What Type of Soil is used for Peace Lily?: Small DIY Soil Guide

Is your peace Lily plant dry and dying? It can be because it has not been planted in the right soil. But, do not worry as we have here for you what type of soil is used for Peace Lily in this article.

The Peace Lily is an attractive indoor plant with a unique appearance that is low maintenance. As long as the plant is grown indoors, this Dazzling beauty can be used as a decoration. Peace Lilies are best suited to novice gardeners. The right soil is necessary to grow them, despite how easy they are to maintain. Throughout this article, you will learn more about Peace Lily components, mix, and DIY soil.

What is a Peace Lily?

The peace lily is a tropical flowering plant from the Araceae family and is not a lily. Perennials like moist, well-drained soil with partial sun exposure. The peace lily is specially grown for indoor decoration as a potted plant. The indoor Peace lily is relatively easy to care for with the right and consistent temperature conditions. They typically grow up to 3 feet tall in the USDA plant hardiness zone –11 to 12. This plant is native to America and Asia. There are more than 40 types of peace lilies.

Testing the Soil for Peace Lily

If you want to grow Peace Lily, the first thing you should do is test your soil. Testing the soil at every stage of growth will make sure the soil is acidic enough for the plant. Starting from before planting a plant to the Flowering period, keeping a regular check on soil pH is a must.

To do the soil pH test:

Litmus Paper Test–

This traditional paper test is used to find if the soil is acidic or not. Mix the water and soil in a container and dip the paper. If the Litmus paper turns red, then the soil is acidic.

Digital Tester–

The Digital Tester is used in the soil to find the soil pH. This electronic device is made of metal which also shows the mineral levels that are present in the soil.

Lab Soil Test–

Send your soil sample to a nearby soil lab or extension office to know about the soil. They also give more information to grow the plant along with the soil pH and contents in soil.

What is the Soil pH for Peace lily?

The ideal soil pH for Peace Lily should range from 5.5 to 6.5. pH stands for the potential of hydrogen and uses a chemical scale to identify the nature of the substance. Any soil with a pH higher than 7 is alkaline and less than 7 is acidic. Opt for a pH test to find the soil pH level. Peace Lily plants like slightly acidic soil. If the soil is too alkaline, it may affect the plant. The plant won’t produce and grow well in alkaline soil. Add Compost in every season to the soil to maintain acidity in the soil.

What Type of Soil is used for Peace Lily?

Peace Lily needs soil that holds moisture as well as nutrients, such as Sandy Loam soil. One should avoid succulent soil for Peace Lily in any situation as it does not have the right water retention for Peace Lily. Also, avoid peat soil as it breaks the plant with too much draining of water. Potting soil which is used for other plants can be directly used for a Peace Lily. Special potting mix with nutrients can be used for Peace Lily. Using soil that gives the right drainage, is loamy, and aerated as well moisturized is the best soil for Peace Lily.

Components of the Best soil for Peace Lily

The Three main components which should be present in the soil to make it the best soil for Peace Lily are,

Proper Drainage:

Proper draining soil is essential for Peace Lily. When grown in a pot, it doesn’t need a special drainage hole for drainage. Water sitting in the pot is acceptable at some point. If grown on land, add Peat to nourish the soil and improve drainage.

Water Retention:

Water retention should be enough for the need for water. Some varieties of Peace Lily ask for moist soil while some need well-draining soil. Adding a combination of ingredients that have equal water retention and drainage will help in Peace Lily’s growth. If you have a large Peace Lily, then adding shredded leaves as mulch will give enough water to the plant.

Good Aeration:

Peace Lily likes damp soil but they should have good aeration too. As some types love dry and light soil to get the proper aeration, giving that will help them grow. Providing extra aeration for potted plant soil will boost the growth of the plant.

How to Prepare Potting Soil for Peace Lily?

To prepare the potting soil for the Peace Lily plant, add Three parts of Organic matter such as peat moss, perlite, potting soil, coconut coir, and barks to Two parts of Mineral matter. Depending on the clay in potting soil, add one or two parts of coarse sand to it. This sand will help to make better aeration.

The next part is adding perlite (volcanic rock) and peat moss or gravel or marbles to increase the drainage of the soil. Coconut coir and barks from wood are also added to improve drainage and aeration in the soil. Rather than adding potting soil directly for Peace lily add the minerals and mend the soil to improve drainage and aeration which make the potting soil doable for the plant.

How to make Soil Acidic for Peace Lily?

