A Peace Lily Thrives In These Areas Of Your Home

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a household favorite because it looks great and generally handles indoor life well. These plants are native to the tropical areas of Central and South America, where they stay warm and shaded under large trees. Because they're only hardy outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 11 and 12, they have to be inside friends in many areas. When you choose a place like a laundry room or a bathroom with plenty of moisture in the air, you're giving this plant the humidity it misses from its natural home. Putting a peace lily in a spot where it can soak up the steam from your morning shower often works wonders for its health. Rooms that stay warm but have shaded corners also work well, like in a home office or kitchen if you keep the plant near a source of natural light. 

Peace lilies are famous for their white flowers that stand out against their dark green leaves, but these blooms won't show up if the plant is unhappy. Peace lilies don't like direct sun and can handle shady spots, but they don't want to live in darkness all the time — that will result in a plant that never blooms. You want to find a spot that mimics a bright but shaded jungle to get the best results. Picking the right room is the most important step in helping your peace lily plants flourish and making sure your plant doesn't just sit there and wilt. 

Understanding where to put this plant helps you avoid common mistakes that are sure to kill your peace lily. Keeping it in a stable, warm environment with soft light will help keep it healthy and looking good. Windows that face east are one of the best spots for a peace lily, because they let in the morning sun. This gives the peace lily enough light to grow without the harsh afternoon heat harming its leaves. If you see leaves turning brown, it's likely getting too much sun. A kitchen counter or shelf near the sink is another excellent choice, since the steam from cooking or washing dishes can create some humidity for the plant.

You can also try putting the plant in a laundry room that has a window. These spaces usually stay a bit warmer and hold onto moisture better than a drafty hallway. Just make sure the plant isn't sitting right next to an exterior door. Cold bursts of air from people coming and going can shock the plant and cause the leaves to turn brown. 

Bathrooms are often the best spot for a peace lily because the air stays naturally moist from the shower. In a bathroom, the plant gets to enjoy the extra humidity without you having to do any extra work. If your bathroom is too small or dark, a bright office or a den can also be a good home. You can keep your plant happy in these spaces by making sure it stays away from air vents. Forced air from a heater or AC unit is a quick way to harm a tropical plant because it dries out the soil too fast, and the water in the soil can evaporate much faster than it would in a kitchen or bathroom. Most houses get very dry in the winter when the heat is running, and that dry air can quickly turn the tips of the leaves brown — one of the telltale signs your peace lilies are in trouble. 

If you want to keep a peace lily on your desk, placing the pot on a tray of water and small rocks can help. The humidity from the tray adds some much-needed moisture to the air around the plant and can help prevent wilting, but you should still check the soil every few days. Keeping the plant in a room that stays consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit is what really helps it continue growing throughout the year. Placing it near other leafy plants can also help, since they naturally release moisture into the air around them.