yet another sad peace lilly

17 years ago

Like many others, I have a Peace Lilly that isn't doing so well. I rescued it from a coworker who had left it unwatered (and without any sunlight to speak of) for a week such that all the leaves had wilted completely. I told her I'd try to save it.

I took the plant home and trimmed off all the obviously dead (black) foliage, which was about half. Then I took it out of the pot to inspect. Soil was still slightly moist, but definitely (apparently) too dry for this plant. Also, I noted that there was a very tightly potbound rootball at the center of the wide pot from what I'm guessing was an earlier repotting. I tried to break up the rootball a bit and spread some roots into the rest of the soil. Then I ran it under water until it was pretty well soaked and put it in a saucer on some pebbles so it wouldn't stand in water.

The remaining foliage perked up to an extent, but is still slightly droopy and some of it has black on it. This seems to be getting worse -- the youngest, newest pair of leaves has gone all black and crispy.

I have only a few healthy leaves left, but with such a (formerly?) solid root system, this thing should be totally salvageable. So -- HELP!!!

Now, here is all the information y'all would request before providing your friendly advice:

Temp: 66-76 degrees

Humidity: Pretty dry this time of year

Fertilizer: Added a tiny amount of osmocote before realizing that near-death is no time to be fertilizing a plant.

Light: No direct light, strong to medium light from various directions (small house).

Watering: The soil seems to retain a ton of water. I have only watered once since a month or so ago when I got it. Last was a week ago, and soil is still basically wet.

I know most people will probably either say "root rot" or advise faster-draining soil, but I am a total blackthumb and would need some specifics on this:

1. Good idea to repot a plant that has been through so much stress lately?

2. What would I do about root rot with such a thin-rooted plant?

3. What exactly would constitute a coarser/faster-draining soil? I have some pretty useless big-box store Phal. orchid mix of chunky bark and charcoal and some Miracle-Gro potting soil. Could mix these. Also have something called "rock powders" purchased from the worm tea people, which claims to add micro-nutrients and trace elements, porosity and tith to soil, stimulate root production and so on. Perlite is easily available. Dunno about finding horticultural sand...

A million thanks in advance for any advice you can share.

Dan

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Comments (6)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
To make it simple, the addition of plenty of perlite would help.
lucy
17 years ago
Get rid of ALL the present soil and/or use a mild houseplant fungicide.
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mr_subjunctive
17 years ago
I concur with the above. I'd tease out as much of the existing soil as I could, and then repot with regular potting soil and perlite (about 3:1 or 2:1). A fungicide probably wouldn't hurt, but I wouldn't, just because I don't have any here.

Not to bum you out or anything, but it has been my experience that peace lilies are pretty easy to grow, but tough to bring back once they're having a problem. Which is not the same thing as saying it can't be done.
greattigerdane
17 years ago
Yep, sounds like you may have too much soil, possibly heavy/over-potted/over-watered.

I would take the plant out of the pot and take off all the soil, then find a pot that's only and inch wider than the root-ball.
For example, if the root-ball extends out 3" put the plant in a 4" pot.
Add plenty of perlite to the new soil first (like mentioned) for better drainage.
You only want enough soil to cover the roots in the pot, no more than that, just enough soil to cover the bottom an inch, the sides and the top.

No need for a pebble tray or misting, just make sure you drain off any excess water in the saucer and don't water again until the top inch feels "almost" close to drying.

You want semi moist at all times, not wet. I usually water mine once a week, sometimes 8-9 days in winter.

Billy Rae
journorchid
Original Author
17 years ago
thanks to all for the advice. my current plan is to buy some perlite (tomorrow?), mix at 3:1, rinse the current roots in a solution of physan (supposed to be a fungicide), then repot in a 4 or 5 inch plastic pot with the faster-draining soil. After that -- we'll see.

Any objections? Is the root-dunking going to be a problem? Not sure how else to apply fungicide....

appreciate all the guru advice.

dan
journorchid
Original Author
17 years ago
OK, I did the repot, and after soaking the rootball in a weak physan solution, found that rottage had reduced the root mass so signficantly that I was able to repot in a MUCH smaller pot -- 4" across, pretty deep. I did a pretty perlite-heavy mixture (betwen 2:1 and 3:1 miracle gro mix:perlite, respectively).

A little concerned I packed it tight, but at least the roots are getting a chance to dry out now.

The plant seems to be stable -- still not healthy, but no fast death from root rot/soaked soil like before.

I will post updates for those who wonder (1) whether I ruined the plant by dunking its roots in the weak fungicide for a bit and (2) whether (at least in this case) it has been possible to rescue a severly aging peace lilly via root trim and transplantation in faster-draining-soil.

Thanks to all for the tips.

Plant love,

Dan

yet another sad peace lilly

Comments (6)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

lucy

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yet another sad peace lilly

Comments (6)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

lucy

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mr_subjunctive

greattigerdane

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