I've had good luck with the larger cultivars of peace lily, personally -- I've had one for a few years, and it's been pretty reasonable. The smaller ones seem to have more issues with dry air. Palms and I aren't really speaking to each other anymore, and I wouldn't really recommend them, but it's not impossible. Lady palms (Rhapis excelsa) are supposed to be nice. If you're set on a big plant for both spots, there are some larger Aglaonemas (Chinese evergreen) that are very nice, and Ags are generally tolerant of everything except cold and full sun. I have a large Dieffenbachia that's been with me a while too, which I am very fond of: they're less patient than Aglaonemas, and need a bit more watering, but even so. The Dracaenas -- D. fragrans (corn plant) and D. deremensis ('Warneckii,' 'Lemon-Lime,' 'Janet Craig') are all very tolerant of neglect and dry air, and some get to be big. Overwatering is a concern. More or less the same thing goes for snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata). I'm also a big fan of the long-leaf fig (Ficus binnendijkii), which I have found to be just fine with almost everything I've tried to do with it. Yucca elephantipes and Zamioculcas zamiifolia can both deal with pretty long periods of neglect, though both are slow growers (ZZ more so than Yucca) and will rot if overwatered. The Yucca might prefer more light than you have in those spots, but they're very adaptable. Bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolae, S. reginae) are a lot easier than they're given credit for, and I have mine (all four of them) in a west window. Watering is trickier with small plants than with large. Probably not the best choice, but if you like them, it could work out. Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) are both nice plants. A little moody, perhaps, but pretty tolerant of neglect and dry air, and both are great-looking if they're well taken care of. Schefflera actinophylla (umbrella tree) is also probably possible, but I'm hesitant to recommend those because they're so easily devoured by spider mites, especially in dry air.

I have about a dozen giant peace lilies from Lowes in Tampa FL. Because I have very little sun in my garden due to the number of the giant preservation grandfather oaks that are protected by law on my property, I must plant only shade loving plants. These giant lilies are not varigated in leaf patters and they are about 6 feet tall. The flowers are as large as my hand...gorgeous tropical plant. We may have a maximum of 10 evenings a year in winter when I cover my impatients, and other plants effected to near frosr/freeze temperatures etc., which protects them, and when I uncover them after the day or so deep in temperature,they are fine. I think the several times of covering and uncovering the plants during these sporactic temperatures are worth it. My impatients grw up to my waist, and stalks almost as think as my thumb in a mass planting. Every time the plants got leggy , etc, I would cut them back, use root tone and fetilizer, and place back in the ground. I was advised if I covered my giant peace lilies also in this same manner, that they will remain green and not die back or go dormant. Has anyone had that experience? Thanks. Linc Marie Benkert

I was just actually reading up about Spathiphyllums, because I went and repotted mine into a larger pot yesterday and felt like refreshing my notes on caring for them. I would also recommend Tropicbreezent's suggestion of checking the roots and soil. That's most likely the cause of whatever problems your plant is having. Does that pot it's in have adequate drainage? These plants require a soil that drains well and allows the roots to breathe. Their roots need plenty of access to fresh air. When the air supply is cut off, that's when they end up rotting. I would highly recommend checking out a website called, Exotic Rainforest. There is a section dedicated to > Caring for Spathiphyllums < This offers a wealth of accurate information about the proper care that these plants need. A couple excerpts taken from there point out some of the common problems that people have with these plants: * "It isn't excess water that kills 'Peace Lilies' in homes. The cause of their demise is almost always poor soil that is kept soggy, poor light conditions, near constant neglect, lack of nutrients and even more importantly poor soil conditions!" * "I frequently read posts on garden forums asking why a 'Peace Lily' is about to die and how to save the plant. Almost without exception the principal responses given are to slow down on the water and/or move it to an area of dimmer light. This advice is exactly the opposite of what nature provides naturally!" * "Even though Spathiphyllum can and do tolerate poor conditions does not mean they prefer them. In nature it appears they prefer medium or bright indirect to direct light as well as adequate water and food." * "If kept in very dim light you are deliberately starving the plants from the ability to produce their own natural sources of food." After you have corrected the problems with the roots and soil, I would advise you to move your plant to a brighter location with plenty of indirect sunlight. Sunlight is the plant's primary source of energy. Without it, they can't produce the food they need to grow stronger and healthier. Just because plants can tolerate low light conditions, this doesn't mean that they prefer them.

That is a beauty, seems like a great price too! Great find. I'm not familiar w/ Sensation Peace Lily, will have to look it up. I once worked in an office w/ one that was an oversize variety like that, even bigger I think. Have read it's called Mauna Loana; seemed pretty carefree. Currently, I have a regular size Spath & one of the miniatures, which happens to be in bloom, here. I've left it in its original EA mix, it's very thirsty, takes watering every 3 or 4 days.