If your Peace Lily is looking a little droopy, it’s definitely a sad sight. But don’t panic just yet! Whether you need to worry depends entirely on what’s causing the slump. While most plants can be saved, some cases are a bit trickier than others.
The Root of the Problem
When a Peace Lily (botanical name: *Spathiphyllum*) lets its leaves hang low, it’s almost always a cry for help regarding its water supply. The tricky part? Both extremes look pretty similar.
- Too little water
- Too much water
Both of these issues lead to those signature wilted leaves. That’s why it’s super important to check your watering habits and make sure they actually match what your Peace Lily needs to thrive.
Underwatering: The Thirsty Lily
If your plant is drooping because it’s bone-dry, I have good news: this is way easier to fix than the alternative. Usually, the chances of a full recovery are excellent.
How to Fix It
To help your Peace Lily bounce back, it obviously needs a drink—but don’t just drown it all at once.
For smaller plants, the “soaking method” works wonders. Place the entire nursery pot into a larger container filled with lukewarm, ideally filtered or rain water. This allows the plant to soak up exactly what it needs. You’ll know its thirst is quenched when:
- Air bubbles stop rising to the surface
- The water level stops dropping significantly
Once it’s had its fill, follow these steps:
- Lift the plant out and let it drain thoroughly
- Place it back on its saucer
- Check back over the next few hours and pour off any excess water that collects in the saucer
If your Peace Lily is too big to dunk, give it a good watering right away. Just be sure to pour the water in stages rather than one big splash so the soil has time to actually absorb the moisture.
Overwatering: The Soggy Lily
If the leaves are drooping but the soil feels wet to the touch, you’re likely dealing with a “wet feet” situation. This leads to standing water at the bottom of the pot, which causes root rot. When the roots rot, they can no longer send water up to the leaves, causing the plant to wilt even though it’s sitting in water.
How to Fix It
To save a waterlogged plant, you’ll need to perform a little “surgery”:
- Carefully lift your houseplant out of its pot
- Gently remove all the old, soggy soil from the roots
- Snip off any mushy or rotted roots with clean scissors
- Rinse the remaining healthy roots under lukewarm water
- Let them air dry for a bit
- Repot your Peace Lily in a fresh pot with dry, well-draining soil
- Hold off on watering for a few days
With a little luck and a lot of patience, your Peace Lily should perk back up. Just give it a few weeks to find its footing again!
