What the white part really is
The white shape on a peace lily is a spathe, a leaf-like hood that wraps the tiny true flowers on the spadix in the middle. The spathe starts out creamy-green, opens to a clean white and then fades back to green over several weeks. Most plants sold are hybrids of Spathiphyllum wallisii, which stays compact.
Getting more white blooms
Peace lilies are famed for tolerating low light, but flowers need more. Move the plant nearer a bright window, out of the direct sun, and feed with a half-strength liquid fertiliser every month or so in spring and summer. A pot that is slightly snug will often bloom better than one with plenty of room.
- Water thoroughly, then let the top layer dry before watering again.
- Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them glossy.
- Cut spent flower stems right to the base.
- Repot into a slightly larger pot only when roots fill the current one.
Fixing brown tips
Tips often brown from dry air, salts building up in the soil, or tap water with chlorine or fluoride. Flush the pot with plenty of water every few months, and use rainwater when you can.
A worry for cat owners
The plant is often called a lily, and some people worry about it for that reason. It is not a true lily, so it lacks the toxin that causes kidney failure. It does contain calcium oxalate crystals, however, so the ASPCA lists it as toxic and irritating to dogs and cats.
