Gardeners and plant lovers everywhere adore peace lilies because of their incredible attributes and hardiness. While the peace lily performs excellent indoors, it has particular needs, and exposure to too much sunlight can prove detrimental to the health of your gorgeous plant.
Here are five signs your peace lily is getting too much sun:
- Your peace lily’s foliage is turning yellow.
- There are brown streaks in the foliage as well as wilting.
- Your plant is drooping and appears weak.
- Your plant appears very dry, especially on the tips.
- The roots of your plant are weak, and it is not growing.
In this article, I will expand more on the 5 signs listed above and what you can do to mend the issues and have a happy peace lily. Ready? Let’s get started.
1. Your Peace Lily’s Foliage Is Turning Yellow
Plant owners and gardeners everywhere have a mutual goal: to watch their plants thrive throughout every season. However, most plants vary in what they need, which can create challenges for even the most dedicated of plant parents.
The peace lily is a very low-maintenance plant that requires little attention. The plant can thrive if you satisfy its nutrients and light needs. If not, symptoms like yellowing leaves can arise.
And although hardy in terms of nutrients, the peace lily is reasonably sensitive when it comes to sunlight. Exposure to too much sunlight might leave your plant dehydrated and struggling to absorb and transport nutrients.
As we know, one element that interacts with the peace lily often is sunlight. Too much sunlight or insufficient sunlight can lead to negative symptoms in your plant, like yellowing of leaves. Although this is not the only reason why yellow leaves may occur, it is common.
Therefore, you should monitor your peace lily regularly to ensure it receives the right amount of light. If not, issues can quickly arise, only for you to notice them when too advanced.
The good thing is you can fix the issue of yellowing leaves, provided you spot it early enough. However, chances are the issue will worsen if your peace lily’s leaves continue to yellow and no action is undertaken.
If you own a peace lily, you might be curious why your plant is yellowing. Finding the problem, at the end of the day, will help you come up with a solution.
Below are some of the reasons your peace lily’s foliage might be turning yellow.
There Is Not Enough Indirect Sunlight or Too Much of It
The peace lily is a light-sensitive plant that thrives indoors in a shaded area. It likes to receive indirect light to grow, but sometimes there is too much of it or too little. You can evaluate your plant’s surroundings to discover if it’s receiving too much or too little sunlight.
The Water Amount and Quality May Be Off
With all plants, water is essential. Therefore, if you give your peace lily too much or too little water, issues like yellow leaves may arise. While this is not a common reason, it is something to consider, especially if your plant is receiving the correct amount of sunlight. You can check the water’s acidity as well to evaluate the quality.
The Temperature Has Fallen to a Rate That Is Unhealthy
Peace lilies thrive in warm temperatures. And if your home is below 65 degrees or above 85, your plant may begin to turn yellow. Sometimes, yellowing can occur if temperatures fluctuate quickly as well. Opening up the shades to let in more natural light can help your peace lily recover from this situation.
2. There Are Brown Streaks in the Foliage As Well as Wilting
It’s never a good sign when gardeners and plant caretakers spot brown discoloration in their plants, but it happens more than one would expect. Luckily, catching the issue early enough can help you develop a timely solution.
The peace lily’s leaves usually start to yellow when something is mildly wrong. The good news is the issue of yellowing leaves is common and easy to fix if spotted early enough.
However, when a brown discoloration appears, it is usually a red flag for a potentially serious issue.
Brown streaks and discoloration mean that your peace lily is sunburnt. While brown spots might appear after your peace lily has received too much indirect sunlight, they mostly manifest after prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
3. Your Plant Is Drooping and Appears Weak
Having a strong plant is what every gardener seeks. And some plants can remain healthy and live for long without needing much in terms of nutrients and sunlight.
The peace lily is a plant that can withstand many circumstances and thrives when indoors. But, if the plant does not receive the nutrients it requires, then its root system is likely to be affected.
To fix a drooping peace lily that appears weak, you must first get to the bottom of the issue.
And for this indoor plant, one of the most critical aspects is sunlight since it will start to weaken if not exposed to the right amount of indirect light.
Here are some reasons why your peace lily is drooping and appearing weakly.
- Your peace lily is not getting enough hydration, or it is receiving too much water. The wrong dosage of hydration can negatively affect the health of your beloved plant. Sunlight and water work together, and without the right amount of water, your plant will struggle to absorb and transport nutrients.
- Your plant is potted, and the water is not draining correctly. Potted plants can be hard to care for in case of poor drainage. This is why some gardeners choose to use potting mixes rather than traditional soil. Fungus and disease can result from poor potting practices, too.
- Your plant is in an exposed location. Sunlight alone can cause your plant to droop. Light is one of the most critical factors for this indoor plant, and exposure to direct sunlight will almost certainly result in drooping.
4. Your Plant Appears Very Dry, Especially on the Tips
The peace lily is a well-known plant that many love because it is easy to care for and its ability to bring a dull space into life. However, sometimes exposure to too much sun can lead to symptoms like dryness.
It may appear odd to think that your plant will dry out, but it happens often. This symptom usually begins with the tips before they turn yellow then brown and start to wither.
Sometimes, the tips will also begin to curl. This is a direct sign that they have been exposed to too much sunlight. If not caught in time, your plant may start to weaken, and drooping can present itself.
While you can trim the burnt parts of the plant, the leaves may begin to dry out again if you don’t adjust the immediate environment.
Exposure to too much sun is the main reason why a peace lily dries out. However, the plant also thrives in high humid areas and warm temperatures considering it comes from a tropical region.
Here are a few solutions if you notice your peace lily’s leaves are drying out:
- Trim the leaves, water your plant, and change its location.
- Make sure your plant is in the shade but still receives indirect sunlight.
- Evaluate the weather over a couple of days to see how much light exposure your plant receives.
- Check the roots of your peace lily to make sure they are strong and healthy.
5. Weak Roots and Stunted Growth
It’s very typical for gardeners to focus on the outward symptoms of a plant, especially at first. However, paying attention to root health is also important, especially since root issues can negatively impact the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Indoor plants like the peace lily are very different from outdoor plants, and the sun is not always their friend. With the wrong amount of exposure to the sun, your peace lily might develop growth issues due to weakened roots.
When the roots of your peace lily are weak, dry leaves and discoloration can be harder to mend, and your plant will stop growing or flowering. Your plant may also begin to attract pests and diseases.
You can improve your plant’s root health by providing the following:
- Humidity. Peace lilies love humid environments and will thrive when set up in humid areas. Consider investing in a quality humidifier that facilitates controlling indoor environmental conditions.
- Water. You can water your peace lily more to ensure it’s adequately hydrated at all times. Frequent watering can also help rejuvenate the root system, effectively eliminating the risk of weak or dying roots.
- Reduce the exposure to sunlight. Sometimes, plants receive large amounts of indirect sunlight. Although this does not seem like a significant issue, it can be for plants like the peace lily.
Final Thoughts
The peace lily is an incredible plant that many adore because it’s easy to maintain and brings even the dullest spaces to life.
Although hardy, you should strive to ensure your peace lily receives just the right nutrients and exposure to indirect sunlight.
Remember to keep an eye out for any of the signs I’ve highlighted to give your lovely indoor plant the best chances of thriving.
