Dry soil and low humidity are typically the cause of a drooping peace lily. Tropical plants like peace lilies require a lot of humidity. The peace lily’s leaves lose moisture due to dry indoor air, which causes the leaf tips to turn brown and droop.
Most frequent causes of drooping peace lily leaves include:
- (Peace lilies require evenly moist, well-draining soil; if the soil dries up due to underwatering, the leaves droop.) The soil is too dry around the roots.
- Due to air currents or indoor warmth, low humidity causes the leaves to droop and turn brown at the leaf tips (peace lilies grow in humid environments need to be misted to increase humidity).
- Due to inadequate drainage and overwatering, peace lily leaves droop and turn yellow (peace lilies need well draining soil. If the soil is too boggy, this promotes the conditions for root rot which turns the leaves yellow, with a drooping appearance).
- After repotting, peace lilies may develop drooping leaves and turn yellow if they are placed in much larger pots or if the soil is too compacted (larger pots hold more moisture because they contain more soil, which causes the soil to dry out more slowly than the roots can tolerate, resulting in drooping leaves).
- Peace lily foliage may droop in low-nutrient soil, with lower leaves in especially turning yellow (the peace lilies roots can exhaust the soil of nutrients causing drooping leaves with the lower leaves turning yellow).
- Because there is too much moisture around the roots from overwatering or poor drainage, peace lily leaves droop even after being watered (peace lilies need to be in potting soil that is moist yet also well draining, rather then boggy, which is why the leaves can droop even after watering).
- Both cool temperatures below 60 °F (15 °C) and high interior temperatures above 85 °F (30 °C) can cause leaves to droop (high temperatures from indoor heating, dry out the soil too quickly for the roots to draw up the moisture they require and the heat saps moisture from the leaves. Cool temperatures also stress the peace lily, causing the leaves to droop).
- Due to saucers, trays, and ornate outer pots, extra water may collect at the base of the pot, which may result in root rot and yellowing, drooping leaves (peace lilies do not tolerate damp soil which cause the leaves to droop and eventually turn yellow).
Typically, underwatering, overwatering, low humidity, or high temperatures cause peace lily leaves to droop.
If you water your peace lilies every week, place them in well-draining soil, and keep the temperature between 68°F and 85°F, you should be able to revive drooping leaves. By doing this, you can mimic the circumstances of their natural environment.
To find out why your peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is drooping and how to save it, keep reading.
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Peace Lily Drooping After Repotting
A peace lily may droop after being repotted because the new pot is larger and includes more soil, which causes it to dry out more slowly than it is accustomed to. The roots of peace lilies decay if the soil is too wet for too long, which causes the leaves to droop and turn yellow.
After repotting, peace lilies are susceptible to transplant shock, which makes the leaves droop.
Native to Central and South America, peace lilies flourish on well-draining soil that somewhat dries in between downpours.
When growing peace lilies indoors, it is crucial that the soil’s top gradually dries out in between each watering.
Larger pots may carry more soil, which increases their ability to hold moisture. This indicates that the new pot dries out considerably more slowly than the peace lily’s old one.
The pot could also be made of a different material, which could impact how quickly the soil dries.
For instance, because they are impermeable, pots made of plastic and glazed ceramic hold water for longer, increasing the risk of root rot and fungus illnesses.
Clay and terracotta pots, on the other hand, are porous, allowing the soil to dry more evenly from around the roots of the peace lily.
The oxygen in wet soil might escape, preventing root respiration and interfering with the roots’ ability to absorb water and nutrients, resulting in yellowing and drooping leaves.
Long-term moisture in the potting soil can encourage root rot, which typically ends in a dying plant.
Additionally, it’s crucial to avoid too compacting the soil surrounding the peace lily because this can also remove oxygen from the ground and make water drain from the area around the plant’s roots much more slowly.
Keep in mind that peace lilies require pots with drainage holes at the bottom for proper drainage in order to develop. The potting mix becomes saturated and water pools around the roots if the new pot does not have a sufficient drainage hole, which causes the leaves to droop and frequently turn yellow.
How to Revive a Peace Lily That is Drooping After Repotting
- Only transplant peace lilies into pots that are one size larger than the original. The risk of drooping leaves due to root rot is minimized if the new pot is only marginally larger than the previous pot.
