So, your peace lily’s lovely white blooms have gone a bit green, and you’re wondering what’s up? I’ve been there: my peace lily, sat on my kitchen shelf, did the same, and I was proper puzzled. Turns out, it’s usually no big deal, just the plant doing its thing or reacting to its surroundings.
What’s Causing the Green Blooms?
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are known for their lush leaves and stunning white “flowers”: those white bits are actually special leaf bracts called spathes, wrapping around a spike of tiny flowers called a spadix. When they go green, here’s what might be happening:
1. It’s Just Getting On a Bit
As peace lily blooms age, they naturally shift from white to green: it’s like the plant’s version of going grey. The green comes from chlorophyll kicking in as the spathe starts acting more like a leaf again, soaking up light for photosynthesis. If your plant’s otherwise happy, glossy leaves, no wilting, it’s likely just this natural ageing process.
2. Too Much Sun
Peace lilies are proper shade-lovers, happy in low to medium indirect light, like under a forest canopy in the wild. If yours is basking in too much bright light, especially direct sunlight, it might crank up the chlorophyll, turning the spathes green. I stuck mine near a south-facing window once, thinking it’d thrive, and boom: green blooms in days.
3. Baby Blooms
New spathes sometimes pop out with a greenish tinge before they turn fully white. If the green is on a fresh bloom, give it a week or two: it might just need time to mature into that classic white look.
4. Nutrient Wobbles
Peace lilies aren’t greedy for fertiliser, but if they’re short on nutrients like potassium or phosphorus, which help with flowering, the spathes might stay green. Too much nitrogen, on the other hand, can make the plant focus on leaves over blooms, leading to greener spathes. I learned this when I got a bit overzealous with plant food!
5. It’s Feeling Stressed
Changes in temperature, humidity, or watering can stress your peace lily, affecting its blooms. Dry air, think winter radiators, or overwatering can make the plant prioritise survival over pretty white spathes, resulting in a green tint. My peace lily went through a phase during a chilly, dry spell, and its blooms leaned green until I sorted the humidity.
Should You Worry About Green Blooms?
Most of the time, green blooms are no big deal. If your peace lily’s leaves are perky, it’s putting out new growth, and there are no signs of trouble like yellowing or browning, you’re probably fine: it’s just rocking a different vibe. But if the green blooms come with droopy leaves, soggy soil, or brown tips, check for issues like overwatering or pests.
How to Keep Those Blooms White
If you’re set on getting those crisp white spathes back, here’s what’s worked for me:
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Sort the Light: Shift your peace lily to a spot with bright, indirect light: a north or east-facing windowsill is perfect. If it’s getting scorched by direct sun, move it back or use a sheer curtain to soften the rays.
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Water Wisely: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. I check mine by poking a finger into the top inch of soil: if it’s dry, I water. Make sure the pot has drainage holes, and I use filtered water since mine seems fussy about tap water’s chlorine.
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Feed Lightly: I give mine a balanced liquid fertiliser, like 20-20-20, diluted to half strength every couple of months in spring and summer. Skip feeding in autumn and winter when it’s having a rest.
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Up the Humidity: Peace lilies love a bit of moisture in the air. I mist mine every few days or keep a tray of water with pebbles nearby: grouping it with other plants helps, too.
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Snip Old Blooms: If the green spathes look past their prime, I cut them off at the base with clean scissors: it seems to nudge the plant to focus on new, potentially whiter blooms.