The Peace Lily (also known by its botanical name, *Spathiphyllum*) is one of those classic, low-maintenance houseplants we all love. But even though it’s pretty easygoing, it eventually needs a little room to breathe. Since these plants grow just as much below the soil as they do above, a fresh pot and some new soil are essential for keeping them happy.
Timing
The best time to repot your Peace Lily is during the spring, specifically between March and the end of May. Repotting can be a bit stressful for any houseplant, so it’s best to do it when the plant isn’t currently blooming. This gives it a chance to settle into its new home and establish roots without having to spend energy on those pretty white spathes.
Of course, there’s one big exception: if your plant is suffering from root rot or waterlogging, don’t wait! In that case, you need to repot immediately, regardless of the season, to try and save the plant.
How Often?
For a healthy Peace Lily, you’re looking at repotting every one to three years, depending on how fast it’s growing. You don’t want to wait much longer than that because:
- The soil eventually loses all its nutrients.
- Old soil can become so compacted that the roots struggle to soak up water and air.
- There simply isn’t enough actual dirt left in the pot to support the plant.
Keep an eye out for these “tell-tale” signs that it’s time for an upgrade:
- The root ball has completely taken over the pot.
- You see roots poking out through the drainage holes at the bottom.
The Step-by-Step Guide
Choosing the Right Pot
When picking out a new home for your plant, make sure it has at least one drainage hole. For smaller plants, you only want to go up about an inch or two in diameter—don’t give it too much room at once!
If you have a massive, bushy Peace Lily already in a large container (like a 20-inch pot), you might not actually need a bigger size. If there’s still space between the plant and the rim, you can often reuse the same pot; just make sure it has plenty of drainage holes to keep the water moving.
How to Repot
- Gently lift your Peace Lily out of its old pot.
- Carefully loosen the root ball and shake off the old, tired soil.
- Give the roots a little wiggle to untangle them.
- Create a drainage layer at the bottom of the new pot using some broken terracotta shards or gravel.
- Add a thin layer of fresh potting mix on top of the drainage layer.
- Center your plant in the pot.
- Fill in the gaps with fresh soil.
- Press the soil down lightly to remove large air pockets.
- Give it a good watering to help it settle in.
Since most store-bought potting soils come with a built-in “starter” fertilizer, you won’t need to fertilize your Peace Lily for the first few weeks. Just check the back of your soil bag to see how long that initial nutrient boost lasts!
