How to Treat Root Rot in Peace Lily Plant – Peace Lily Root Rot

Peace lily root rot occurs due to overwatering. Excess watering is the number one problems faced by houseplants. When you irrigate peace lilies with excess water, oxygen flow is stopped and plant roots find it difficultly to breathe.

Green foliage of peace lily plants turn yellow and start to wilt with stunted growth. You can also see moldy and foul smelling potting soil.

You can revive peace lily root rot by repotting into well-drained soil mix.

Peace Lily, also known as Spathiphyllum, is a common house plant and a member of the Araceae family. Peace plant usually grows well in tropical rainforests of Colombia, and its origin is also the same.

This plant was introduced in the year 1870 in the central part of Europe. This plant is generally the symbol of peace and hope, and because of this reason, many people prefer to grow this plant in their houses.

Know Your Peace Lily Plant

peace lily root rot

Peace lily has soft and long pointed leaves, which looks beautiful. It also has some white coloured flowers, which looks pleasant in-between the dark coloured plant.

In general, it has an appealing look and is easy to care for. However, flowers are tiny compared to the leaves because this variant has long pointed leaves, and the stem in the flower may grow long.

One interesting fact about the peace lily plant is that it shows the sign of dropping its heads downwards if there is a need for water.

So provide them with adequate water at that time to make them fresh. After water, it will take around one hour to make them achieve energy and glow again. The name spathiphyllum is derived from a Greek word in which spath means spoon and Phyl means leaf, which gives us the meaning of spoon-shaped leaf.

Generally, Spathiphyllum has 40 varieties in it, but some of the common varieties are listed below.

  • Spathiphyllum wallisii
  • Spathiphyllum Kochi
  • Spathiphyllum Silvicola and
  • Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum

Generally, these plants can thrive well even in low lighting conditions, so placing them in lesser sunlight can help them achieve good growth. Place the plant eight feet away from the west to the south-facing window to achieve the best flowering.

When we speak about the watering conditions, it requires a moderate amount of water in a proper way. Water them once a week, and as informed earlier, you can notice the signs of dropping their heads, and if you see this sign, water them sufficiently.

If you prefer to water pieced Lilly with excessive moisture, then it will lead to root rot. Leaving them in the same condition for a period of time will make the plant die. So to save the plant, make the remaining portion achieve some strength by pouring water and adding some nutrients.

Also Read: Best Fertilizer for Peace Lily

What are the Signs of Peace Lily Root Rot?

When you speak about overwatering, it will make your plant soggy, and in this condition, the soil does not allow the plant to receive the necessary oxygen levels.

In addition, soggy or wet conditions in potted plants will lead to fungal infections, which is more dangerous than anything else. You can find this by just monitoring the plant, and if the plant has a different texture, you can regain its old texture without any problem.

At first, the leaves will start growing in with a yellow colour and then it will change into texture according to the input, which is the main symptom of root rot.

Rots always start from roots and reach the plants in a very short time so if you find the root rot, then start cutting down that part to avoid the spread of root rot.

One important point which has to be noted is that root rots may make your plant die in a very short time, and we can tell the exact time period only after visualizing the plant. However, on average, people can expect the plant to die in 10 days. So act quickly and smartly to save your plant.

A healthy plant can have white and firm roots that can grow well, but in case of a fungal infarction or root rot, the stem will become soft and brown, which is highly dangerous, and it’s the sign you get to act quickly to save the plant.

You may also have a sulfur smell or a swamp-like smell in the plant, indicating the fungal infections.

Also Read: Can You Put a Peace Lily Outside?

How to Treat Peace Lily Root Rot?

Are you still confused about maintaining peace lily plant?

  • Then, just follow the below-mentioned steps to treat them and maintain them in perfect condition.
  • To treat this plant, just trim the rotted part and make the healthier plant grow in good condition. If a small portion is infected separately, then people can prefer doing this treatment.
  • If you find a bulky portion, try removing the pot’s complete setup and analyze the plant. For example, if you find half of the portion of the plant is rotten, then wash the plant completely and make them free from fungal infections by sterilizing them completely.

How to Sterilize?

People generally prefer to apply some powder or something available for them. Yes, it also makes the plant sterilized, but to protect your plants from future rots, maintain them in good condition.

Most experts suggest gardeners spray hydrogen peroxide mix water to the plant to make them achieve more strength.

Also Read: How Long Can Peace Lilies Go Without Water?

To apply this mixture, you must first remove the plant completely from the pot and wash them in fresh cold water. This will make them achieve fresh air as they get very little air due to excessive moisture. After this, try to remove unnecessary parts, i.e., the part which is infected.

