Sad peace lily - Ask Extension
I have a slip from a 120 year old peace lily from my grandmother. Last fall I left it out too long on a covered porch and it suffered frost damage. I ...
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Sad peace lily #922297
Asked November 22, 2025, 10:10 AM EST
I have a slip from a 120 year old peace lily from my grandmother. Last fall I left it out too long on a covered porch and it suffered frost damage. I replanted the still vital parts and have been using distilled water. A few months ago I got your advice that I might be overwatering because I was getting brown leaf tips. I have reduced watering and am now getting leaves that brown ½ way down. I'm wondering if I need to put more soil over the base of the sections or it there might be a different reason for the leaf death. The plant was previously very vital and bloomed often.
Sherburne County Minnesota
Expert Response
As previously noted, peace lily brown leaf edges are most often caused by too much or too little water.
Be sure the soil is actually dry before watering. Then water enough to fully moisten the potting soil, but be sure the soil drains well and the pot doesn't sit in a water-filled saucer or cachepot.
Other things that can cause leaf tip browning include too much fertilizer (fertilizer burn), low humidity, and too much direct sun.
According to plant experts at the University of Illinois, peace lilies are sensitive to fluoridated water. Use rain water or distilled water to rule out that possibility.
Learn more here:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/spathiphyllum/
Be sure the soil is actually dry before watering. Then water enough to fully moisten the potting soil, but be sure the soil drains well and the pot doesn't sit in a water-filled saucer or cachepot.
Other things that can cause leaf tip browning include too much fertilizer (fertilizer burn), low humidity, and too much direct sun.
According to plant experts at the University of Illinois, peace lilies are sensitive to fluoridated water. Use rain water or distilled water to rule out that possibility.
Learn more here:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/spathiphyllum/
