Why Is My Peace Lily Not Flowering? (Causes+How To Fix)

Peace lily or Spathiphyllum spp is an undemanding and popular ornamental plant valued for its appealing bloom amongst dark green foliage. A peace lily doesn’t bloom until it is mature. Once bloomed, the flower lasts almost for a month but eventually dries out and dies.

It is not very uncommon to witness delayed or no bloom in your healthy peace lily. But what if your peace lily is not flowering at all? Let’s find out.

Inadequate sunlight, improper watering, fertilizing issues, temperature stress, and aging are common problems due to which your peace lilies might not be flowering. To fix it, Move the plant to a brightly lit spot, water the plant when the soil gets dry, and fertilize it during the growing season.

Generally, these problems are easy to fix, and your peace can resume blooming when the care conditions are checked and well restored. 

Go through this article to resolve the problem of the blooming of your favorite peace lily.

Factors responsible for hindering blooming in peace lily

The peace lily flower is tiny dotted blooms around the apex of a stick-like protrusion partially enclosed by a white spathe which is practically a modified leaf.

But some factors affect the growth of these flowers, which we are going to understand now.

Lighting

Peace lilies are generally robust and can continue to grow even in unfavorable conditions. But if they are kept away from adequate light, this species will not bloom. 

Sunlight is the primary energy source for every plant species to carry on all the physiological processes, including flowering.

Keeping the plant in low light condition for a more extended period will present insufficient energy. Although they can deal with it for a while, you will eventually observe occurrences of fewer blooms and ultimately no bloom at all.

In many ways, the problem with light is the easiest issue to deal with. Try to follow the essential tips to fix this issue.

• Keep your peace lily in bright, indirect light to make it grow and bloom more readily and profusely.
• Place your peace lily near a window with a curtain or blind to avoid direct sun rays.
• East, west, and south-facing rooms generally receive bright indirect light. Try to keep your plant in one of those rooms, adjusting the position from the windowpane.
• The duration and intensity of light vary from season to season. For instance, if you keep your plant near a west-facing window, you need to move it to some south-facing side to allow more light. 
• Avoid keeping your plant near the south-facing window-sill during summertime.

Peace lilies are known as “closet plants” for their ability to tolerate low-light and survive under such stress.

Also read: What Kind Of Light Does A Peace Lily Need? (Peace Lily Light Requirements)

Fertilizing

Peace lilies require regular fertilization to meet significant nutrient needs. A well-balanced, water-soluble plant food (manure) works well in their growth and bloom. 

However, not feeding your plant for an extended period will cause nutrient deficiency, and the plant will not bloom. 

Follow the essential tips for providing adequate fertilization to your peace lily.

• Choose a fertilizer with a 20:20:20 nutrient value, i.e., an equal proportion of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
• Try to use a diluted or light form of fertilizer. 
• Don’t apply fertilizers that are too high in nitrogen content, as this will boost the leaf’s growth at the expense of bloom.
• Ensure to water the soil thoroughly after feeding your plant to allow the fertilizer’s free movement up to the whole root system.
• Don’t apply fertilizers on the leaf as it will clog the pores on the leaf and prevent transpiration.
• Fertilize your peace lily once every 2-3 weeks during summer and once in 6-8 weeks during winter.
• You can add coffee grounds as a top dressing over the soil to provide additional nutrients, especially nitrogen. It strengthens the leaves and the stem.
• Never over-fertilize your plant as it will affect the plant severely. Always use a diluted solution keeping the recommended strength to half portion.

Also read: What Kind Of Fertilizer Does A Peace Lily Need? (Peace Lily Fertilizer Ratio)

Watering

Following the correct watering, the procedure is another crucial factor that encourages peace lilies to bloom. These species detest keeping their feet in soggy soil as it promotes root rot. 

Overwatering will cause generalized yellow leaves, drooping of the plant, browning of leaves as a sign of root rot.

A consistent supply of water will ensure your plant grows and blooms efficiently. If you like to have some watering tips, we can help you out.

• Allow your peace lily to dry out before watering nearly. Check the dampness/dryness of the topsoil before moistening it.
• Water your plant thoroughly. Watch the water coming out of the drainage holes. All you need is a soil medium that is moist but not soggy.
• Please don’t keep the saucer filled with water as it will slow down the draining process, leaving the soil damp for a more extended period. As peace lilies don’t like their roots in soggy soil, discard the water once the watering is done.
• Depending on the temperature level, water your plant once every 7-10 days in winter.

Also read: How Often Should A Peace Lily Be Watered? (Peace Lily Water Requirements)

Temperature shift

Temperature is an influential factor when it comes to blooming.

Temperature regulates the function of many plant hormones and enzymes that are necessary for flowering. 

Peace lilies are not very temperature sensitive, but they bloom fast and produce more flowers if a perfect temperature range is provided.  

The temperature during the winter months should not go below 60-65°F (15-18°C) to ensure blooming. During spring and summer, the efficient temperature range for this plant is 70-75°F (21-24°C). 