You can find this by just looking at the texture, as affected parts may look pale yellow or change into any colour, depending on the variant. Hence, if you find a pale colour other than green, try to trim and wash them, then sterilize them with hydrogen peroxide.

Place the sterilized plant only in a new pot, or the plant may get infected again. Choose the preferred soil and sterilize them with the same hydrogen peroxide spray.

So if the plant is infected, you should use only the new gadgets to give them freshness and make them achieve growth in a very short time.

Prevention of Peace Lily Root Rot

Now we have seen the treatment methods of recovering a Peace lily plant from sickness, but how does this occur?

Yes, it happens because of excessive watering, but that is not the only reason. It has a variety of mixed reasons, so the main part is overwatering, so by avoiding this, anyone can grow their plant in a healthy condition.

Also Read: How Often to Water Calla Lily?

How to Avoid Overwatering Peace Lily?

Too much moisture in the soil will never allow a plant to achieve the required growth because it covers the roots and overloads them with excessive moisture. This, in turn, results in less intake of oxygen.

Just imagine a situation of drinking excessive water and overloading your stomach without any reason. What happens?

In this situation, even humans cannot breathe well then think about this tiny plant that is placed into a small pot. People can just follow the below-mentioned steps and avoid overwatering.

Have a thumb rule when you prefer to water the plant. Just touch the surface of the plant and feel its moisture. If the plant is really, dry then feed your peace lily with some water that is essential for them to thrive for a week.

Water them once a week, which is more than enough, but never water them blindly because it will be more dangerous. Just keep this in mind and use the thumb rule before you water the plant. If you find the soil visibly moisture, then postpone the date and water it 9 or 10 days once, depending on the plant’s moisture content.

This plant is a little sensitive but can handle some dryness but not for a prolonged period. Watch the plants and act accordingly. If the plants turn brown in colour, then it’s a sign that your plant needs water.

Also Read: Why is My Peace Lily Turning Yellow?

Poor Drainage in Your Pot Can Also Make Root Rot:

One of the important factors that make your plant rot is the pot you use for growing the plant. If you place the plant in a small pot and if the pot does not have enough holes to drain out the water, it will be a reason for the increase in moisture content in the soil.

So choose a perfect pot that has drainage holes and a sufficient place to make your plant breathe. If the holes are very narrow, it will also make the soil absorb excess water and settle in the bottom of the pot.

If you place the pot in the ground, then the drainage holes will be locked. If it is locked, then the moisture content will stay.

Important Tips

  • You can prefer hanging your plant in tall places, which eventually drains excessive water if the pot has proper drainage holes.
  • If the position does not suit your setup, place your pot on tables with a hole in them, or just place the pot in bricks b arranging the bricks in order.
  • You can use ten to fifteen bricks to arrange them in all the direction and make the bricks look like a triangle so that anyone can place a pot in it to have drainage area.
  • If the soil is dense, then it will also be a reason for Root rot. Always use soil moderately; never make your root completely hide in the soil; just leave some extra space and pour some water to make them attain proper moisture.
  • If you prefer to overload the root with excessive soil, it will create excessive moisture and be another reason for root rot.

Pathogenic Infections Can Also Make Your Plant Root Rot:

Pathogens such as pythium, fusarium and some other fungal infections can grow well in wet soil, so keeping your soil in moisture all the time will be a chance for these fungal infections to spread well into the soil and affect the roots.

How to Prevent Pathogenic infections?

Pathogenic infections spread well in wet environments; we should first allow the soil to dry to its core. As Peace lily has some withstanding ability, it is easy for them to overcome dryness. Allow them to dry completely and water after inspecting the soil.

Never use garden sands for pots because they will be rich in moisture and allow pathogenic infections to reach your plant easily. So use organic pot grade sand for better results.

Disinfect your tools regularly: You may cut several plants or use them to trim in various situations. If you use the same tool after cutting the infected plant, then the healthy plant may also get the same disease which is more dangerous.

Never reuse infected soil, which is already a victim of pathogenic infection.

Is Peace Lily Root Rot Permanent?

Roots that are damaged due to rotting can’t be reversed. However, if you acted in initial stages, you can save greater part of roots from rotting.

Remove the affected part of the root and repot it in well-drained potting soil.
Leaving it will eventually kill the plant.

Conclusion

To revive peace lily root rot, you must take proactive steps to ensure peace lily plant has good drainage; excess water must easily drains out.

Avoiding overwatering is very important if you’re looking to prevent root rotting.
Choose the best potting soil that retains moisture and let go excess water through drainage hole.

Providing adequate sunlight helps extra moisture to escape into atmosphere.
If you notice signs of root rot, inspect plant root and re-check watering cycle.