What do I do with this plant?

last month

I received this peace lily as a sympathy gift a week ago. It is starting to look limp and I discovered there are no drain holes in the plastic pot it came in and the soil is water logged.

Should I repot it in this larger terra cotta pot I own (3” taller and 3” wider) or try to gouge drain holes in the plastic pot?

If I should repot, what kind of soil should I use?

I’m a great gardener but have a black thumb with houseplants. Any advice is appreciated.

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Comments (11)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last month
id pull it out.. place it in the new pot.. clean the old pot up.. and go drill holes in the old pot.. and shove it back in...

repot it in mid to late summer..

in fact.. i might just drill the darn thing without removing he plant ...

water a plant when it needs it;.. insert finger and find out.. if you were drowning it.. you werent checking.. you were just serving up the drinks .... like a bad bartender ...

ken
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
I agree more plants die from over watering than any other reason. When you take the plant out you will see itfit needs repotting to abigger pot if the roots are all wound around then repot but IMO the new pot is too big .
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Kendrah
Original Author
last month
Ken, I’ve never watered the plant. Got it a week and a half ago, it it’s been sopping wet the whole time. Didn’t even realize there were no drain holes in the pot until last night. (Death in my family two weeks ago and was sent as a sympathy gesture.)

Why would a florist sell a plant in a pot with no drainage holes?

Do you say to wait a few month for repotting because it is too small now for the larger pot?
jackowskib
last month
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxP6M3HQ7Oo
apple_pie_order
last month
last modified: last month
Turn it on its side, drill some holes. Then place it on a plastic saucer.

IME, florist plants, grown in perfect conditions in a hot house, do not last more than a few weeks at home.
Kate Cowers
last month
We have a peace lily that was given to my husband in 2015 after he had surgery. They can be finicky - droop when too dry, droop when too wet. Stick your finger in the soil down about an inch, if it's dry, give it some water. If it's still wet/damp, leave it alone for a few days. I've repotted it twice I think but not always in a pot with drainage holes; if no holes, then fill the bottom with a couple of inches of small stones or even a couple of bigger rocks so when you water it the water sits in the rock base and keeps the roots from getting drowned.

Yours does look like it's in too small of a pot but I agree with Patricia the new pot might be a tad too big a size in between might be better. Any good potting soil from a garden center would do the trick.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
last month
Forget about stones in the bottom, that is a myth that actully impedes drainage. If the soil is soaking wet, pull the plant out and let it dry out. How root bound it is will determine if a repot is needed but use a smaller new pot than the one you show.
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last month
last modified: last month

I have 3 peace lilies from when my parents passed..1 from my mother November 2020..2 from my father November 2021..my parents passed less than a year apart 😢..

they were in a clear plastic nondraining pot inside a wicker basket..I repotted with a bark heavy raised bed mix into pots with drain holes..they go out mid May until mid October..the pics were taken yesterday..

agree with tsugajunkie not to use stones in the bottom of pots..this creates perched water tables..
deegw
last month
last modified: last month
There is probably water in the bottom of the pot. I would take the plant over to the sink and tip it on its side to drain it out. Whatever you decide to do, drill holes or repot, it will be less messy.
Kendrah
Original Author
last month
What incredible peace lilies Nicolsworth! I live in an apartment and cannot easily control the temp, have no outdoor space to place anything, and don’t have space to store extra pots and bags of soil. Maybe I’ll drill holes in to the pot and see if it lives or dies. It is really pretty but going to stores and buying things to try to keep something alive is not the state of mind or project I’m up forI’m in right now.
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last month

thanks Kendrah..these plants have sentimental value..my 2 sisters said ”take these..you’re the plant person”..so I did..

I have a shady half acre..plenty of space to take them outside..then for the winter our house is roomy and I can bring them in..I wish they could stay out year round..they’re big and messy..I’m retired and have time to take care of them..they're a hassle and the effort is too much for some people..