If you maintain this range value, you can cherish a longer flowering season. To allow your peace lily to have an all-round happy growth and to prevent it from succumbing, keep a check of the following:

• Peace lilies hate the extreme cold as well as drought-like conditions. Try to keep your plant at a moderate temperature. 
• During freezing winter months, keep the plant in a well-insulated room.
• Keep your plants away from the open windowpane to save them from both the cold drafts in winter and the scorching heat of summer.
• Don’t keep your plant near any heating equipment.

Also Read: What Temperature Is Best For Peace Lily? (Ideal Range+How To Maintain)

Inadequate space

If your peace lily is not flowering and its roots are coming out of the drainage holes, it needs repotting. 

Peace lilies love being slightly root-bound and bloom when in such conditions. But extreme root-bound plants will not bloom. Inadequate space, nutrient deficiency, cramped roots with limited soil mix can hinder the flowering process. 

Repotting your plant with fresh soil mix can be a game-changer in this condition.

• Replace the peace lily carefully from the pot and put it into a new planter 1-2 sizes bigger than the previous one.
• Do not go for a larger pot as it promotes waterlogging.
• Make sure the pot has suitable drainage holes that ensure the water flows out freely from the soil.
• Make sure the new soil mix is safe enough and free from any unwanted components.
• Use comparatively loose, light soil that is not too dense to allow free movement of water.
• Excess heavy or loamy soil supports waterlogging.

Also read: Do Peace Lilies Like To Be Root Bound? (+When To Repot)

Aging

The general lifespan of peace lily is 5-10 years, and if kept with the utmost care, they can live even beyond this span. But peace lilies tend to produce fewer flowers with growing age, also when they become root-bound. 

An effective way to invigorate your favorite peace lily is to divide it. This process revives the plant, and the newly formed plants from the mother peace lily start proliferating.

• Once you realize your peace lily has occupied the entire pot and has been inhabiting there for years, gently tap the plant out of the pot.
• Pull the root ball and examine its condition.
• If the roots are bound together, they need to be divided with a sterilized knife.
• From the division of the mother plant, you will get 2-3 new healthy plants to repot.
• These plants regain strength rapidly and grow with much vigor.
• You should divide the peace lily in the spring as the plants remain in their maximum growth phase during this time.

Natural conditions of blooming

Under natural conditions, peace lilies start blooming during the shorter days of winter. As winter passes and spring approaches, these plants bloom sporadically.

Nowadays, some modern recombinant cultivars like “Mini” and “Little angel” can flower over longer. 

Once you have spotted the desirable location for your favorite peace lily with a favorable blooming condition, it will start producing fascinatingly. Just be consistent with the care to enhance the process.

Some secrets of the florists

Peace lilies are generally sold with a flower or spathe, even during the non-blooming season. You might be questioning the reason behind this non-seasonal bloom. 

A plant hormone known as gibberellic acid promotes flowing. A synthetic version of this hormone is applied to young plants to flower for a more extended period. Application of this synthetic hormone can even promote flowering at any time of the year.

Being desperate to have your peace lily look fascinating with white blossoms, you might use this plant hormone as an effective solution. But guess what? You need to rethink the consequences that come with its application.

• Being a chemical treatment, it can be a matter of harm for the plant if applied uncontrollably. 
• It affects the natural ability of the plant to bloom and to grow.
• As it promotes flowering outside the blooming season, it can restrict the plant’s seasonal bloom.

Plant lovers are too protective and careful about this epitome of delicacy. Many question the frequency of flowering among these plant species.

Generally, peace lily blooms occur twice a year. Beautiful white spathe enclosing the actual flower mostly appears during spring. If cared for properly, these species produce flowers even during fall. The flowers last for almost one month or even more and eventually turn brown and dry out.

Other reasons for your peace lily not flowering

Besides all the factors discussed in this article, some uncommon issues can inhibit the flowering phenomenon among peace lilies.

Fertilization can be conducive in preventing blooming, especially for those plants that have not been repotted or fertilized for an extended period, as necessary nutrients are more likely to be used by the plant and become limited over time.

The peace lily is a delicate-looking indoor plant with a beautiful white spathe with its flower at the center. You want it to stay as attractive as possible and with this arrives the question of pruning the drying out flower. 

Removing dry flowers along with wilted leaves is necessary as it reduces the space taken up by the plant. You can also carefully cut off old foliage that has turned yellow to conserve the plant’s energy.

It is better to remove the stem once it has bloomed. Peace lily that grows from the bulb generally feeds off the foliage. It grows better if the stem is removed and be allowed to dry out until the following season.

Final words

Peace lilies are valued chiefly for their stunning flowers that grow amongst the dark green foliage. This plant represents purity, prosperity, positivity, and peace for many because of its white blossom. Hence you must nurture the beauty of the plant well.

If it is not blooming within the expected time, it is likely due to some problems with its care. Avoiding low light spots, limiting unnecessary water supply, and providing adequate nutrients are basic steps that must be checked and adapted first. 

Take a little time to understand the issue and resolve it accordingly. These indoor plants are great survivors with lots of positivity embedded inside. Once it starts blooming, it will pass on the vibe towards you too.

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Ref: ScienceDirect, NCBI, University of Vermont, Nationalgeographic, NC state university, University of Florida, The University of Arkansas, Queensland Government.