Have you grown a Peace Lily, hoping to get its air-purifying benefits, but all you have is droopy, wilting leaves?
Read further to learn ways to identify problems with your Peace Lily and their reliable solutions.
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Why is my Peace Lily Suddenly Drooping? [Causes & Solutions]
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a popular houseplant known for its attractive foliage and white flowers that bloom every spring.
Despite being such a sturdy houseplant, it can succumb to a few problems when left to fend for itself, and sudden drooping of leaves is one of the earliest indications of plant issues like the following.
1. Improper Watering
Be mindful of dehydrated Peace Lilies, especially in summer, when the water from the soil evaporates quickly, leaving them high and dry.
This causes Peace Lily to droop when the plant does not have the energy to stand or erect.
Besides, the condition also worsens if the soil/substrate is consistently soggy or the pot lacks adequate drainage.
The overwatered Peace Lily drooping is accompanied by other probable signs too.
| Overwatered Signs | Under Watered Signs |
|---|---|
| Yellow leaves is often the sign of root rot problems | The leaves may look limp or wilted, giving a droopy appearance |
| Wilting leaves is eminent as the roots fail to absorb water | The leaf tips may start to turn brown and crispy |
| Brown and mushy roots are clear indication of root rot problems | The soil looks completely dried and cracked |
| Foul or rotten smell from the soil will follow | It exhibit slow growth or stop growing altogether |
Quick Treatment Tips
- Water the plant thoroughly by pouring water slowly.
- Set the pot in a warm location with ample bright, indirect sunlight.
- Check for signs of recovery after a week; otherwise, determine whether it suffers from root damage.
- Repot Peace Lily in a fresh potting mix if you have not done so in the last two years.
- Going forward, increase the watering frequency for a few weeks or months.
During winter, they may need less frequent watering with the fortnightly schedule.
2. Too Much or Too Less Sunlight
The Peace Lily is a houseplant that thrives in bright, indirect sunlight around the year.
While Peace Lilies can tolerate low light indoors, they will fail to thrive and maintain leaf structure; hence, they may start to droop if placed in a spot with too little light.
You can witness other tale-tell signs such as slow growth, yellow leaves, and fewer or little flowers.
Similarly, Peace Lilies left to fend off in direct sunlight can have an equally altering effect.
The glossy leaves will begin to transpire and lose mass, leading to a wilted or curly appearance. Watch out for signs of browned or scorched leaves, yellowing foliage, and stunted growth.
The excessively sun-exposed plant can get bleaching leaves, where the foliage begins to lose its vibrant green color.
Quick Treatment Tips
- The first step is to move your plant to a brighter location with bright, indirect light, such as a west or south-facing window with more brightness.
- Increase the light exposure by opening curtains or blinds, but avoid direct sunlight from touching the foliage.
- Rotate the plant every few days to ensure the entire plant receive adequate light.
- Prune damaged leaves to encourage the growth of new, healthy leaves.
- Otherwise, move your plant to a shadier location and check whether the soil has dried out significantly.
- Remove damaged foliage and water the soil to maintain evenly moist soil.
3. Temperature Stress
Placing your plant near a drafty window or an air conditioning vent may expose it to cooler temperatures, leading to drooping from cold stress.
Peace Lilies hate sitting in the cold, usually below 50°F or 60° F, as it can stunt their growth or cause early death.
Similarly, the leaves will transpire excessively when the temperature rises over 90°F, producing a crispy and droopy appearance.
Quick Treatment Tips
- The first step is to move it to a location with a more suitable temperature, a few feet from the south-facing window.
- Adjust the amount and direction of sunlight by keeping it in a brightly lit place but in direct sunlight.
- Water frequently if the plant is exposed to high temperatures and less often if it suffers from cold to avoid root rot.
- Increase or decrease the humidity around the plant as necessary.
- Prune damaged leaves to help redirect energy to healthier parts of the plant.
4. Lack of Humidity
The Peace Lily represents a tropical plant that prefers high humidity levels, and if the air is too dry, it will start to sag.
Remember, the ideal humidity level should be 40-60%, which may be hard to attain in a regular household.
Due to low humidity, Peace Lily faces drooping and brown tips as the plant loses moisture through the leaves faster than it can absorb.
Some Peace Lilies exposed to low humidity can experience slowed growth and leaf drop.
Quick Treatment Tips
- Trim any Peace Lily drooping yellow leaves to redirect energy to healthier parts of the plant.
- Add a room humidifier to boost the humidity level in the indoor air.
- Naturally, boost the humidity levels around the plant by placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.
