Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), with their elegant white blooms, are popular indoor plants known for their air-purifying qualities. However, when those pristine flowers start turning brown or green, it can be concerning for plant enthusiasts. And that could be due to many reasons, such as poor lighting, overwatering, or too much fertilizing. The good news is that you can adjust these factors to ensure that your peace lily thrives.

But if you're unsure why your peace lily's flowers are turning brown, this guide is here to help you. It explores the life cycle of the peace lily, the factors influencing the color change in its flowers, and practical solutions to help your restore their vibrancy.

About Peace Lily's Life Cycle

Peace lilies are perennial evergreen plants with glossy, dark green oval-shaped leaves and distinctive white flowers. They are native to tropical regions and thrive in indirect sunlight and humid conditions. Peace lilies have an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years, but this depends on their environment and care. Some indoor variants may live for up to 20 years.

How Many Times Do Peace Lilies Flower?

Healthy peace lilies flower twice a year, in mid-spring and again in mid-autumn. However, this may vary depending on the specific conditions provided to the plant. Factors that influence how often peace lilies bloom include proper lighting conditions, watering, fertilization, temperature, and humidity.

Related: Peace Lily Meaning & Symbolism

How Long Do Peace Lily Flowers Last?

Peace lily flowers can last from 1 to 2 months or more with the right care, adding a touch of elegance to indoor spaces. However, the flowers can change color as the plant ages or encounters specific issues, manifesting in brown, green, or black shades.

Peace Lily Flowers Turning Brown: 6 Causes and Solutions

The peace lily is a beautiful indoor plant, and its glossy, white flowers are simply exquisite. Therefore, spotting brown flowers on your peace lily can be distressing. Well, worry not because once you understand the causes, you can implement appropriate solutions that will revive your plant.

Read on to find out some common reasons for peace lily flowers turning brown and how to fix the issue.

1. Poor Watering Practices

While peace lilies prefer consistently moist soil, prolonged underwatering or overwatering can lead to brown flowers. Too much water causes root rot, leading to brown foliage and blooms. In contrast, too little moisture can strain your plant.

Solutions:

• Maintain consistently moist soil without overwatering.
• Allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering again.

2. Insufficient Humidity

Peace lilies flowers may turn brown if they grow in indoor spaces with low humidity. These include heated and air-conditioned rooms with reduced levels of air moisture, which can lead to browning flowers of your beloved peace lily plant.

Solutions:

• Maintain proper humidity levels.
• Mist the flowers and leaves to increase humidity.

3. Improper Lighting

Direct sunlight can scorch your peace lily flowers, turning them brown. Similarly, insufficient light makes it difficult for the plant's flowers to grow healthy and white.

Solutions:

• Move the plant to a location with bright, indirect light.
• Provide shade during the hottest part of the day.

4. Stress

Frequent repotting, poor soil quality, nutrient deficiencies, inadequate light, and poor watering can all distress your peace lily. This causes the plant's flowers and leaves to turn brown or black and look wilted or deformed.

Solutions:

• Repot it in early spring only and handle roots gently.
• Ensure the new pot has proper drainage.
• Adopt a proper watering routine.

5. Poor Soil Mix

Using compact potting soil with poor drainage makes it difficult for your peace lily's roots to breathe. This can cause root rot, leading to brown flowers.

Solutions:

• Use a soil mix of peat moss, pine bark, and perlite to ensure proper drainage and aeration.
• Repot the peace lily into a larger pot with adequate drainage holes.

6. Aging

In the peace lily's natural life cycle, the flower starts green, turns white, and then brown as it ages. So, a peace lily flower turning brown doesn't always signify a problem. In other words, when a healthy flower is browning, this most likely means that its natural life cycle is coming to an end.

Solutions:

• Remove brown or faded flowers promptly.
• Ensure adequate watering and proper light conditions.

Why Are My Lily Flowers Turning Green?

White peace lily flowers turning green after 2 to 3 weeks is often a natural part of the plant's life cycle. The green flower can photosynthesize and provide energy for seed development. However, the rate at which peace lily flowers turn green may increase, due to other reasons, we list below.

1. Improper Fertilizer Application

Applying too much fertilizer can lead to an imbalance in nutrients, leading to increased number of green flowers on the peace lily. Similarly, insufficient fertilizer may cause the plant to use all available nutrients. A lack of essential nutrients can lead to greening peace lily flowers.