- Your peace lily should ideally be repotted in a clay or terracotta pot. In order to reduce the stress that caused the peace lily’s leaves to droop, I advise repotting your peace lily into a terracotta or clay pot rather than a ceramic or plastic one because they are porous and enable the soil to dry out more evenly and create the peace lily’s optimal balance of soil moisture.
- When repotting your peace lily, try not to compact the soil. After repotting, don’t compact the soil around your peace lily because it needs porous, well-draining soil. Take the peace lily out of the pot and repotted it without firming the soil if you accidentally compacted the soil when repotting. Your potting mix can benefit from the addition of some perlite by strengthening the soil’s structure and enhancing the drainage, which reduces the risk of root rot.
- After repotting, reduce how frequently you water your peace lily. Increase the intervals between waterings so that the potting soil can slightly dry up before being watered once more. Due to the larger pot and the more soil around the peace lily’s roots, it typically takes longer for the potting soil to dry after repotting. Reduce watering and wait until the soil feels dry on the surface before watering your peace lily to achieve the ideal soil moisture level and prevent drooping.
- To avoid drooping, yellowing foliage, always repot peace lilies in containers with drainage holes at the base. In order to guarantee excellent drainage, always check that the new pot has a drainage hole and drain any extra water from any saucers, trays, or exterior pots after watering.
After the soil has had time to dry up and the peace lily has adapted to its new environment, a wilting plant should begin to grow again.
When peace lilies droop, it’s sometimes just a reaction to the shock of being moved, not because of overwatering or soil moisture problems.
If so, make sure the peace lily is growing in the best possible conditions by misting the leaves to increase humidity, letting the soil surface dry between waterings, keeping the peace lily away from drafts, and maintaining a temperature range of 68°F and 85°F (20°C- 30°C) during the day and up to 10°F cooler at night.
The drooping leaves of the peace lily should recover in the days after being repotted under the ideal conditions.
It can be too tough to salvage the peace lily if the roots have decayed after being left in wet soil for an extended period of time and the leaves have become yellow and drooped.
Peace Lily Drooping and Turning Yellow
Overwatering frequently causes root rot, which causes peace lily leaves to droop and turn yellow. The roots of peace lilies are sensitive to excess moisture, therefore between waterings, the soil’s surface needs to somewhat dry out. Root rot results in the leaves becoming yellow and drooping in constantly soggy soil.
Be aware that the soil may be overly wet, which isn’t always the result of overwatering, and that this may cause the peace lilies to droop and become yellow.
Similar to overwatering, poor drainage encourages the development of root rot, which makes the leaves droop and become yellow.
Poor drainage can result from pots lacking drainage holes in the base, pots with decorative outer pots underneath the peace lily, or pots with saucers, trays, or other decorative outer pots, which causes water to collect around the pot’s base and lead to soggy conditions around the roots.
Due to a lack of nutrients in the soil, peace lilies may also droop and turn yellow.
The roots of the peace lily may deplete the soil of nutrients if it has been in the same pot for a long period (or if the potting soil is particularly deficient in nutrients), which may result in the leaves drooping and becoming yellow on the bottom leaves.
Contrary to popular belief, peace lilies can also wilt and droop from underwatering if they are not given enough or the right amount of water.
Watering peace lilies thoroughly is essential to ensuring that the water gets to the roots where it is needed and percolates through the potting soil.
The roots of the peace lily are unable to access the water and only the top inch or so of the potting soil remains moist. As a result, the leaves droop and older leaves at the plant’s base turn yellow if the peace lily receives too little water.
How to Revive a Peace Lily that is Drooping and Turning Yellow
- Reduce the amount of irrigation so that the soil dries out between waterings. This watering strategy generates the ideal moisture cycle to satisfy the peace lily’s water needs without placing undue stress on the roots. Normally, this entails watering peace lilies every seven days, but you should always check to see if the soil’s surface has dried first.
- Always grow peace lilies in containers with drainage holes in the bottom, and remove extra water from saucers and trays on a regular basis. To avoid drooping, yellow leaves, the proper watering cycle must be combined with effective drainage. Be diligent in routinely draining them of extra water since saucers, trays, and decorative outer pots encourage water to collect at the bottom of the pot and foster the conditions for root rot.
