When your Peace Lily (also known as *Spathiphyllum*) starts looking extra lush and bushy, it can actually outgrow its space pretty quickly. While you could grab your garden shears to thin it out, that often leaves the plant looking a bit awkward. The more elegant solution? Dividing the plant! It’s the perfect way to keep your original plant healthy while getting a few “babies” for free.
Propagating Your Peace Lily
Since Peace Lilies grow from creeping rhizomes, they are incredibly easy to propagate by division. The only catch is that you have to get down into the root ball to do it. Because of this, I always recommend dividing your plant at the same time you’re repotting. Combining these chores is much easier on the plant—and you—since you only have to disturb the roots once.
What’s a Rhizome?
Think of a rhizome as a horizontal stem that grows just beneath the soil surface. On some Peace Lilies, you might even see part of it peeking out above the dirt. These stems send leaves shooting upward and roots growing downward at various intervals.
How to Divide
When it comes to dividing a Peace Lily, you can make as many new plants as you like! Just a pro-tip: to make sure each new start thrives, ensure every section has at least three to four leaves. Depending on how thick that horizontal stem is, you can either snap it apart with your fingers or use a clean knife to slice through it.
One quick safety note: Always wear gloves! Peace Lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals, and the sap can cause some nasty skin irritation if you aren’t careful.
Getting Ready
You’ll want to work fast so the roots don’t dry out, so have your new pots filled with fresh soil and ready to go beforehand. The size of the pots depends on how many pieces you’re making. If you’re just splitting one giant houseplant in half, you’ll need larger pots than if you’re breaking it down into several small plantlets.
Step-by-Step Guide to Division
Once you’ve got your supplies ready, here’s how you do it:
- Gently lift the Peace Lily out of its current pot.
- Shake or brush off the excess soil so you can see the root structure.
- Decide how many sections you want to create.
- Carefully divide the rhizome (by hand or with a knife).
- Plant the mother plant and the new sections into their prepared pots.
- Give them a good drink of water.
- Move them to their new spots around the house.
- Keep them cozy: They love temperatures between 68 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sometimes during the process, a piece might break off without any roots attached. Don’t toss it! You can save it by popping it into a glass of water. In about a week or two, it should sprout enough roots to be planted in soil with the rest of the gang.
