walk around but also the work they do throughout the world in conserving the flora of all continents?).  I notice in the 'tropical zone' of the Princess of Wales Pavilion that their peace lilies were flowering fit to bust.  I'm guessing that it is, of course, the humidity that does it.  I am pretty good at keeping my specimens consistently damp, but I cannot provide this level of humidity (not even by misting) and I find that they flower only if I stress them out (withhold water until they droop rather alarmingly).  When we go on vacation for more than a week, all my household plants are placed on capillary matting on the shower floor; they and the matting are watered well literally as we leave the house and then the shower door is closed (it is of course open at the top).  The window lets in loads of light but no direct sunshine and consequently my plants are STILL beautiful on our return.  A couple of years, I forgot to move the peace lily from the dining room and when we came back its leaves were laid all over the edge of the pot, not a stem was upright.  Still, ever optimistic, I soaked it well in a bucket, let it drain overnight in the sink and then continued to pamper it and talk to it while it recovered over the next weeks.  Within 2 weeks, everything was hunky-dory and then I saw them...4 (yes, four) flower stems!  I was amazed.  So, now, once they flowered, I leave them for a few weeks and then stop watering and so I can get more flowers.  It doesn't seem to harm them at all!  B):)

Posts

  • BurtsnestBurtsnest Posts: 174
    I found this really interesting.  Thanks for posting @lydiaann . I have  a peace Lilly. Given as a gift last year. It was in a tiny little pot crammed in with other plants and had flowers. I repotted later when it had outgrown the pot and put on the bathroom window.  It never flowered for a year. Last month I read up a little on them and it advised that you can stress them into flowering by putting  them in a sunnier window and waiting for them to wilt a little before watering. I have 1 flowers now. I find it hard to let them wilt too much before getting the urge to water however after reading your post I'm going to have to try as the reward will be worth it.  😁
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    An interesting thread,I also have one,left behind by the previous owners,it was in a metal bucket thingy,and looked very pathetic,so I bought it a smart new pot,much bigger,new compost,and put it on the bathroom window sill.It now has two flowers,but I was hoping for more,so maybe I'd better do the same,and let it wilt a bit?
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    This may explain why my lily at the office does so well. It's often drooping before it gets watered and then it gets a good drink of water from the fish tank. The thing is always in flower with between 4 and 7 flowers usually.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • karen paulkaren paul Posts: 230
    I'm glad I've come across this thread. Mine has only flowered once since I bought it about 3 years ago and even then the flowers were all green not white. I think I'll try a bit of neglect instead.
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