It is most likely because the soil is deficient in nutrients if the peace lily has been in the same pot for years and the leaves have started to droop and eventually turn yellow:
- To restore the peace lily, apply an all-purpose, balanced, general houseplant fertilizer at half strength once in the spring and once in the summer. Apply any fertilizer at half intensity because peace lilies are sensitive to too much fertilizer, which can cause the leaf tips to become brown. Apply a fertilizer that is well-balanced to provide the peace lily the nutrients it needs for growth and blossoming.
A sharp pair of pruners should be used to cut any yellowed peace lily leaves back to the soil line in order to encourage the emergence of new, healthy green leaves. Yellowed peace lily leaves typically do not recover and turn green again.
You have been watering your peace lily too lightly or not frequently enough if the lowest leaves of the plant are turning yellow and the soil feels dry to a finger’s depth:
- Place the peace lily in a bowl of water and submerge the root ball for ten minutes. The soil can bake hard and keep water off the surface if it has totally dried out after being submerged. When the root ball is submerged, water can permeate the soil and get to the roots where it is needed. This should help with the issue of drooping leaves caused by drought stress.
- Every seven days, thoroughly water the peace lily. Giving the peace lily a good soak ensures that the soil is evenly moist, allowing the roots to reach the hydration that keeps the leaves from drooping. To produce the ideal cycle of soil moisture to keep the leaves vibrant but prevent the risk of root rot, always check that the soil’s surface feels dry between waterings.
- While the leaves are dropping, regularly mist them. By misting the leaves, you can mimic the high relative humidity of the peace lily’s natural environment. It might be required to moisten the leaves every day if you live in a hot, dry climate to keep them from drooping.
The drooping leaves should regrow in the days after you have restored the conditions of your peace lily by watering every seven days and misting the foliage to boost the humidity.
Any yellow leaves should be cut down to the plant’s base to encourage new green growth.
Why is My Peace Lily Drooping Even After Watering?
Overwatering or inadequate drainage are the typical causes of peace lily leaves drooping even after watering. Overwatering causes the soil to become oxygen-depleted, which interferes with root respiration and hinders the roots from absorbing moisture and nutrients, leading the leaves of peace lilies to droop.
Peace lilies require a soil that drains well and is porous; ideally, the soil’s surface should dry between waterings.
Read my article on how often and how much to water peace lilies for more information.
The roots cannot function correctly if there is too much moisture surrounding the roots (from overwatering) or the soil is too compacted, which causes the leaves to droop as a symptom of stress.
The circumstances for root rot are favored if the soil is continually moist due to excessive watering or inadequate drainage, which causes the leaves to turn yellow and take on the look of being on the verge of dying.
If you are watering your peace lilies too lightly, it is also possible for the leaves to droop even after you have watered them.
Watering peace lilies thoroughly will result in surplus water trickling out of the drainage pores at the base, a sign that the water has reached the roots where it is needed.
When plants are watered too sparingly, the top inch or two of soil is only slightly moistened, and the roots are unable to access the moisture, which causes the leaves to droop.
The soil, especially peat-based potting mediums, can bake hard and become hydrophobic (repels water), which causes water to dribble off the surface and down the edge of the pot instead of getting to the roots where it is needed if the peace lily has been chronically submerged.
It’s also crucial to remember that watering alone won’t solve all of the problems that cause peace lily leaves to droop, including low humidity, high or too high temperatures, poor drainage, and a lack of nutrients in the soil.
How to Revive a Peace Lily That is Drooping Even After Watering
- Reduce the amount of watering and wait until the soil’s surface has dried before adding more water. In order to prevent the peace lily from drooping due to drought stress and to prevent the leaves from drooping due to soggy soil, it is best to water peace lilies completely, then wait for the soil surface to dry before watering again.
- With containers with drainage holes in the base and well-draining soil, make sure the peace lily has good drainage. It is a good idea to repot the peace lily and add some perlite to the potting soil to improve drainage and provide more space for oxygen around the roots if the soil is excessively compacted and draining slowly.
- After watering, remove any extra water from any decorative outer pots, trays, or saucers. This aids in preventing excess water from collecting at the base of the container, which keeps the soil too soggy for the peace lily to endure and results in drooping leaves.
