How to Care for Closet Plants

Overview

The Peace Lily is a popular houseplant. It features long, shiny green leaves and beautiful, delicate white flowers. Often nicknamed the "closet plant" for its ability to grow in low light conditions, it is considered by many to be one of the easiest houseplants to cultivate. In fact, many homeowners overestimate how much light the peace lily needs and place it too close to direct sunlight. As a result, the closet plant's leaves will turn yellow. Care for your closet plant properly and it will grace your home for a long time.

Step 1

Place the closet plant at least five feet away from a window, and as much as eight feet away. Never place it in direct sunlight.

Step 2

Water the lily carefully. The closet plant is unusual in that it needs a lot of water but does not like heavily wet and moist soil. Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry a bit between waterings. One watering per week is the average for most closet plants. Watch for the leaves to start drooping a bit as a sign that the plant needs watering.

Step 3

Care for the air near your plant. Mist the closet plant with a spray bottle once or twice a week in the morning. This lily likes humid conditions. Misting in the morning ensures that any water sitting on the leaves will have time to evaporate as the sun rises. Otherwise, fungus may develop on the peace lily.

Step 4

Fertilize the plant with a 20-20-20 houseplant fertilizer once a month during the summer, but dilute it to only one-fourth the recommended dose, as closet plants have delicate roots which can be burned by the fertilizer.

Step 5

Wipe the leaves of the closet plant with a damp rag occasionally to keep the dust off of them.