The variegated peace lily is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for indoor plant that is perfect for plant enthusiasts of all levels of experience. In this blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about variegated peace lilies, from watering to flowering to care. Read on to learn all about this stunning indoor plant!
All about the Variegated Peace Lily
What is “variegated”?
A variegated plant or flower simply means it has more than one colour in it, like a two-toned leaf.
It can be spotty, stripey or the border or veins of the leaf or flower are a different colour.
Variegation is usually from mutations in plants with quite stunning results. Gardeners and nurseries will then propagate these variegated plants to grow more.
The Variegated Peace Lily
The variegated peace lily (Spathiphyllum Domino) is a hybrid plant that is indigenous to Asian, African, and South American tropical regions. It is a member of the Araceae family and is an amazing air purifier for your home!
The spathiphyllum domino blooms gorgeous white flowers (known as spathes) with a yellow center that appear over the spring to summer growing season. The leaves of the variegatedpeace lily are dark green with pale green or white streaks running through them. This striking coloration makes this species of lily a popular choice for indoor plants.
The different types of variegated peace lilies:
Spathiphyllum Domino (the most common type).
This beautiful lily has striking and chaotic variegation across its folliage. Thin streaks of white and minty green appear across the dark green of the rumpled-looking leaves.
Spathiphyllum White Stripe
This stunning variety is also known as Silver Streak. Each dark green leaf has a narrow blaze of white running down the centre.
Spathiphyllum Picasso
This dramatic-looking peace lily has long, narrow leaves with huge bright white patches.
Spathiphyllum Platinum Mist
More subtle, but no less stunning, than the other varieties of variegated peace lily, the veins in the dark-green leaves of the platinum mist are a lemon-lime color.
Caring for Your Variegated Peace Lily
No matter which variety of variegated peace lilies you choose, they all tend to have the same care requirements. Sometimes, even though being super easy to care for and despite your best efforts, your peace lily will no longer produce variegated foliage. This is due to the mutation that can disappear and your plant will revert to a regular peace lily.
Light
Ordinary peace lilies don’t mind shady spots. However, if placing a variegated peace lily indoors it will need more light to maintain their variegation. Otherwise, their unique colours can fade and that beautiful mutation will revert to a regular peace lily.
Aim for a bright spot that has indirect light or less than 2 hours of direct sun per day.
Watering Your Variegated Peace Lily
One of the most important parts of caring for your spathiphyllum domino is watering it properly. These plants like to be kept moist but not soggy, so be sure to check the soil has dried before yourpeace lily watering. A good rule of thumb is to water your spathiphyllumdomino once a week, or when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Soil
Be sure to use a pot and potting mix that has good drainage. Any indoor potting mix will suit but it is recommended to use bark chips or pumice to make up at least half the soil volume to help avoid soggy roots.
Fertilizer
Peace lilies don’t require a lot of fertilizing. Use a weak dose every other month to promote healthy growth.
Temperature/Humidity
Peace lilies like temperatures to stay between 55 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity above 50%.
Pruning
Your variegated lily won’t need regular pruning. If you notice older leaves turning yellow you can cut them off at the base of the stem. The same with the flowers, once they start to droop and fade you can prune them.
Repotting
Variegated lilies only need to be repotted once a year at the start of the spring growing season. When you see roots poking out of the drainage holes or pushing up against the soil it is time to repot. Use a pot that is a few inches bigger than the original container and use a well-draining potting mix.
Propagation
Peace lilies can be easily propagated from division of their bulb-like rhizomes that grow in clumps. During spring repotting, break off a rhizome that has clumps of stems plus at least 3 healthy leaves and plant it into a pot.
Troubleshooting your variegated peace lily.
Although these plants usually thrive inside, there are some common issues you may come across.
Yellow, wilted leaves and wet soil.
This is usually a sign you have over-watered your plant. Check that there are enough drainage holes in your pot to allow the water to flow out and that you have used an appropriate potting mix. Let your peace lily dry out completely before watering it again.
Root rot
Waterlogged soil and overwatering can cause the roots to rot. You will need to remove your peace lily, trim away the mushy, smelly rotten roots and replant into a pot with fresh, well-draining soil. And stop watering so much!
Yellow, wilted leaves and caked soil.
If the soil is cracked and pulling away from the edges of the container, and your peace lily shows signs of distress you may not have watered it enough. Give your spathiphyllumdomino a good soaking to restore its stunning foliage.
Brown tips or spots on leaves
Too little humidity can show up as spots or brown tips on the leaves of your variegatedpeace lily. You can regularly mist your plant or add a humidifier to help.
Loss of variegation
The mutation that results in the unique and stunning variegation can fade or disappear completely. When this happens it is usually a sign your plant needs more light. Move your variegated peace lily to a bright spot with indirect light to restore its beautiful colors.
Peace Lily not flowering
Happy variegated peace lilies generally flower twice per year. There may be several reasons your variegatedspathiphyllum dominois not flowering:
- Not enough light: this is the most common cause of a peace lily not blooming.
- Old age: an old plant may simply stop producing blooms.
- Too young: a peace lily usually won’t produce its first flower until over 2 years of age.
- Lack of nutrients: if you haven’t fertilized or repotted your peace lily for several years it will be starved of essential nutrients.
Mealy Bugs
Mealy bugs will appear as small white fluffy lumps that look like cotton at the base of the leaf stems. Treat this with an insecticide spray or wash. You may find your plant needs multiple treatments before the infestation is eliminated.
Scale Insects
If you notice a brown and sticky residue on your variegated lily it could be from scale insects. As they feed on your plant they leave a sticky sap behind. Treatment is the same as for mealy bugs.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats are attracted to moist soil, where they lay their eggs. If your plant is suffering from fungus gnats it could be a sign you are overwatering. You can use sticky traps to kill the adults and then replace the top few inches of the soil….and stop watering so much!
A stunning addition to your home.
This plant is a beautiful and relatively easy-to-care-for indoor plant that makes a great addition to any home or office. By following the simple tips in this blog post, you can ensure that your variegated peace lily remains healthy and happy for years to come!
