Sensation Peace Lily Care Guide (Giant Peace Lily)

Big brother to the many smaller leafed Peace Lily varieties, the Giant Peace Lily is that very rare type of statement plant - one that's ridiculously easy care. Their proper is name Spathiphyllum 'Sensation' (there's also a variegated Sensation which doesn't get as large). I love their huge, lush, emerald green leaves with grooves that catch the light, and the bonus of big, pure white calla lily shaped flowers too.

And no, it's not just a mature peace lily. 'Sensation' are a different variety. They can get up to 6 feet tall and almost as wide in ideal conditions. I'd give these big boys a 1 out of 5 rating for difficulty. I'd also put Peace Lilys on my 'great plants for kids' list too. A better choice for over-waterers than under-waterers. Plus they very obviously tell you when you've left it too long with rather dramatic wilting, that just as quickly perks back up once their thirst is quenched. 

Light

These big dudes are super chill when it comes to light. They'll tolerate down to low light levels, but prefer at least medium light. You're less likely to get flowers until you go up to bright, indirect light. Foliage will grow faster and larger in brighter light also, although your plant may also dry out faster so you'll likely notice more brown leaf tips and crispiness in general in brighter light unless you really keep on top of watering. Direct sunlight is best avoided so you don't risk burning those leaves. I love my Giant Peace Lilies more for their huge foliage than the flowers, so I tend towards medium light for mine. 

Temperature & Humidity

The Giant Peace Lily prefers a temperature range similar to what we're comfortable in, about 18 to 27 degrees Celcius (around 64 to 80 Fahrenheit), but can tolerate cooler in winter if the rest of the conditions are all good. I'd try not to go below 15 if you can though. Being too cold is another reason your Peace Lily won't flower. Here are all 5 things to fix to get your Peace Lily to flower >

They enjoy higher humidity but it's not a must. Our natural humidity in NZ is pretty good, but if you live in a drier area, or artificial heating or air conditioning is drying out the air, aim for above 50%, ideally an average of 60% (a plant humidifier is a big help). You're more likely to see crispy leaf tips and edges in lower humidity.  

Soil

The Peace Lily is a good candidate for hydro or semi-hydro with substrates like Pon or Leca. Grown in soil, you want a combo of medium to high water retention but still in an airy, free draining mix that retains space for oxygen to avoid root rot. My current fave is the Wildvine Houseplant Blend. 

Whether rootbound or not, id repot roughly once a year. You can just give your Peace Lily fresh soil and pot back into the same size pot unless it's rootbound. I'd also repot if your Peace Lily's substrate can't hold enough water for at least a week, so if you find it's wilting and you're having to water again more often then weekly, a repot's probably overdue, or just a shift to a mix with better water retention.

Water

It's very easy to know when to water a peace lily. Leave it too long and they will dramatically droop and look very forlorn until you water them. Then, like magic, they recover fast and are loving life again. Although relatively forgiving of neglect, it's best to keep Peace Lilies evenly moist at all times.

I like to water mine just when they start to droop ever-so-slightly before any dramatic wilting kicks in or it starts sucking water out of the leaf tips. Left dry too long and you'll likely see brown, crispy leaf tips and margins, or leaves turning entirely yellow then crispy brown, as the plant tries to reserve water and send it from old growth to keep new growth happy. Find out all the reasons for yellow leaves >

Typically a good drench once every week or two keeps them happy, but there's no such thing as a schedule when it comes to watering plants. Everyone's conditions are different. 

Are Peace Lilies pet safe?

Firstly, it's a myth that Peace Lilies can be fatal to cats. That IS true of actual lilies, like Day Lilies. But Peace Lilies are not true lilies. They are Spathiphyllum from the Araceae family, the same as Monstera, Philodendron and more. Find out the truth about Peace Lilies and cats >

However, the same as Monsteras and most of our houseplants, Peace Lilies are not completely pet safe and can cause (normally mild), reactions to watch out for. The foliage is safe to touch and for pets to rub past, but if chewed or swallowed, it can irritate the lips, mouth and throat and potentially cause swelling and digestive upsets. Play it safe and put those giant leaves out of reach of curious pets & kids.

Keep learning

 

Find out how to get your Peace Lily to flower >