How to prune a peace lily

How to prune a peace lily

1. 01

   Choose what to remove

   Pruning concerns spent flower stalks and yellow or brown leaves. The plant keeps its shape without routine pruning. Cleaning leaves, removing a spent stalk and reshaping a clump are separate jobs.

   Remove a spent flower stalk or dead or damaged leaf to tidy the clump and keep damaged tissue from remaining in the pot. Pruning is not needed to force a new shape and does not promise more flowers from cutting healthy leaves.

2. 02

   Prune at the right time

   Cut flower stalks after the display has finished and remove leaves once they are clearly yellow, brown or dead rather than cutting healthy green foliage on a schedule.

3. 03

   Make one clean cut

   Follow a spent flower stalk or damaged leaf down and cut it close to the base with a clean sharp tool. Avoid leaving a long wet stub in the clump.

4. 04

   When pruning will not help

   Healthy peace lilies do not need regular shaping, and a yellow leaf may reflect watering, humidity, light or age rather than a need to prune more aggressively. This advice applies to all peace lilies, not only S. wallisii.

5. 05

   Care for the plant after pruning

   After a cut, return the plant to ordinary indirect-light, warm and damp-but-draining indoor care and watch for new growth. Do not give extra water or fertilizer to make up for the cut.