5+ Reasons Behind Peace Lily Brown Flowers

Peace Lily produces a white flower with spathe veiling over spadix, indicating the symbols of innocence and purity. But brown and shrunken flowers in Peace Lily can hint at a problem. 

Likewise, these circumstances can gradually accompany the stunted growth of the plant. 

So if you want to save your beautiful Peace Lily, stay with the article and learn more about the convicts.

Why does my Peace Lily have Brown Flowers? [Causes & Solutions]

Peace Lily can happily live in your garden for around 3-5 years while its flowers last for about a month. 

Its flower bloom during spring or early summer once or twice a year. Initially, the flower preserves a white shade for about ten days and may change into brown as it matures. 

However, the flower may turn brown before its maturity, which indicates your plant is facing a problem.

Before you lose hope of saving these flowers, you may want to know about the origin of the problem and the way to fix it.

1. Water Stress 

Peace Lily requires frequent watering despite having drought-resistant qualities. 

They prefer to be in moist soil, although waterlogged soil can give rise to overwatering. Correspondingly, its leaves will be flaccid; its roots will be mushy, and further black spots will appear in the leaves.

The extreme condition of excess water supply can lead to decayed roots.

Initially, the roots beneath the soil line start decaying, and ultimately, the Pythium and Cylindrocladium root rot can provoke a deterioration of the stem.

Peace Lily displays similar evidence of underwatering and overwatering.

To begin with, the leaves appear wrinkled, wilted, and yellow. Over time, its color fades away into brown, indicating extreme hydration. 

Steps for Revival from Overwatering 

• Cut off the water supply and place the plants in a warmer place when supplied with excess water. 
• Examine the roots if they are mushy and foul smell as they are the signs of root rot.  
• Use an overhead dripper to allow a limited amount of water flow.  

Steps for Revival from Underwatering 

• Hydrate your Peace Lilies thoroughly, rinse them in a water basin for 15-45 minutes, and let the roots absorb the required moisture.
• Water plants and give them time to dry out between the waterings. Provide about a week for the condition to improve. 
• Placing the plants in a sunny location and providing them with optimal light can benefit them. 
• Examine the soil to see if it’s dry by inserting the finger 1 inch inside, or use the soil moisture meter and resume watering. 

2. Improper Light

You may find it surprising that Peace Lily is among the few plants which can bloom in low light.

In their natural habitat, Peace Lilies grow on the floor of the dense rainforest, which acts as a canopy to filter the bright light.

Although it has low demand for light, Peace Lily requires optimal light for its growth. The curling and yellowing of leaves may be the outcome of the short lightning. 

The burning of leaf tips, and browning of flowers can be the result when placing the plants in an outrageous amount of light. 

Moderately the leaves and stems will be crisp and brown, suggesting overexposure to the light. 

Steps for Revival from Excess Light

• Relocate the Peace Lilies into a shady region if they are exposed to bright and direct sunlight. 
• Place them in the east-facing insulated window to receive balanced light throughout the year. 
• Use the shade cloth to cover the plant or hang the curtains to prevent excess light. 

Steps for Revival from Low Light 

• Place the plant for 4-6 hours in bright indirect sunlight. 
• Use artificial grow light to provide enough light for your plant. 
• Rotate the plant in every direction, ensuring all the sides of the plant get proper light. 

3. Lack of Quality Soil & Water

Peace Lily favors balanced soil mixed with clay, sand, and slit. 

They flourish in acidic soil, which ranges between 5.8 and 6.5 on the pH scale. Large portions of perlite, bark chips and pumice will be a blessing to your plant. 

Therefore, a lack of quality in the soil may lead to inadequate nutrients for plant growth. Stunted growth and pale leaves appear in the plant due to a lack of quality soil. 

Likewise, Peace Lily prefers distilled water rather than tap water. Tap water consists of chlorine and fluorine elements which will convert into chloride and fluoride salt. 

These minerals accumulate in plants initiating toxicity of the plant. As a result, scorching and wilting of leaves and young flowers falling off early can be observed. 

If the conditions worsen, repot the plant with a good-quality potting mix in both cases. 

Steps for Revival from Improper Soil 

• Use the homemade organic mixture to provide organic content to your soil. 
• Add a mulch layer to the soil to improve its soil quality.
• Use two parts of moss, 1 part perlite and 1/2 part vermiculite of potting mix in the soil. 
• The coffee ground can act as an alternative to maintain the pH of the soil. 

Steps for Revival from Impure Water 

• In the condition of unwanted chemical build-ups, flush the soil with distilled or rainwater. 
• Before using tap water for your plants, keep it stagnant overnight so the elements will settle. 
• Using rainwater or distilled water can be an excellent choice for your plant. 

4. Imbalance Humidity 

Peace Lily thrives in high humidity.

The curling of leaves and decaying roots can occur when providing the plants with an environment above the ambient humidity. 

