Overwatered Peace Lily: What causes Peace Lily Overwatering?

Overwatered Peace Lily Symptoms

Peace lilies are notoriously difficult to grow, and many gardeners have difficulties keeping them from getting too water-logged.

Even if you do manage to keep them from drowning, they may still suffer from other issues like yellowing leaves, drooping flowers, or wilting stems. There are a few things you can try at home to fix these symptoms.

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a popular houseplant that is known for its ability to thrive in low-light conditions. Although it is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, the peace lily is susceptible to overwatering.

Excess water can cause the plant’s leaves to droop and its blooms to wilt. To prevent overwatering, it is important to water the peace lily only when the top few inches of the soil are dry to the touch.

What are some Overwatered Peace Lily Symptoms?

The symptoms of overwatering include compression of the leaves, reduced oxygen in the soil, excess water and root rot.

The main causes of overwatering are over-watering, pot size, pot material, forgetting to empty the drip tray, season, temperature, and airflow. Some of the solutions

How do I know if my peace lily is overwatered?

If you haven’t been watering it and notice that the soil is soft and mushy then it is likely to be overwatered.

Note – a completely dry top inch of soil is not a sufficient indication of adequate drainage. If ever the top few inches of soil are no longer moist, it is time to repot.

 What causes Peace Lily Overwatering?

There are multiple contributing factors that can lead to Peace Lily Overwatering from which your Peace Lily may not recover. These include:

1. High humidity. Peace Lilies originate from tropical rainforests and take part in forest activity that is dominated by high humidity. They are accustomed to being placed in conditions of high water concentration but, as houseplants, they may be unable to handle excessive amounts of moisture or the wrong type of moisture.
2. Drought or over-watering conditions during a severe drought can lead to overwatering or root rot which will weaken the plant and reduce its ability to recover from stress later on.
3. Watering too much. Once the plant has lost its foliage and production of new leaves, it is still in desperate need of water to create new roots and carry on with the processes of growth. Once the soil is near dead and all nutrients have been used up, your plant won’t recover without repotting.
4. Stress. Peace Lilies are in the genus “Peace.” They are survivors and will survive a lot of stress. However, when you are overwatering or under-watering your Peace Lily, it can start to experience stress.
5. Root rot. If you suspect that your Peace Lily is suffering from root rot, then it needs to be repotted as soon as possible in fresh soil.
6. Overwatering after repotting. Sometimes, people wrongly think that repotting with slightly damp soil is ideal and that they don’t have to worry about watering while they wait for the potting mix to dry out a little. This could lead to root rot and overwatering.

How do I prevent Peace Lily Overwatering?

A) Avoid overwatering at all costs!

B) Use good drainage. Make sure you know how good your drainage is before you go ahead and repot your Peace Lily.

C) Try to repot your plant only during the growing season.

D) Avoid using peat when repotting. Peat holds moisture so can lead to root rot or overwatering if you don’t dry the roots out properly before repotting.

How do you tell if peace lily is overwatered or Underwatered?

1. Leaves turning brown and curling
2. Roots rotting
3. Slow growth or plant doesn’t seem to be growing in general
4. Plants simply don’t look very healthy in general

If any of these problems are present then you can pretty much be sure that your plant is overwatered!

How do you fix an overwatered Peace Lily?

1. If the plant is in recovery mode, try to ensure that it has good drainage and shelter from direct sunlight. It may recover by itself.
2. If not, repotting is essential. You can do this as soon as possible but avoid using peat in the soil because it holds moisture very well and could lead to root rot if you don’t let the roots dry out properly first.
3. In some cases, that may not be enough. The plant’s root system will be completely dead and you will have to repot with fresh soil and a new pot. You can use perlite or sand instead of peat to ensure good drainage.
4. Consider using a fertilizer containing azalea fertilizer like 10-30-20 or azalea specific fertilizer like Royal Azalea Vinegar Fertilizer.
5. If the Peace Lily is too badly damaged, it is going to die. You can plant it into a new pot but be careful not to overfeed as it will recover very slowly.

Note though that if you are growing Peace Lilies in pots, they should survive occasional repotting with no ill effects – especially if they are potted in peat or other absorbent types of soil.

How do know if your peace lily is getting too much water?

1. One way to tell is to look at the soil level – if there is too much water at the base of the plant then it will be obvious because it can cause the soil to cling onto its leaves.
2. The other way to tell is by watching for signs of water damage. You may notice that the lower leaf edges curl inwards, or have brown burn marks, or have brown discoloration from excessive water retention. These are all signs that something is wrong so contact a professional horticulturalist immediately!

How do I know if Im overwatering my peace lily?

There are several sure signs that show that your plant is overwatered or underwater. You will see:

1. Dry brown leaves, droopy foliage and wilted leaves.
2. Backing away from the light or leaning to one side as if looking for sunnier conditions.
3. The Peace Lily stem will be shorter than normal and the plant may seem to be struggling to grow in its pot.
4. Watering on a frequent basis will ruin the plant
5. If you are in a very hot or dry climate, you may notice that the leaf margins curl upwards, especially on foliage at the top of the plant. This is a sign that the plant needs more water.
6. Avoid overwatering during the winter months.