How to Repot Peace Lilies Correctly for Longer Blooms

peace lily There are low maintenance houseplants for a variety of reasons. They grow moderately fast, so they need repotting every two to three years. Repotting your peace lily with fresh potting soil and a larger pot as needed is the key to keeping the plant healthy and developing its long-lasting flowers each spring (and a second bloom in the fall under ideal conditions).

Learn how to determine if your peace lily needs replanting, when to do it, and how to do it with these step-by-step instructions.

When to replant peace lilies

Peace lilies reach maturity in about three years, when the plants usually begin to flower. Repotting required Every two years but this is not a fixed number because depending on the growing conditions, your plant may grow slower or faster. Additionally, peace lily is one of those houseplants that grow well when slightly root bound.

Instead of taking the two-year-old rule literally, read the signs that peace lilies need repotting. These include:

• stems growing out of the pot
• Roots that emerge from the soil surface or drainage holes
• A soil surface that is crusty and compacted and no longer allows water to pass through
• If you haven’t repotted your plant in a few years the leaves may turn yellow. This indicates a depleted potting medium that needs to be replaced with fresh, nutrient-rich soil.

If you observe any of the above conditions, it is time to repot your peace lily. The ideal time for re-planting is the beginning of the most active growth period in early spring, around March.

It is still possible to repot the plant later in the season, however, avoid repotting in the middle of winter. Peace lilies do not have a dormant period, but plant growth slows, and repotting during that time makes it harder for the plant to recover later.

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How to Repot Peace Lilies

Follow these instructions to properly repot your peace lily:

1. water your peace lily Place it in its old pot a few hours before replanting, which helps loosen the soil and root system.
2. Use a pot that is only 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the old pot or plant’s root ball and be sure it has large drainage holes.
3. Place a layer of fresh, well-drained potting mix in the bottom of the pot. Any high quality potting mix for house plants will work.
4. Carefully remove the plant from its old pot. If necessary, tap the edges to loosen it. Turning the pot on its side can also help dislodge it. Do not pull the plant or roots aggressively, which risks damaging them.
5. Inspect the roots and remove any damaged or rotten roots with a clean, sharp blade pruning shears,
6. Center the plant in the new pot so that the top of the roots is 1 to 2 inches below the edge of the new pot. If the plant sits too low in the pot, add more potting mix to the base of the pot to raise it up.
7. Fill potting mix around the root ball and pat it down gently to remove any air pockets.
8. Water the plant slowly and deeply. Keep it somewhere away from direct, bright sunlight.
9. Keep an eye on the plant for the first few days after repotting to catch any symptoms of repotting shock. Water again when the top surface of the soil dries.
10. After about a week, if the plant shows no repotting shock, move it to its permanent location in filtered sun or an east-facing window.

How to Prevent and Treat Peace Lily Repotting Shock

Your peace lily may show symptoms of repotting shock, also known as transplant shock, due to the sudden change in its environment caused by repotting.

To prevent repotting shock, repot your plant at the right time (in early spring) and be very careful when handling the roots, as damaged roots have difficulty taking up water and nutrients, leading to wither and fall,

If your peace lily appears to be in repotting shock, give it time to adjust. Make sure not to overwater it, overfertilize it, and keep it out of direct sunlight, all of which cause extra stress for the plant.