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tayla_edgar

Peace lilies with cold damage + frequent drooping

8 years ago
Hey guys! I recently purchased a couple of peace lilies and I'm having some issues that I'm not sure how to address. To start with they were frost damaged on the way home from the store (along with the spider plant and pothos I purchased at the same time). I didn't think it would be that big of a deal, but I guess that's what happens in Minnesota!
So they're sitting up in a warm spot away from the window, settling and recovering from the cold for a while before I prune off the dead leaves, and they start drooping. I water them and they perk right up again, so I figure it was just that and we're all good now, but then within a day or two they're drooping again. I didn't expect them to need more water for a week or so and the internet seems to concur, so I'm beginning to worry something else is wrong, or that it has something to do with the cold damage. Then I found something online saying that if your peace lily is needing daily watering it may need to be repotted and they are pretty crowded in there, so it could be that, but should I repot them now when they're already under stress from the cold damage or should I wait? And is it even that? I don't see and visible roots on the surface of the soil. But I watered them last night and the soil already feels dry this morning. So if anyone can answer what all is going on and how best to handle it if be very appreciative. Also any additional advice about the cold damaged pothos and spider plant would be welcome.
Here are some photos of the subjects in question, with bonus cold damaged spider. They aren't drooping right now because I just watered them last night and I don't have any pictures of them drooping, but they lay right down and dangle down over the top of the bookcase when they do.

Comments (11)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Sorry, no, not going to even try to write anything, just too far gone.

    I'd take them back w/ the cold damage or just throw the whole lot of them out, & wait 2 months to start over. Maybe next time, don't buy new plants in the dead of Winter?

  • 8 years ago

    Lol I know right! I was almost impressed by how needlessly rude that was.

    Fortunately I got some really good advice on a gardening forum, so I think I know what to do now. I'm basically going to water them like crazy while they recover from the frost, and then repot them once they're not so stressed, probably in spring. The other two are just a matter of pruning back the cold damaged foliage and see what happens!

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    DONT “water them like crazy” whoever gave you that advice apparently doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

    Since a lot of leaves have died due to cold damage, the plant won’t be using as much water as it normally would.

    Use a dowel sharpened at both ends and stick it into the soil all the way to the bottom.

    Pull it out and inspect.

    If it comes out dark, damp with soil stuck to it, do not water.

    Keep checking and water when it comes out nearly clean and dry.

    If you “water like crazy” you’ll surly kill them.

    you can remove all the dead cold damaged leaves. Place in a bright spot, right up in front of a window, that doesn’t receive direct sun.

  • 8 years ago

    Ok let me clarify. I'm used to succulents that's need water every two to three weeks and expected these guys to need water weekly. The soil is drying out every couple of days and they're usually drooping from thirst by day three. To me every other day is a little crazy! That was probably bad phrasing though! Removing the damaged leaves is next on my to do list

  • 8 years ago

    These are far from gone! There's lots of healthy leaves left! I second removing all the damaged leaves. They'll look a bit pitiful for some time, but with fewer leaves to support, perhaps it will let the plant focus on putting out new growth.

    I've got one of these that's at least 12 years old, and it keeps on chugging, even when I make it droop from forgetting to water (every 5 days or so? I keep the soil a bit damp). Perks right up after a nice soak at the sink. They do like their drink. :)

    Good luck! I predict this time next year you'll have some fine looking plants. (And as unnecessarily surly and unkind that first post was, I would also advise against bringing plants with such delicate leaves into freezing temps for even a few minutes. Once frozen, they're damaged permanently. Wait for spring and load up!)

  • 8 years ago

    Oh my, when I read that first comment I thought "Noooooo, don't toss em!" Sometimes I'll have total leaf loss on plants and they come back (none were peace lillies but just sayin). Are they getting enough light up there? They wont bloom if they don't get enough and they like bright, indirect light. I always thought peace lillies like to be a bit snug. Personally I wouldn't report, but I don't know if that's correct.

  • 8 years ago

    Probably not enough light, but I'm gonna move them into the window soon. I have to shuffle some things around

  • 8 years ago

    When purchasing plants during the winter months, I always insist that the cashier double wrap them, especially if the temperature is well below freezing. Also, make sure the vehicle isn't freezing cold or allowed to become so if one is needing to make other stops. A few weeks ago, I had seen someone leaving the store with a large peace lily and out they headed into temps of about 20 F. Cashiers should insist on wrapping plants even when customers might decline.

  • 8 years ago

    you should not let it wilt so often - it weakens the plant. and do not let it 'almost dry-out'! It's a moisture loving plant, but it does not like being soggy-moist.

    it's possible that the root-ball is mostly peat and when it's totally dry - it won't rewet - so the water just runs out. what you need to do is put it in a bucket of some sort - submerge it almost to the top os soil and let it sit for 20 min or so .

    this will let it absorb what it needs. It can actually grow totally in water, half-submerged.

    after that oyu will have a nice moist root-ball and you can measure how dry it is by sticking a chop-stick or skewer all the way to the bottom. do not let it go dry for more then top one-third of the chopstick. one-half at most!

    your pot-size is way too small for such a large plant, even after it lost so many leaves due to cold-burn. while you're keeping it moist - keep it warm, if you can - like 75F would be very nice :). and humid - so kitchen or bath would be best - with good light. put it in the closed shower for sev hours After the shower - so it's really warm and humid - it'll love it!

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    forgot to add : do not put it on the window sill - it's cold there especially at night, if leaves touch the glass it'll get more cold damage!

    if you can put it someplace with dappled late or early sun for a couple of hours - your leaves will grow faster too - but away from drafts and cold glass - on the window sill in winter the temps can drop 7-10F degrees lower then in the middle of the room.