When your Peace Lily (botanical name *Spathiphyllum*) is happy, it’s a showstopper with those glossy, deep green leaves and elegant white blooms. It’s definitely a bummer when you start noticing ugly brown spots ruining that lush look.
The Usual Suspects
If you’re seeing brown spots on your Peace Lily’s foliage, it usually boils down to one of three things:
- Sunburn
- Scale insects
- Leaf spot disease
Whatever the cause, you’ll want to act fast to save your houseplant and get it back to its former glory.
Sunburn
Peace Lilies love bright spots, but they are surprisingly sensitive to direct sunlight. If they’re sitting in a harsh sunbeam, they can develop brown scorch marks on the tops of the leaves in just a few hours. In bad cases, the entire leaf might turn brown and crispy.
What to do:
- Move your plant into the shade immediately.
- Long-term fix: Find a new location away from direct rays. If you love that specific spot, use a sheer curtain or place larger plants nearby to provide some “dappled” shade.
Scale Insects
Scale are tiny, dark brown pests—only about 1 to 3 millimeters long. Because they’re so small, they often look like flat brown spots on the undersides of the leaves. However, if you run your finger over them or grab a magnifying glass, you’ll realize they aren’t spots at all, but little raised bumps.
What to do:
- Brush off the pests or wipe down the affected areas with soapy water.
- Repeat the process every few days until they’re gone.
- Prune away any heavily infested leaves near the base.
- Boost the humidity! Scale insects thrive in dry heat, so a little extra moisture in the air helps keep them away.
- Keep a close eye on your plant with regular “check-ups.”
Leaf Spot Disease
Leaf spot is a stubborn fungal infection that can be caused by a few different types of fungi. You can usually identify this disease by these specific symptoms:
- Dark brown spots
- A distinct light-colored or yellow “halo” around the edges of the spots
What to do:
- Isolate your Peace Lily right away so the fungus doesn’t spread to your other green friends.
- Cut off infected leaves immediately and toss them in the trash (don’t compost them!).
- If the infection has taken over the whole plant, it’s safest to dispose of it entirely to protect the rest of your indoor garden.