Solution:

• Flush the soil thoroughly to remove excess fertilizer.
• Adjust your fertilization schedule.
• Use a balanced, a diluted fertilizer to correct deficiencies.

2. Inadequate Light

Insufficient light can slow the natural aging process, causing the flowers to linger in the green stage.

Solution:

Move the plant to a location with bright, indirect light to support proper flower development.

3. Environmental Stress

Sudden changes in temperature or humidity can stress the plant, impacting the normal flower developing and aging process.

Solution:

Maintain consistent environmental conditions, including the right temperature and humidity levels. This helps reduce stress on the plant and promotes its optimal growth.

Peace Lily: Care Tips

Caring for your peace lily ensures not only its striking beauty but also its overall health and longevity. Understanding the plant's essential needs allows you to create an environment where your peace lily thrives. Explore the following guidelines to provide the best care for your cherished plant.

Light

Place your peace lily in bright, indirect light. While peace lilies can tolerate low light conditions, placing them in a well-lit spot encourages healthy flowering. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves and flowers.

Water

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water your peace lily weekly in warmer months and every 2 to 3 weeks in the winter. Always let the top 1-3 inches of soil dry before watering again to avoid overwatering. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can strain the plant.

Soil

Use a well-draining potting mix to prevent waterlogging and root rot. A mixture containing peat moss, perlite, and pine bark provides the ideal balance for peace lily growth.

Fertilizer

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Over-fertilization can lead to brown spots on the flowers, and green flowers, so use a diluted, balanced fertilizer per the plant's needs.

Humidity and Temperature

Maintain medium humidity levels by misting occasionally the plant's leaves or by placing a humidifier nearby if the air is too dry. Peace lilies thrive in temperatures between 68°F and 85°F, and consistent conditions contribute to their overall well-being.

Pruning and Cleaning

Trim yellow or brown leaves and faded flowers regularly. Pruning encourages new growth and helps maintain the plant's appearance. Dust the leaves, as well, to keep them shiny and facilitate photosynthesis.

Why Are My Peace Lily Flowers Turning Brown or Green? FAQs

Q: Should I cut off brown peace lily flowers?

A: Yes, it's advisable to trim brown flowers. Pruning improves the plant's appearance and redirects energy towards producing new, healthy blooms. Use sharp and sterilized scissors or shears for precise, clean cuts.

Q: How do I get more flowers on my peace lily?

A: To encourage more blooms, provide optimal conditions. Place your plant in a room with indirect, bright light, adhere to a consistent watering schedule, and fertilize during the growing season. Regular deadheading of faded flowers also stimulates continuous flowering.

Q: Do green peace lily flowers turn white again?

A: No, green flowers on your peace lily won't revert to white. This is a natural part of the peace lily's life cycle. Instead, they will turn brown and eventually die off. Ensure proper care to prevent further discoloration and encourage healthy flowering.

Q: Why are my lily buds turning black?

A: Blackened peace lily flowers usually mean that they are spent and in decline, especially if the leaves are green and healthy. It's a normal process that occurs with every plant. However, lily buds turning black before opening may indicate issues like fungal or bacterial infection, as well as an overwatered plant. Remove affected buds promptly and treat the plant with a suitable fungicide. Ensure proper watering and drainage to prevent waterlogged soil.

Q: Should I cut off green peace lily flowers?

A: While not necessary, removing green flowers is a good idea. It improves the plant's aesthetic appeal and makes them redirect energy for new blooms. Check light levels and adjust to promote healthier flower development. Note, however, that the spathe on a peace lily is naturally green before turning into a bright white flower. So, make sure that you don't trim healthy blooms.

Conclusion

The peace lily is an attractive easy care houseplant known for its distinct white flowers that bloom prolifically in summer and spring. It's normal for the flowers to change color naturally after blooming for a few weeks. However, if you notice the peace lily flower turning brown, black, or green sooner, it could be due to various reasons. These include over or underwatering, incorrect lighting and feeding, poor soil mix, and low humidity levels. You can prevent the browning of the flowers and foliage and keep the plant healthy and happy by providing it with the right growing conditions.

And if you're wondering what other plant varieties to grow together with your peace lily, consider the popular ZZ plant and Golden pothos, or a selection of snake plants for a truly harmonious and lavish indoor garden.