Peace Lily Troubles: Yellow Leaves, Brown Tips, and Recovery

Peace Lily Troubles: Yellow Leaves, Brown Tips, and Recovery

Inherited a struggling peace lily (Spathiphyllum) with pale yellow leaves, brown tips, and curled foliage? Here's how to diagnose and fix the issues.

Reading the Symptoms

• Black/brown leaves: Usually overwatering.
• Yellow leaves: Often too much direct sun.
• Flower present: Good sign—plant has energy to bloom.

Ideal Conditions

• Light: East or north window only. No south/west sun. Bright enough to cast a faint shadow.
• Water: Use bamboo skewer test—water when top 2 inches dry. Empty saucer after 1 hour.
• Water quality: Peace lilies hate chlorine/fluoride. Use distilled or let tap water sit 24 hours.

Recovery Steps

1. Move to proper light immediately.
2. Adopt skewer-based watering.
3. Remove fully brown leaves only.
4. Expect improvement in 2–3 weeks.

Expert advice from Darlene, houseplant specialist.