Peace lilies are one of the most popular houseplants because they are easy to grow and care for. They are also very tolerant of low light conditions, making them ideal for offices and other indoor spaces. Peace lilies have several other benefits as well. They can help purify the air by removing toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene.
One of the most common questions about peace, lily, is: why is my plant falling over? We decided to dedicate this whole article to explaining why peace lilies fall over and how you can fix and prevent this issue.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Peace Lily Falling Over?
The leaves of the peace lily fall over when the plant does not get enough water or when the temperature is unstable. Additionally, direct sunlight exposure and inadequate soil can cause the peace lily’s leaves to fall over. Also, if you don’t repot this plant correctly, it may fall over due to transplant shock.
Generally, when a plant starts to fall over, it will not be able to photosynthesize properly. As a result, the plant will not produce enough food for survival and will experience slow growth.
Also, if you grow multiple lilies together, the ones with falling leaves can block sunlight from reaching the others, which can cause additional problems for your whole plant collection.
When a peace lily starts to fall over, the most important thing to consider is to check for the cause behind the issue and try to fix it as fast as possible.
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Here is a complete list of the causes of falling over leaves in peace lily and how to fix each one.
Underwatering
Underwatering is a common factor that causes peace lily leaves to fall over. When the plant doesn’t have enough water, the leaves start to droop and eventually fall over. This is because the plant is trying to conserve water by closing its stomata, which reduces the amount of water lost through transpiration.
Solution
To avoid underwatering your peace lily, you can use a moister meter to check the soil regularly and determine whether the plant needs water. Try to check your peace lily using the moister meter every week; when the device indicates that the soil has started to become dry, then water your plant immediately.
Also, check the moister level for your peace lily more frequently during summer as this plant tends to dry faster during this season.
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Overwatering
The leaves of a peace lily plant will fall over if the plant is overwatered. This is because the roots cannot absorb all the water being applied to them. The excess water will cause the leaves to become heavy and eventually fall over.
Solution
To avoid overwatering your peace lily, check the soil using your finger before watering. Dig your finger deep into the soil and verify the moister level. If your finger feels moist, then there is no need to water the plant, as this can only cause overwatering.
Additionally, you can avoid overwatering your peace lily by using a pot with drainage holes and well-draining soil.
Unstable Temperature
The leaves of peace lily plants fall over when the temperature fluctuates. This is because frequent temperature changes make the leaves unable to get the nutrients they need from the soil.
For example, when the temperature suddenly reaches a high level, the leaves become unable to get the water they need from the ground. The water evaporates before going to the leaves, and the leaves eventually fall over and die from lack of water.
Solution
To keep the temperature stable for your peace lily, you should have two devices in your house/garden, a thermometer, and an air conditioning system. The thermometer will help you check the temperature, and the air conditioning system will allow you to adjust it accordingly.
You can use an indoor climate controller to control the temperature around your peace lily more efficiently. This device will help you continuously maintain the desired temperature and air pressure for your plant without the need to check a thermometer or adjust an AC.
Direct Sunlight Exposure
When the leaves of a peace lily are exposed to direct sunlight, they will eventually fall over. The leaves cannot produce enough chlorophyll and photosynthesize properly in high light intensity. Without proper photosynthesis, the leaves will eventually die and fall off the plant.
Direct sunlight exposure can also cause the leaves of your peace lily plant to scorch or turn brown. Additionally, the plant may also become stressed and stop growing.
Solution
To avoid exposing your peace lily to direct sunlight, put it near a south or west-facing window. Additionally, if you can find such a window in a humid room like a bathroom or a kitchen, this would be the perfect placement for a tropical plant such as a peace lily.
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Repotting Shock
Transplant shock can negatively impact the peace lily plant in several ways. The most common symptom of transplant shock is wilting, which can cause the leaves to droop and the stem to become limp. The plant may also experience leaf loss, stunted growth, and yellowing.
A repotting shock is a reaction of the plant when it gets moved from one environment to another. This normal reaction lasts only for a short time until the plant adjusts to its new pot.
Solution
To reduce the impact of transplant shock, it is essential to water the plant regularly and provide plenty of light after re-poting. Also, try to use soil with the same properties as the old one and use a new pot that is only a few inches bigger than the old one.
Inadequate Soil
Slow-draining soil causes the leaves of the peace lily plant to fall over because it makes the roots unable to get the oxygen they need. Additionally, the lack of oxygen causes the leaves to turn yellow and eventually die.
Besides causing the leaves to fall over, slow-draining soil can impact peace lily in several ways. The roots may become waterlogged and rot, leading to several problems, including stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and eventual death.
Also, slow-draining soil can encourage the growth of fungal diseases, which can further damage your peace lily.
In some rare cases, the depth of the soil can also cause the leaves of the peace lily to fall over. In fact, when the soil is not deep enough, the roots of the peace lily plant will not be able to anchor the plant securely in the ground. As a result, the leaves may start to fall over.
