How to split peace lilies if there aren't visible crowns?

Winter_ · 31 January

I have two peace lilies which I think really need repotting one way or another. I don't really want to go to bigger pots again. Both were originally one plant and I split them a few years ago by separating what were clearly separate crowns. One is now huge, and the other, which I split again a year ago is less so - it looks (to me at least) in greater need of something but looks less big in terms of foliage, possibly in part because I've removed several leaves last year - not something I often seem to need to do. It looks more sparse but I think possibly has more roots. Both have a flower currently so are probably not too unhappy.

So the question is, can you split peace lilies successfully if they don't clearly consist of more than one crown, or am I going to have to bite the bullet and buy even bigger pots?

ViewAhead · 1 February

Well, I can describe what I do, but can't guarantee it is "best practice". 🙂 I purchased a peace lily in about 1988. By dividing it regularly, I have managed to keep it in small pots, albeit I now have 5 of those. I generally tackle it about every 3 yrs and about 80% of the divisions have successfully grown on.

My method is this. Take the plant out of its pot and then tease away a small group of healthy looking leaves. You can be quite brutal. Peel away any leaves with brown tips to leave a section with about 4-6 youngish (lighter green) leaves with some root attached. Pot this up. Repeat with other viable sections as required. The bit you pot on doesn't have to have a crown, just leaves and root.

Apart from watering weekly, I also give mine a slow release fertiliser in spring, though not to newly potted bits.

Good luck! 🤞

Ceres · 1 February

I can confirm that a few leaves and a bit of root is all you need to get another plant going. I found this out by accident when tugging on a dead leaf and got more than I bargained for. One new happy plant and the parent plant quite content to carry on living in its big pot without any change of soil......for now.

Winter_ · 1 February

Thank you both. I'll give it a go probably with the smaller one first, although possibly waiting a bit till it's a bit warmer if I think I can get away with it.

ViewAhead · 2 February

They don't seem to mind congestion, so waiting till mid or late March shouldn't prove catastrophic.

How to split peace lilies if there aren't visible crowns?

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