Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): Care, Benefits, and Keeping It in the Bedroom

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is one of the few houseplants that blooms even in rooms with modest light. That is also why it is so popular in Bucharest apartments, where windows are not always ideally oriented. In the guide below: care, real benefits, whether it can be kept in the bedroom, what it symbolizes, and why it does not bloom.

What is a peace lily?

Spathiphyllum is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. The white “flower” you see is not, botanically speaking, a flower: it is a spathe—a modified leaf surrounding the spadix, the central, granular stem bearing the tiny actual flowers.

One practical detail: the spathe is white while young and turns greenish as it ages. This is not a problem—it is part of its normal cycle. Once it has turned completely green, cut the stem at the base.

Peace lily in the bedroom: yes or no?

This is the question we receive most often, and the short answer is yes, you can. The arguments against keeping plants in the bedroom stem from an old myth: that plants “consume oxygen” at night. The amount of oxygen a potted plant consumes overnight is negligible—much less than that consumed by a person sleeping beside it.

What the peace lily actually does in the bedroom—and what really matters:

• It increases humidity. It actively releases moisture through its leaves. In winter, when radiators dry out the air, this means less irritation of the mucous membranes and less nasal congestion in the morning.
• It tolerates low light. Bedrooms usually have heavy curtains and less light—exactly the conditions in which most plants struggle, while this one survives.
• It has no fragrance. Unlike true lilies or hyacinths, it does not give off a scent—it will not disturb your sleep or cause headaches.

One important warning: the peace lily contains calcium oxalates and is toxic if ingested. In cats and dogs, it causes mouth irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting; in young children, it can cause burns in the mouth and on the lips. It is not fatal, but it is unpleasant. If you have pets or young children who can reach the pot, place the plant on a high shelf—or choose the spider plant, which is non-toxic.

Benefits of the peace lily

Air purification—what the NASA study actually says

Spathiphyllum was one of the plants tested by NASA in its 1989 study on indoor air quality and ranked among the most effective at absorbing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia—compounds released by paints, adhesives, particleboard furniture, and cleaning products.

The honest qualification that marketing usually omits: the tests were conducted in sealed laboratory rooms. In a real apartment with ventilation, you would need dozens of plants for a measurable effect. The effect exists, but a single plant cannot replace opening a window.

Humidity regulation

Here, the effect is immediate and visible. Bathrooms and kitchens in old Bucharest apartment blocks are often excessively humid; in winter, however, rooms with radiators are too dry. The peace lily does well in both conditions and balances the surrounding microclimate.

What the peace lily symbolizes

The name is not accidental: the white spathe, raised like a flag, has been associated with peace, reconciliation, and purity. That is why it is given on occasions when words are hard to find:

• As a gesture of reconciliation after a conflict
• At the birth of a child—as a symbol of a new beginning
• At commemorations, as white symbolizes peace of mind in many European traditions
• In meditation spaces or offices, where Feng Shui attributes a calming energy to it

There is also a widespread superstition in Romania that the peace lily “brings harmony into the home” and, if it suddenly wilts, has absorbed family tensions. This obviously has no basis—the plant almost certainly wilted because it was watered too much or too little.

Peace lily care

Light

Indirect light, 1–2 meters from a window. It also survives in low light, but note the distinction: survives ≠ thrives. Without enough light, you’ll have a green, healthy plant, but no white spathes. Direct sunlight burns the leaves and leaves brown spots.

Watering

The most common cause of death is overwatering. Water when the soil is dry to a depth of 2–3 cm—approximately weekly in summer and every 10–14 days in winter. Do not leave water in the saucer.

The plant has a rare advantage: it tells you when it’s thirsty. Its leaves visibly droop several hours before it is truly suffering. Water it then, and they will recover within 2–3 hours. However, don’t turn this into a routine—repeated water stress weakens the plant over time.

Use settled or filtered water. Chlorine in tap water dries out the leaf tips.

Soil and repotting

Loose universal potting soil with perlite and a little pine bark for drainage. Repot every 1–2 years in spring, using a pot only 2–3 cm larger. An oversized pot retains water and causes root rot.

Fertilizing

Liquid fertilizer for green plants, at half strength, once every 2–3 weeks, only from March through September. None in winter.

Propagation by division

1. In spring, remove the plant from its pot and gently shake the soil from the roots.
2. Identify groups of leaves with their own roots (“crowns”).
3. Separate them by hand or with a disinfected knife.
4. Each division must have at least 2–3 leaves and its own roots.
5. For the first 2–3 months: water moderately, without fertilizer.

Common problems

Yellow leaves

Almost always caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Check whether the pot has drainage holes and reduce watering. Older leaves at the base also turn yellow naturally—there is no cause for concern if there are only one or two.

Dry, brown tips

Air that is too dry or chlorine in the water. Switch to water that has been left to stand and place the pot on a tray of damp gravel.

It isn't blooming

The number one cause is insufficient light. Move it closer to a window, away from direct sunlight, and fertilize regularly between March and September. Very young plants do not bloom before one year, while plants in pots that are too large put their energy into roots rather than flowers.

Drooping leaves immediately after watering

A sign of root rot, not thirst. Remove the plant, cut away the black, mushy roots, repot it in fresh soil, and do not water for a week.

Frequently asked questions

Can you keep a peace lily in the bedroom?

Yes. The idea that plants consume oxygen from the room at night is a myth—the amount is negligible. The peace lily increases humidity, has no fragrance, and tolerates low light. The only precaution is that it is toxic if ingested, so keep it away from pets and small children.

Is the peace lily toxic?

Yes, it contains calcium oxalates. If ingested, they cause irritation and burning in the mouth, drooling, and vomiting in cats and dogs. It is not fatal, but requires caution in homes with pets or small children.

Why isn't the peace lily blooming?

Most often due to insufficient light. It needs bright, indirect light to produce spathes. Other causes include a plant that is too young, a pot that is too large, or a lack of fertilization during the growing season.

How often should it be watered?

When the soil is dry 2–3 cm below the surface: approximately once a week in summer and every 10–14 days in winter. The plant droops its leaves when it is thirsty—it is the best indicator.

Why do the white flowers turn green?

This is the natural aging process of the spathe. Once it has turned completely green, cut the stem at the base so the plant can focus its energy on new flowers.

Where to find peace lilies in Bucharest

We have Spathiphyllum in several sizes at our flower shop in Obor, at 234 Șoseaua Ștefan cel Mare. We deliver throughout Bucharest and Ilfov on the same day for orders placed by 4:00 PM. View the indoor plant collection.