Solution
If you are sure that soil causes your peace lily to fall over, switch to well-draining soil rich with organic matter. You can also add perlite, peat moss, and loam to your soil and see how these elements increase drainage.
Inadequate Pot
If a pot does not have drainage, the water will not be able to drain out and will sit at the bottom. This will cause the roots of the peace lily to sit in the water, eventually pushing the leaves to fall over.
Additionally, a pot that does not have drainage can impact the peace lily plant by causing the roots to rot. This can happen because the water will not be able to drain out of the pot, and it will start to pool at the bottom. As a result, the roots will be sitting in water, which can cause them to rot and die.
Solution
To ensure that you are growing your peace lily plant in an adequate pot, choose natural materials such as ceramic that provides good drainage. Also, if you don’t have access to ceramic pots, you can use materials such as plastic after digging a few holes in the bottom.
Insects
Insects, especially Mealybugs, cause the leaves of peace lily plants to fall over. Mealybugs are small, white, wingless insects that feed on the sap of plants. They insert their long, piercing mouthparts into the plant and suck out the sap, causing it to wilt and the leaves to fall off.
Mealybugs can also produce a sticky substance called honeydew, attracting other pests like ants and bees. If left unchecked, mealybugs can eventually kill a peace lily plant.
Solution
The best way to keep mealybugs away from your peace lily is by monitoring the plant regularly. If you find any signs of mealybugs, you should immediately clean the plant with water and soap or use an insecticidal soap. You can also use neem oil or pyrethrin spray to kill them off.
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How Do You Keep a Peace Lily from Falling Over?
To keep the peace lily from falling over, you should start by watering it correctly, which means giving the plant the necessary amount of water without over or underwatering. Also, using soil and a pot that offers good drainage prevents this plant from falling over. Finally, fighting insects like mealybugs is also a preventive measure that you can implement to help your peace lily grow straight.
Here is a complete guide on how to prevent peace lily from falling over:
Water Correctly
To water your peace lily correctly:
- Wait until the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry.
- Water the plant until the soil, is evenly moistened and drips out of the pot’s bottom.
- Allow the soil to dry completely before the next watering.
This helps prevent root rot and will keep the peace lily healthy.
Use an Appropriate Pot
When choosing the right pot for your peace lily, aim for something 6-8 inches wide and no more than a few inches deep. A pot that is too large will cause the roots to rot, while a pot that is too small will stunt your plant’s growth. If you are unsure, err on the side of a pot that is too small rather than too large.
The best type of pot to use for growing a peace lily plant is a ceramic pot. They are durable and provide good drainage. They are attractive and come in various colors to match your decor. Furthermore, ceramic pots help regulate the roots’ temperature, which is essential for peace lilies.
Use an Adequate Potting Mix
When potting a peace lily, it is essential to use a well-draining mix. The best potting mix for a peace lily should be light and airy. It should also contain equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.
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Re-pot Correctly
To repot your peace lily correctly, try to follow the subsequent steps:
1. Select a Pot that Is only Slightly Larger than The Current Pot: We should use a pot slightly larger than the current pot when repotting a plant to avoid shocking the roots. If we use a pot that is too large, the roots will be unable to support the plant, and it will wilt.
2. Gently Remove the Plant from Its Current Pot: To remove your peace lily from its current pot without causing damage, start watering the plant well. This will help loosen the roots and make removing the plant easier.
Next, gently tap the pot on the ground or a hard surface to loosen the plant. You may need to use a knife to help loosen the plant if it is stuck.
Finally, carefully pull the plant out of the pot and place it in its new home.
3. Place the Plant in The New Pot and Fill around the Roots with Fresh Potting Mix.
4. Water the Plant Well: Watering your peace lily after re-poting helps to settle the plant’s roots and prevent transplant shock.
5. Place the Plant in A Bright, Indirect Light: After repotting your peace lily, it is essential to place it in bright, indirect light. This will help the plant recover from the stress of being repotted and promote new growth.
Fight Mealybugs and Other Insects
Mealybug infestations can destroy peace lily plants within weeks or months by sucking out all their nutrients and causing them to wilt and die. As a result, fighting those insects is crucial if you want to keep this plant healthy. You can keep mealybugs away from your peace lily by following the instructions below:
- Spray your peace lily regularly with water. This will help to remove any existing bugs and eggs.
- Check your lily plant regularly for mealybugs and remove them by hand if possible.
- Apply an insecticide specifically designed to kill mealybugs when the infestation is severe. Be sure to get the undersides of the leaves where the bugs like to hide.
- Use a cotton swab or Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill mealybugs on contact.
- Create a homemade trap by wrapping the stem of your lily plant with yellow sticky tape.
- Encourage natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings. Those predators are great for fighting mealybugs because they love eating them. Ladybugs are also great at protecting plants from other pests and diseases.
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