The peace lily is a great addition to any foliage you plan to have around. Known to be low-maintenance, this plant can thrive in almost any home environment. If you are planning to keep one, you are also probably asking which one would be the best soil for it.
Can I use cactus soil for peace lily?
Both cactus and peace lilies need a well-draining slightly acidic soil mix. Keeping these similarities in mind, cactus soil works for peace lily since it needs consistent watering but cannot thrive in stagnant water. Cactus soil provides aeration and good drainage so you can use it for peace lilies.
Spathiphyllum or peace lily is a plant that needs to be kept moist at all times, but it can’t be wet. Regular indoor potting mix or cactus mix with bark or perlite in a 2:1 ratio is great for an emergency potting situation since these ingredients can be found at pretty much any store with a gardening section.
Cactus soil helps instigate healthy root development as well, providing optimal growing conditions by mimicking their wild habitat.
This type of soil usually has large pieces of expanded clay or rock, charcoal, pine fines, and material that holds water like peat moss, fine coir, or compost. You could find perlite, grit, or coarse sand in it as well.
What are the benefits of using cactus soil for peace lily?
As mentioned earlier, you can use cactus soil for a peace lily, some might even call it the perfect soil for them since it provides multiple benefits. Cactus soil is deemed excellent for peace lilies, here are a reason why-
Good Drainage:
Cactus soil with bark or perlite allows it to improve drainage, so it doesn’t hold on to moisture excessively. This grate if you want to put it in the potting mix straight out of the bag.
Aeration:
The bark/perlite mixture with cactus soil is good for aeration too. Whatever improves the drainage system of the soil, provides a lot of aeration as well.
Acidity Level:
The soil peace lilies naturally accommodate themselves and have a rather low level of acidity, so when we are making a houseplant of them, it’s best to emulate these conditions. The ideal range is somewhere between 5 to 5.5 pH, which is found perfectly in cactus soil.
Overall Optimal Growing Conditions:
Seeing how cactus soil provides so many things for the lily houseplant, you can argue that cactus soil delivers one of the most optimal growing conditions for it.
Since it has the perfect drainage ratio, you can add sad, charcoal, and other things to improve it, and it can stay perfectly moist- this soil can help your peace lily thrive like the glorious green it’s supposed to be.
Tips for using cactus soil for peace lily:
So now you are convinced to try out cactus soil for your pretty peace lily, we have your back- here are a few tips that can come in handy.
Add fertilizer separately:
This is recommended because peace lilies don’t essentially need a lot of fertilizers. It is better to add it separately per requirement.
Go for a mix that has the following ingredients:
peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, and bulking agents like coir. These are recommended since they provide nutrition and aeration which are absolutely necessary.
Other than this, the common tips are to make sure the soil has enough nutrients for your plant and change it once the time frame passes. Basically, look after your plant thoroughly and you will be rewarded with blooming foliage.
What Type of soil and compost is the best for a peace lily?
While peace lilies are known to be low-maintenance, there are still some criteria we must fill for them to grow well. When thinking about the soil and compost for a peace lily, keeping these points in mind will be beneficial.
Soil:
For soil, it should have really good drainage and top-tier aeration. It should also be able to retain enough moisture so the root system can work properly.
Last but certainly not the least, the soil should also have the capability to meet the nutrient that is required for peace lilies.
Ideally, the soil type should be a peat-based potting mix with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5 on the acidic scale.
Compost:
Compost wise, add perlite, coarse sand, and pumice so it helps to improve the drainage. You can also go with vermiculite, peat moss, and coco coir into the soil mix, it will help maintain the required moisture.
Keep in mind that peace lily doesn’t need too much fertilizer or compost, so use sparingly.
As long as you are aware of the mix and component you are putting your plant in, and keeping it warm, light, and airy- your peace lily will reward you with life and youthful bounce in its leaves.
Can I use succulent soil for peace lily?
Peace lily requires minimum upkeep to the point that you don’t even have to worry much about the soil you use for it. As long as the soil is airy and full of nutrients, you’re good to go. This is why succulent soil works for peace lilies as well.
Organic cactus and succulent soil mix should have enough nutrients for the plant for 2 to 3 months at least.
Can I use orchid soil for peace lilies?
While it might be okay to use succulent soil for a peace lily, it is a different matter when it comes to orchid soil.
Since Peace lilies are aroids, they need to be watered almost daily so doing that with orchid mix means you have to be consistent and careful. This doesn’t mean you can’t use orchid soil for it, just that it needs to be mixed well and taken care of properly.
Can I use peat moss for peace lilies?
Peace lilies are a wonderful plant that prefers evenly moist soil but can tolerate periodic drying. Peat moss is perfect for peace lilies since they hold moisture well and offer an organic yet sterile base for your potting mix.
However, keep in mind that fine peat moss can dry quickly and become an impervious block of clay. To avoid this, add perlite so they can combat compaction by providing bulk without unnecessary weight.
Does peace lily-like acidic soil?
As mentioned earlier, peace lilies need slightly acidic soil to thrive brilliantly. For them, the perfect range for acidic soil conditions is in the pH scale of 5.8 to 6.5.
If you want to add some acidity into the soil mix of your lily plant, consider using coffee grounds. They act as a fertilizer since they have a high nutrient content count. They are also acidic which means they can excellently reduce the alkaline level of the soil.
It is important to keep the acidic level of your houseplants’ soil since if it exceeds the limit, it will result in root damage as well as unfortunate premature passing.
As coffee grounds are cheap and easily available, they are an easy solution to this. Just use it sparingly and correctly and you will be okay.
Does peace lily like moist soil?
Peace lilies are known as tropical, evergreen plants that absolutely thrive in the forest-like environment. This means they need to be in contact with slightly damp soil almost always, if not at all times.
These green and white plants require constant access to fresh, clean water so the recommended route is to water it every other day. If you live in a rather dry climate, then switch to watering them every day.
On the other hand, if you are in a humid area, then you can get by watering them once or twice a week. Check the soil with your finger or a moisture meter to see how damp it is.
In other words, peace lilies will grow, thrive, and flourish when they have evenly damp and porous soil where their roots get more than enough moisture and fresh oxygen. That being said, the soil can be moist but avoid making it soggy since it can rot the roots.
A happy and healthy plant is bound to make the mood of the area it’s in. To keep your peace lily happy, keep it nourished, provide adequate sunlight and air to replicate the original environment they are from, and watch it thrive.
Final Thoughts:
Peace lilies are a delight to have indoors since they aren’t high maintenance. For their soil, using cactus soil is a great choice as it provides so many benefits that will make the houseplant flourish. Cactus soil has good drainage, aeration, and root development which do wonders for peace lilies.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Peace Lily Need Drainage Holes?
Common Peace Lily Problems and Solution?
Can a Peace Lily Grow From Seed?