Plant expert shares 'main' reason why peace lilies stop flowering - but how to fix it

Owner of Sheffield Made Plants, Richard, has revealed the secret to keeping peace lilies looking "absolutely stunning in the shops". On his YouTube channel, Richard explained: "Peace lilies look absolutely stunning in the shops when they're in full bloom with those big beautiful white flowers."

He noted that a common issue arises when people take the plant home: "The problem most people find is that when they bring the plant home, the flowers die back and very often don't return." However, Richard reassured viewers that "you can easily change this". He disclosed that growers use a plant hormone called gibberellic acid to "force the plant to bloom", but as this substance "wears off" over time, the flowers tend to die off.

"People really struggle to get them to bloom again," Richard said, pointing out that "This is partly because it takes a while for the plant to bloom again after they've been treated with gibberellic acid," reports the Express. Despite this, Richard assured that with the right conditions, peace lilies can indeed rebloom, promising that you can expect "a handful of pretty white flowers again in the autumn."

He mentioned that these plants "will normally flower twice a year" - during spring and autumn. Richard advised not to be disheartened if the plant isn't flowering in summer, saying: "So don't get frustrated when your plant is not flowering in the middle of summer,".

To encourage blooming, he highlighted the importance of light: "Giving the plant as much natural, indirect light as possible is one of the main things this plant needs to send out flowers," he concluded. Richard explained: "Try to place them as near to a window as possible so they get at least six hours of bright, indirect light."

He recommended positioning the plant near an east-facing window (if living in the northern hemisphere), which would allow it to soak up the morning light. However, Richard cautioned that the evening sun might scorch the leaves and potentially harm the plant.

Richard also mentioned: "You might have noticed that a peace lily is a thirsty plant." To encourage continual flowering, he suggested: "Water about once a week during the spring and summer, but always check the soil first."

He remarked: "Watering your peace lily correctly will impact on whether you'll be able to get it to flower again." He noted that failing to water adequately could stress the plant, preventing it from storing energy needed for future flower production.