- Check the soil to determine if water is getting to the roots and permeating it adequately. Underwatering and high temperatures can sometimes cause the soil to bake hard, which can cause water to dribble off the surface and down the side of the pot without penetrating the soil and reaching the roots. If there is any moisture in the soil, feel it with your fingers at the pot’s base and through the drainage hole.
- Place the peace lily in a bucket of water for 10 minutes with the root ball buried if the soil seems dry. This will allow water to properly permeate the soil and relieve the drought stress that is causing the drooping leaves.
If overwatering is to blame for the drooping leaves, then the peace lily should begin to recover in the days that follow as long as you reduce watering and make sure water can drain from the container effectively.
With regular misting to enhance humidity and a consistent temperature range between 68°F and 85°F (20°C and 30°C), with 10°F cooler at night, it is crucial to provide ideal conditions for the peace lily to revive.
Peace Lily Leaves Turning Brown and Drooping
Low humidity and too direct sunshine are typically the causes of peace lily leaves becoming dark and drooping. Peace lilies require high humidity and indirect light for proper growth. The leaves will burn brown and droop if they are exposed to bright sunshine and an environment with an excessive amount of dry air.
In their natural, tropical habitat, peace lilies are shielded from direct sunlight by a canopy. As a result, the leaves of peace lilies are particularly vulnerable to any strong, direct sunlight, which causes the leaves to droop and turn brown.
So if your peace lily sits in direct sunlight on a window sill, that explains why the leaves are wilting and becoming brown.
Peace lilies are evolved to surviving in extreme humidity because they grow in tropical areas. If the interior humidity is too low, the dry air dries out the leaves and causes the leaf tips to turn brown, giving the leaves a droopy appearance.
There are many things that can contribute to low humidity inside, including:
- forced air or air conditioning air currents, which significantly reduce humidity.
- Indoor heat sources also dry out the air, especially in the winter.
- – Increase the frequency of your watering. … The circumstances for root rot, which results in yellowing and a drooping, withering appearance of the leaves, are encouraged if the soil is persistently damp due to overwatering or poor drainage.
In addition, if you water too little, peace lily leaves may still droop after you water them.
If surplus water drips from the drainage pores in the base of the peace lily, it has received all the water it needs to reach the roots.
How to Revive Drooping Peace Lilies with Brown Leaves
After watering, empty any extra water from any decorative outer pots, trays, or saucers. By doing this, you may prevent water from gathering around the base of the pot, which makes the soil too soggy for peace lilies to endure and makes their leaves droop.
Check the soil to see if the roots are getting enough water by entering it appropriately. Water may occasionally trickle off the surface of the soil and down the side of the pot without penetrating the soil and reaching the roots when the soil bakes hard as a result of underwatering and high temperatures. Check to check if there is any moisture in the soil by digging your fingers into the pot’s soil and into the drainage hole at the base.
In order to adequately hydrate the soil and relieve the drought stress that led to the peace lily’s drooping leaves, immerse the peace lily in a bowl of water for 10 minutes with the root ball submerged.
Key Takeaways:
- If overwatering is to blame for the drooping leaves, then as long as you limit watering and make sure water can drain from the peace lily’s pot efficiently, the peace lily should begin to show signs of healing within a few days.
- A consistent temperature range of 68°F and 85°F (20°C and 30°C) with 10 degrees colder at night is essential to creating the right circumstances for the peace lily to revive.
- Too much direct sunlight and low humidity are frequently to blame for peace lily leaves fading to brown and drooping. Indirect light and high humidity are necessary for peace lilies to grow. The leaves will turn scorching brown and droop if they are exposed to direct sunshine and the air is too dry.
- In their natural, tropical habitat, peace lilies are shielded from the sun by a canopy, which provides shade. Because of this, peace lilies’ leaves are especially vulnerable to any strong, direct sunlight, which causes the leaves to droop and turn brown.
- As a result, the leaves of your peace lily are becoming brown and drooping if it is placed on a window sill in direct sunlight.
- Peace lilies are accustomed to high humidity levels because they thrive in tropical climates. Indoor humidity levels that are too low cause the leaf tips to turn brown and the leaves to seem droopy because the dry air removes too much moisture from the leaves.