- Mist the plant occasionally leaves in spring and summer to help increase the humidity.
5. Root-bound Condition
Peace Lilies do not necessarily prefer to be root-bound.
If left too long in a small pot, the roots can become crowded and invite problems, including drooping.
The root-bound Peace Lily fails to absorb water and nutrients properly, causing leaves to lose more water and begin drooping.
Therefore, check out for telltale signs to identify root-bound problems.
- The roots of the Peace Lily are visible at the soil’s surface.
- If the Peace Lily is not growing as quickly as it should or has stopped growing altogether.
- Showing signs of stress, such as wilting or yellowing leaves.
Quick Repotting Tips
- Transplant in a new pot that is 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current pot.
- Use a well-draining substrate that contains perlite, vermiculite, or sand to ensure proper drainage.
- Remove the plant from the old pot, loose tangled roots, and trim decayed or browned parts before transplanting.
- Water it generously and set it aside in a warm spot.
6. Repotting Shock
Peace Lilies can experience repotting shock when moving to a new pot or when their root system is disturbed.
It is likely because too much water in the soil or the old soil prevents moisture from reaching the roots.
If the soil used for repotting does not have good drainage, the roots may become saturated and unable to take up oxygen, which can cause the plant to suffocate and eventually die.
Therefore, keep an eye out for wilting of leaves, slowed growth, or yellowing foliage immediately afterward to diagnose repotting shock.
Quick Treatment Tips
- Slide out the plant, inspect the root, and loosen the old soil before replanting in the fresh potting mix to allow the roots to free up.
- Water the plant thoroughly, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
- Cut back on fertilizing and keep the plant out of direct sunlight until it seems to revive.
- Alternatively, you can apply Vitamin B1 in the soil to help with increased root development.
7. Wrong Soil or Potting Mix
Although rare, Peace Lilies growing in the wrong potting mix can bring drooping problems.
The Peace Lily roots are fibrous and require well-draining, aerated soil to expand appropriately. Therefore, using a too dense or heavy mix, poorly drained, and dried soil will invite leaf drooping.
These soil mixes will likely get waterlogged and invite root decay from bacterial or fungal infestation.
The only solution is to maintain appropriate soil moisture by changing the soil mix or amending it with aerating matters.
Quick Treatment Tips
- Change the potting soil to a well-draining mix or amend the existing soil with loose matter like perlite or pumice as an immediate solution.
- Avoid using succulents/cacti mixes, as these can dry out too quickly, and garden soil, as it is too heavy.
- Instead, use all-purpose well-draining potting such as Miracle-Gro or Espoma.
8. Nutritional Deficiency
Peace Lily plants are not heavy feeders but enjoy regular feeding of balanced fertilizer throughout the growing season.
There are ways you can tell whether your plant is suffering from nutrient deficiency by witnessing a droopy appearance.
However, be careful not to apply excess fertilizer, which often causes burning roots and chemical stress.
Quick Treatment Tips
- Remove distressed-looking foliage before applying any treatment.
- Otherwise, apply a chelated iron supplement and Epsom salt to the soil to treat iron and magnesium deficiency.
- Ensure to follow the instructions on the label carefully to avoid over-fertilizing.
- Remember to occasionally flush the soil with distilled or rainwater to prevent salt buildup from the fertilizer.
Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with a ratio of 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 every two weeks or monthly in spring and summer.
9. Pests or Diseases
The Peace Lily is generally a hardy plant, but those left alone are susceptible to pests such as Spider Mites, Mealybugs, Scales, and diseases including Leaf Spot, Bacterial Wilt, and Anthracnose.
One of the earliest indications of pests and diseases on Peace Lilies is droopy and damaged leaves.
Therefore, it may be essential to identify the problem to help the plant recover.
Quick Treatment Tips
- Start with removing affected leaves and stems and dispose of them immediately.
- Wash the affected parts with soapy water or neem oil
- Consider using an insecticidal soap if the infestation is severe.
- Apply systemic fungicide or bactericide to reduce fungal and bacterial infestation (Follow the manufacturer’s guide carefully)
- Going forward, reduce watering and improve drainage.
From Editorial Team
Some insights regarding wilting and drooping!
Generally, wilting and drooping can refer to the same thing when it comes to plants like peace lilies.
Wilting refers specifically to the loss of firmness in leaves, while drooping refers to the entire plant appearing to sag or slump.
Both are common in Peace Lilies suffering from environmental extremes and lack regular maintenance, requiring addressing the underlying issue to prevent further damage to the plant.
