How And When To Divide An Indoor Peace Lily For Healthy Growth & More Plants

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum sp.) are beautiful and popular indoor plants. But they are not without their issues. For instance, a common problem with peace lilies is rootbound growth, which can significantly affect plant health and appearance. And since plants in homes are almost always grown in pots or containers, this problem is very likely to occur over time when growing an indoor peace lily plant. That is where division can help. Dividing your indoor peace lilies can also create new plants, relieve overcrowding, or rejuvenate an old and mature plant. The trick, though, is to do it at the right time. And for peace lilies, this is in spring. However, just because it's spring, it doesn't mean you need to divide your peace lily. The decision to split should be based on clear warning signs, not just the calendar.

For instance, if you see fewer flowers on your plants, yellowing leaves, thinning or stunted growth, the center or older parts of the plant dying, or roots growing through the drainage holes, it is time to divide. If, however, your peace lily is growing well and looks healthy, there is no need to divide. Also, don't worry if you miss the spring window. Fall is also a good time to divide your indoor peace lily plant. Just avoid division when the plants are flowering. Repotting during this time can often lead to transplant shock, as plants are devoting much of their energy to producing flowers and won't be able to allocate as many resources to establishing new roots and healthy growth.

Start by gathering clean and appropriate tools. You will need sharp pruners, clean pots, sterilized potting soil, and a disinfected sharp knife, too, in case you have to deal with any stubborn root balls. Then, once everything is ready, fill the new pots with fresh, well-draining potting soil. You need to do this at least a day before division, and make sure that you water both the newly filled pots and the old container with the peace lily plants that need to be divided. This will help keep the old root ball intact during removal and also provide a moist, stable environment for new roots.

Then, begin grooming the plant by removing any dead or yellowing leaves. This will ensure that each division starts with healthy foliage and fewer hiding spots for pests and diseases. Then take the plant out of its pot and tap or knock on the container if it sticks. Once it is out, brush off any excess soil to expose the root ball. Next, locate the nature offsets in the clump. Then, slice between those offsets with the knife and make sure that every piece has a bunch of roots and leaves.

Inspect the roots during this process and remove any brown, mushy, or foul-smelling roots. Then, place the new divisions in the new pots and make sure they sit about an inch below the rim. Then thoroughly water, but avoid using tap water. It is a common watering mistake people make with peace lilies. Finally, place the new plants in bright, indirect light and wait to fertilize until new growth resumes.