The Peace Lily (scientifically known as *Spathiphyllum*) is one of those incredibly patient houseplants that can handle a bit of neglect. But even though it’s tough, it has a way of letting you know when it’s unhappy—and those pesky brown leaf tips are a classic cry for help.
The Root Cause
If you’re seeing brown tips on your Peace Lily, the culprit is almost always dry air. While low humidity is usually a winter struggle for this houseplant, those tips can turn brown in the summer, too. Remember, these beauties are native to tropical rainforests where the air is thick with moisture, so they aren’t exactly fans of our dry indoor environments.
How to Fix It
The best way to get your plant back on track is to boost the humidity around it. Here are a few ways to do just that:
Try a Change of Scenery
Since bathrooms are usually the most humid spots in the house, they make a great new home for a struggling Peace Lily. Just make sure your bathroom meets these requirements:
- Consistent temperatures between 68°F and 77°F (20-25°C).
- A bright spot near an east- or west-facing window.
One quick tip: Peace Lilies hate drafts. Avoid placing yours right against a window where it might get a cold blast when you open it in the winter. Also, keep it away from heating vents, as that dry air will cancel out all the benefits of being in the bathroom!
Boost Humidity Where It Is
If you’d rather keep your plant in its current location, you’ll need to bring the moisture to it:
- Place a bowl of water near the plant.
- Use a humidifier or hang water evaporators on your radiators.
Often, simply misting the leaves regularly does the trick. Just be careful to avoid the white blooms—they don’t like getting wet and might wilt early if they do. When misting, always use:
- Lukewarm water (room temp is best).
- Filtered or distilled water (lime-free).
Using cold water can actually shock the plant, and hard tap water can leave behind chalky lime deposits that clog the leaf pores.
To Trim or Not to Trim?
It’s tempting to grab the scissors, but I’d recommend against cutting off those brown tips. Usually, cutting into the leaf just creates a new brown edge along the cut. Your best bet is to be patient. Once you fix the humidity, your Peace Lily will start pushing out fresh, green growth, and those old brown tips will eventually be hidden by the new foliage.
