Can Peace Lily Flower Replace Air Purifier? Find Out!
Clean air at home contributes to your good mood. That's the reason why air purifiers are becoming increasingly popular. However such a machine might be quite an investment. There is, however a natural way to clean the air. Peace lily is a plant which not only looks beautiful but also can purify the air in a room. Choose natural methods and improve the air quality so that it's clean and healthy for everyone in your house.
What is a peace lily and what are its features?
A peace lily is a decorative plant from the family of Araceae. In contrast with other decorative plants, peace lily not only looks unusual, but also it comes with health benefits. Peace lily is a natural air purifier. The most popular type of lily plant is Spathiphyllum floribundum with its white flowers. They are a decoration in many living rooms.
Why can a peace lily replace an air purifier?
Unusual features of a lily flower have been checked and confirmed by NASA who runs detailed tests. As they have shown, a peace lily plant can neutralize up to five dangerous chemicals that can be found in households, such as:
- xylene – used in the varnish industry,
- benzene – used for glue, paint and plastic production,
- formaldehyde – used as a preservative in cleaning and washing products like soaps and shampoos,
- carbon monoxide – a toxic, odorless gas that is lethal for your organism,
- trichloroethane – present in various thinners.
Those chemicals are very dangerous for health as they are cancerogenic, they influence respiratory and vascular systems and internal organs.
A peace lily is a perfect plant for a living room and bedroom. Due to its qualities it is also great for an office and rooms with a lot of electronics.
Peace lily – natural air purifier and humidifier
Another important feature of a peace lily is its ability to humidify the room. For this reason it is a good idea to have it in your home, especially in winter, when the air is very dry. A lily plant is also a great microbes and fungal spores absorber. Therefore, it is ideal for allergy sufferers and people who have trouble with breathing. According to the research, the long period of flowering positively influences the atmosphere of the room and affects the mood, helping to relax.
Despite all the benefits of the peace lily, it might be poisonous for household pets. If you own a pet and decided to buy a lily plant, observe the health of the animal in during the first days after the purchase. If necessary, remove the plant from your home.
Types of peace lily you can grow at home
Although the most popular type of peace lily is Spathiphyllum floribundum also known as snow flower, there are also other 48 species of this kind. What other types of lily flower can you grow at home?
The most significant is definitely white sails, or Spathiphyllum wallisii. This plant has been created for indoors cultivation only so it’s perfect for home. White sails is distributed in five varieties of different volume and height. They are: Yess, Clevelandi, Euro Giant, Sensacion and Mauna Loa.
How to care for a peace lily?
Arecae are not difficult plants to grow at home. Peace lily is one of the least complicated varieties. The most important aspect of taking care of it is doing it systematically, which prolongs its lifespan and makes it bloom more often.
A spathiphyllum plant bloom when humidity is high, as they help to maintain its level. Therefore the most important aspect of taking care for a peace lily is watering it. You should not only water the soil but also sprinkle the leaves.
Wondering where you should place the pot with your peace lily? Choose a spot with little access to light. Temperature is also important – lily plants grow best in 18-22 Celsius degrees (64-71 F).
How to fertilize peace lily?
A proper plant cultivation also regards regular feeding when the plant blooms. A peace lily blooms exceptionally long, even a few months per year. Also, remember about repotting the peace lily every spring.
When feeding your peace lily, pay attention to the color of its leaves. If it’s an intense green, it means that the plant has been overfed.
Special fertilizers peace lilies like
If you want to take care for your peace lily, it is recommended to use special fertilizers. Classic, universal fertilizer for potted plants is a good choice. Just make sure that it contains enough nitrogen. After a few months of the treatment, you will notice the plant is doing much better.
If you are afraid that the product you have chosen won’t work - buy a small packaging at first. Special drip feeders have become quite popular recently. Their biggest advantage is the fact that they are maintenance free. All you need to do is stick it into the soil, and the fertilizer will flow down, feeding the plant.
How much does a peace lily cost?
Peace lily is not a very expensive plant and its price usually isn’t high. It mostly depends on where it’s bought and how developed the plant is. The ones you can find in gardening and flower shops are typically more expensive than the one from a supermarket, however they have better quality.
Where to buy a peace lily?
Peace lily is an exceptionally popular plant, so if you want to buy one, you shouldn’t have any trouble with that. Both large and small plant are often available in supermarkets and hardware stores. But when buying at such places, be extra careful and examine the plant thoroughly. Thanks to this, you can be sure it’s not damaged.
Check if the plant doesn’t have any pests, e.g. spider mites, scale bugs or springtails. They could spread onto your other houseplants and cause damage.
You can also purchase peace lilies in flower shops, plant nurseries and from private sellers. The last option is quite popular, as in this case the price for the plant might be really attractive.
Why does my peace lily not bloom? Learn 4 most common reasons
Your peace lily never blooms? Find out how to resolve this problem. Sometimes you just need to alter a minor detail to initiate blooming. Find four most common mistakes done when growing a Spathiphyllum.
Not enough sunlight
Although peace lily, in contrast to most household plants, requires little sunlight, a complete lack of sun might disturb its blooming process. The best remedy is moving the plant to a spot where the light is dispersed most of the day, for instance is a bedroom behind the curtain.
Size of the pot is not proportional to size of the plant
Potting and repotting of peace lily is also very important. The belief that a plant potted in a larger box grows better is wrong. Putting lily plants in too large pots might cause a problem with their blooming. Therefore, you should choose a box that is perfectly proportional to the plant you are going to transplant.
You shouldn’t transplant peace lilies too often, as it also disturbs their blooming and growth. Having that in mind, repotting should be done only when it’s absolutely necessary, e.g. when the pot is too small or it has been damaged.
Wrong fertilizer
One of the reasons for the lack of blooming might be wrong fertilizer. When choosing a particular organic, pay attention to its consistency and concentration. A good fertilizer mixture for peace lily is liquid, and it should be applied once per two weeks, along with watering.
Too much water
Peace lily watering plays a very important role for its blooming and proper growth. You should provide enough water and keep doing it regularly. Pay special attention to the quality and temperature of the water – hard or too cold water affects the peace lily’s blooming. For the best growth, water your plant with cooled down boiled water or with tap water that has stood for more than an hour.
Peace lily is a household plant that doesn’t require too much work, and with little effort it might be a perfect decoration for many years. Its also beneficial for health as it can clean air. It’s a plant definitely worth having in your home.
Check what other potted plants you can grow in your home. Orchids and anthurium are very interesting options.
đź“Ť How to care for Spathiphyllum?
The most important aspect of taking care for a peace lily is its regular watering. Make sure to water the soil as well as sprinkle the leaves. Also, choose the right type of fertilizer and place the plant in a spot with access to scattered sunlight.
đź“Ť How often to water peace lily?
Water your peace lily regularly – in winter once or twice a week, in summer even 3-4 times per week. If you have overwatered it, you might try repotting the peace lily and prepare a proper drainage (in form of a layer of sand or stones).
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