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Spathiphyllum with Brown Stems.

BeartricksBeartricks Posts: 23
in Problem solving
My peace lily has been perfectly happy for months near a window with indirect light. We've been redecorating so moved it to the bathroom. It's been there about a week and one leaf in particular started to go yellow.

I thought it was probably a case of not enough light so I moved it back and noticed this browning on the stem. There's also another stem that's starting to look the same but so far the leaf is okay. 

The roots look fine. I don't think there's any root rot. If anything I'd say maybe too much humidity? The pot isn't suitable for it as the drainage is inadequate but that said, the soil isn't waterlogged.

Is it disease? Can I cut the offending leaves off at the base, and if I did what kinds of precautions would I need to take to do it cleanly? Where's the best place to cut for example?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think it's just 'old age' in that particular leaf .. it comes to us all ;)  ...  I'd let it die off and then remove it.

    As long as the younger leaves are ok I wouldn't worry.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think it's a disease. They do lose leaves from time to time (mine usually turn yellow first, then brown), and moving it to different conditions may have been a factor.  I usually leave the faded leaves on until they will pull away easily with a sharp tug, but you could snip it off at the base with sharp scissors or secateurs if you like.  Go as low as you can but be careful not to damage the adjacent leaf stalks.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • BeartricksBeartricks Posts: 23
    JennyJ said:
    I don't think it's a disease. They do lose leaves from time to time (mine usually turn yellow first, then brown), and moving it to different conditions may have been a factor.  I usually leave the faded leaves on until they will pull away easily with a sharp tug, but you could snip it off at the base with sharp scissors or secateurs if you like.  Go as low as you can but be careful not to damage the adjacent leaf stalks.
    It is probably the biggest leaf on the plant. My issue with cutting it away is that you can see there's multiple leaves growing from the same clump so I'd be damaging them all by definition. I don't want to leave an open wound if it might cause further issues.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited November 2018
    As I said, you can leave the dying leaf on until it's completely dried out and brown, and then it should pull away easily (just by pulling that leaf, not the whole clump)/
    If you want to cut off the dying leaf, gently pull it down and to the side so you can just snip its stalk, not the whole clump.
    Edited to add a pic to show what I mean (although that's a healthy leaf so I didn't actually snip it) And sorry for the pink tint - my phone camera is a bit iffy in indoor light.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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