To make the soil acidic for Peace Lily plants, use some acidifiers in the soil. Soil acidifiers should be applied one time per year. These are some of the natural acidifiers for your Lily. Let us learn about some,

Acidic Fertilisers– Acid or acidic fertilizers will provide acidity directly to the soil. This is best used for half-grown plants which need a boost of acidity for healthy growth and fruit production. Acid fertilizers are sprayed around the soil and work very slowly in the plant.
Sulfur– Elemental sulfur is very effective in acidifying the soil naturally. This is one of the common treatments to acidify the soil for any type of plant. This slow-release and long-term solution will keep the soil pH down right for the plant. The Sulphur is easy and safe to use but needs more caution in adding the right proportion to the soil.
Compost– Compost is made of waste from plants, fruits, vegetables, and yards. Using the microorganisms this waste will be broken down to provide nutrients to the soil. Compost provides all essential minerals and NPK to the soil.
Mulch– The mulch is spread on the soil which contains both organic and inorganic materials. They contain leaves, lawn clipping, wood, and other such products. Mulch prevents weed growth in the soil and keeps moisture in the soil.

DIY Tips to make soil for Peace Lily at Home (Complete guide)

The satisfaction of making DIY soil will make you feel so connected with the plant. Making your own mix takes time and involvement but it gives the plant a tint of nature. This recipe is used for indoor plants as peace lilies are indoor plants.

Tips to Prepare

Collecting all the ingredients before making the soil.
Take time to mix the ingredients.
Learn other items like reading a pH tester, types of nutrients, and their uses.

Now you can start making the DIY with the below-given ingredients and follow up,

Tools

Gear up with gloves to avoid dirt from the soil.
Measuring cup or instrument to measure the ingredients.
Bucket or vessel to make space to mix the soil.
A small shovel/ Trowel to mix the soil.
Dust mark (must).

Ingredients

Organic matters –

Potting soil– The potting mix with the soil makes the potting soil. Potting mix has peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and many others.
Perlite– Perlite is formed from volcanic emission. They make the best aeration for the succulent soil.
Pumice– Formed from volcanoes when they erupted explosively. The liquid explosion is formed to pumice rock making the aeration for the soil.
Coconut Coir– The coconut fiber is an all-rounder made from coconut husk used for many purposes. They are used in soil to improve the soil texture, drainage, and aeration.
Peat Moss is made of decomposed organic matter from peat bogs. For sandy soil, it helps to retain moisture for the plant.

Mineral matters –

Coarse sand– The sand is added to give a loose texture to the soil. The coarse sand is added to reduce the clay content in the soil.
Volcanic rocks– These are rocks from volcanic lava. The rock contains many minerals which help in plant growth.
Gravel– Gravel is rock fragments that are formed from the breakdown of rock. They are used in decorative and to provide aeration to the soil.

Recipe

My recipes for the best Peace lily soil are :

Mix 1

3 Parts Organic matters of your choice: (Perlite, Peat Moss, Coco Coir, and Potting soil)
2 Parts Mineral matters of your choice: (Sand, Stone)

Follow-up

After collecting all the required ingredients and tools add the measured organic matter or potting soil to the bucket with the help of a trowel. Add two parts minerals such as sand first and 1 part peat moss, coco coir, and potting soil and mix it well so both are mixed. Add the required part of mineral and organic matter of your choice to the soil and mix it well to make the best soil for your Peace Lily plant. Add an equal amount of sand to any soil if they have more clay content in the soil.

Where to Buy Soil for Peace Lily?

Soil for Peace Lily can be bought in a commercial store or online. In stores, you can get opinions from expert people in the field to explain and give soil according to the plant. But the chances are there will be added chemical fertilizers in the soil. Online, you can make your choice based on the review, rating, and the right mix mentioned on the label. With whatever way of buying the soil, adding some soil conditioner will help for the betterment of the plant as well the soil.

Best Commercial to buy soil for Peace Lily

Miracle-gro

The miracle-gro indoor potting mix is best for any type of indoor plant. This light and drain fast mix contains coconut coir, fertilisers, and other products. The product is certified by the mulch and soil council for the standard. Adding perlite and decoratives to the pot with this mix is required to grow the plants. Miracle-gro gives value-for-money products at a reasonable rate with premium quality. They also provide various other types of potting mixes, all-purpose soil, and fertilisers at affordable prices for the garden.

Fox Farm

The Fox Farm organic potting soil is a natural ready-to-use potting mix with worm casting. This product from Fox farm is mentioned as ideal for seedlings. The pH level in this soil is adjusted to make the most of the soil for the containers or potted plants. The soil is lightweight and well-aerated which makes it also suitable for all naturally mix grown plants. The nutrients in this soil make it perfect for both indoor and outdoor gardening. The soil is mixed to adjust the pH levels of the potted plants which help in the growth of the Peace Lily plant healthier.

Name of the product

Quantity

(Quarts)

Price($)

(approx)

Miracle-gro Indoor potting mix

Fox Farm organic potting soil

Can I use Cactus soil for Peace Lily?