Contrarily, if they are placed in low humidity, droopy and wilting the plant and insufficient production of flowers may occur. 

Steps for Revival from Humidity Stress 

• Mist the plant regularly with the help of a spray bottle.
• Use the plant humidifier or pebble tray to provide the appropriate humidity. 
• Placing it in the group of plants will help increase its humidity by creating a micro-ecosystem. 
• Add a 2-inch layer of mulch above the soil to absorb more water. 

5. Temperature Stress 

Regardless of blooming in warmer regions, its attractive foliage turns brown if placed in bright and direct sunlight for an extended period. 

So, the rate of absorbing toxic materials in Peace Lily increases at higher temperatures.

The excess temperature can cause the appearance of brown spots on the center of leaves, brown patches, and root rot.  

Besides, Peace Lily below the optimal temperature produces less number of flowers and checks the formation of actively growing tissues. 

The limping appearance, lack of enzyme production, and freezing of the root system can be the outcome of accommodating the plants in low temperatures. 

Steps for Revival from Excess Temperature 

• Place the plants in a damper region and wash them with water if the plant is at a radiant temperature.
• Water the plant deeply early in the morning as it will help it stay cool in the daytime. 
• Avoid placing it near the heating drafts and fireplace.

Steps of Revival from Low Temperature 

• Use a frost blanket to maintain ideal temperatures in cold regions. 
• Keep the plants away from the frosty windows and air conditioners. 
• Grow light will be a partner for your plant in providing appropriate temperature.  

6. Inappropriate Fertilizer 

If you unknowingly provide the Peace Lily with more fertilizer, it may initiate salt build-up in the plant. 

The stunt growth of plants occurs with poor root structure leading to nutrient deficiency. Black spots and brown flowers can also be observed. 

The best season to fertilize the Peace Lily is spring. You should not fertilize the plant during the winter as it enters the dormant phase triggering stress in the plant. 

Similarly, if the plant is supplied with little fertilization, yellowing leaves and wilting leaves may occur. 

Steps of Revival from Over-fertilization 

• Wash out the soil with water in the case of excessive salt build-ups. 
• If the plants are overfed, repotting them and providing time for the root system to heal may be best. 
• Make sure to transfer the plant to a new planter with fresh soil. 

Steps for Revival from Under-fertilization 

• Place the fertilizer pellets at the base of the plant to provide enough food. 
• Offer diluted balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer for your plant every six weeks in growing seasons.
• Using powdered egg shells can provide a bone meal for your plant. 
• You can also use Gibberellic acid to increase a flower’s blooming. 

7. Transplant Shock 

Peace Lily loves to be rootbound but needs repotting and transplantation for proper growth. 

Generally, Peace Lily needs repotting once every 1-2 years. 

Despite taking proper care of your plant during relocation, your plant may face transplantation shock. 

Even the slightest change in the environment after the transplantation may initiate the shock as they are sensitive. 

As a result, it may show symptoms: leaf scorching, browning of leaves and flowers, and slow growth of the plant. 

Tips for Safe Transplantation 

• Irrigate the soil before and after the transplantation of the plants to help them adjust to the new environment. 
• Avoid pruning and repotting during the transplantation, as it will trigger the shock further. 
• Observe the plant for two weeks after transplantation to examine the symptoms of shock in the plant. It will regain normal health in the same period. 

8. Common Pests 

There can be yellowing, blackening of flowers and leaves, and wilting and drooping in your Peace Lily.

It’s high time to evaluate the Peace lily for pest infestation despite being a pest-resistant houseplant. 

Aphids, scales, thrips, mealy bugs, and spider mites are common pests observed in the Peace Lily. 

Besides, the extreme contagion of these pests can provoke the death of the plant. 

Steps for Revival from Infestation 

• Splash a mug of water on the plant if many pests are attacking your plant. 
• Rub the surface of the infected area with isopropyl alcohol and hand-pick the pests with Q tips. 
• Apply neem oil to drive the pests away. 
• Use the pesticide or insecticide once every 7 to 10 days until the pests disappear.
• Always wipe out the leaves of Peace Lily with insecticidal soap. 

9. Horticultural Diseases 

Peace Lily is prone to bacterial infection that can initiate several diseases, showing symptoms like brown patches and brown spots on leaves and flowers.

Diseases like Bacterial Brown Spot, Botrytis Blight, Ringspot Virus, Southern Blight, and Septoria Leaf Spot are common in Peace Lilies. 

Asides from brown flowers, yellowing foliage, leaves curling, deformed leaves, and flowers, buds may fail to open, leading to defoliation and death of the plant in its worst condition. 

Steps for Revival from Treat Diseases 

• Use neem oil in the infected area and avoid an excess water supply. 
• Targeted fungicides for diseases can be a savior for your plant. 
• In some cases, treating the potting mix with hydrogen peroxide can be helpful. 
• Prune off the infected parts to prevent the rising contamination in plants.