Yes, You can use cactus soil to grow Peace Lily plants. Keeping a check on the sand in the soil will only make the difference. Cactus plants need sandy soil like Peace Lily plants. Often the term cactus and succulent are used indifferently. You may find labels in soil bags stating cactus and succulent soil. As the characteristics of both cacti and succulents are common, their need can be different from one another. Since this plant needs a similar soil, cactus soil can be used but for better results use cactus oil with some nutrients in it.

Can Peace Lily grow in an Orchid mix?

Yes, Peace Lily can be grown in the Orchid mix. Orchid soil tends to have the right acidity which is suitable for the plant. Orchid mix has well drainage and is porous which makes it the best substitute for a Peace lily. Orchid mix or soil both are best for the peace lily.

Can I use an Indoor Potting mix for Peace Lily?

Yes, you can use the Indoor Potting mix for Peace Lily. A ready-to-use potting mix or soil is helpful to grow a Peace lily. Potting soil contains the proper drainage and moisture retention for every potting plant with enough nutrients. Indoor Potting soil which is specially made for Indoor potted plants is ideal for your Peace lily.

Selecting the Right Place and Pot for Peace Lily

The right place to grow a Peace lily is Low to the bright but indirect sun. Peace lilies prefer a shady place and are temperature tolerant as long as they have moist soil.

Picking the right pot is essential for every houseplant. The right pot for a Peace Lily plant is categorised with the size and material of the pot.

The pot for the plant can be plastic, ceramic or wood. But the best one for Peace lily is Terracotta because of the water storing nature. This will help to keep the plant moist even at high temperatures.

The Size of the pot for Peace Lily can not be fixed. There is no perfect size pot for plants. Giving the plant a pot that is two sizes bigger than the plant will be good. But most of the Peace lilies grow in smaller plants as they don’t grow much.

Potting and Repotting Peace Lily

Repotting should be done when the store-bought plant is in a small pot disregarding its size.

Repotting a Peace Lily every two years once during summer will enrich the plant with nutrients in the new soil. Repotting can be done at certain times,

When the plant has outgrown the pot or container in which it grows.
When its plant is externally damaged due to any cause like animal accidents and many such.
Fungal or bacterial infection can damage the soil during such times there is a need to repot the Peace Lily.
Root rot is not a major problem and the plant can recover on its own. But at times, when it gets severe repotting should be done to save the plant and root.

Repotting should not be done in yellow leaves, dropping leaves, dryness, sunburn, and insect-invaded soil. To repot Peace Lily, selecting a container or pot regarding the size of the plant is the first step. The two factors which determine the pot size are: Water requirement and growth space.

Loosen the plant from the pot with a shovel and dug it out.
Remove the soil rock and remove any debris from the root to add it to the new soil.
Place the plant in a new pot with a ⅔ new soil and fill in the sides to make the plant straight.
Add water and potting mix to make up for the lost nutrients.

Pest problems in Growing Peace Lily

Some of the pests that are found in Peace Lily are Mealybugs, Spider mites, and aphids. The Peace Lily pest-affected leaves will show changes and signs. If they are leaf unnoticed, they may lose strength and die. The immediate remedy is to spray high pressured water in the plant as they wash off and then eliminate the infected leaf. Use an insecticide to remove the pests or natural neem oil.

Signs that the Peace Lily is in the Wrong Soil

Every plant will show certain signs when the soil mix is wrong. Some of the symptoms which Peace lily will show are,

Yellow leaf– The cause of yellow leaf is too much drainage in the soil. It also indicates the bacterial problem in soil.
Brown Spot in leaves– This could be a sign of overwatering that too much water is not available in the soil.
Dry leaves– This sign is for the dehydration of plants. Providing enough water will solve this issue.
Dropping leaf– This could be the reason the root is getting too much or little water. Keeping a check on soil texture will help prevent the problem.
Curling Leaves– This indicates that the plant is receiving too much sunlight. They need to be moved to a shadier place.

Wrapping up

Peace Lily needs a soil mix that gives proper drainage and moisture retention for the plant. Giving the Peace Lily what it needs will reward you with peaceful blooms and greenery leaves. After reading this article, you will know how to make your own soil for your Peace lily. Keep a constant check on the soil and plant to enjoy the plant for the years to come.

FAQs

Do Peace Lilies need soil?

Yes, they need moist soil to grow.

Which Soil is Best for Peace Lily?

A soil that is a mix of moisture retention and drainage.

How long does Peace Lily live?

The average lifespan for Peace Lily is three to four years but Indoor plants can survive for a decade.

How often does a Peace Lily bloom?

Peace lilies will bloom twice a year.