A drooping peace lily is nearly always thirsty. Spathiphyllum is one of the few houseplants that wilts dramatically when its compost dries out, then recovers within hours of a good drink. So before you worry, check the soil: if it is dry, water it, and the plant will usually perk back up the same day.
Peace lilies are thin-leaved and lose water quickly, so they are quick to wilt when dry. Push a finger into the compost. If the top 3 to 5 cm feels dry and the pot is light when you lift it, the plant simply needs water.
Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, let it drain, and check again in an hour. A healthy peace lily typically stands back up the same day. In our experience this plant will happily use dramatic wilting as a warning sign every time, and repeated deep wilting does slowly weaken it, so try to water before it reaches that point. In a warm room through summer that usually means every 5 to 7 days.
Temperature, Draughts and Acclimatising
Peace lilies dislike the cold. Below about 12C they wilt and the leaves can blacken, so keep them away from draughty doors, single-glazed windows in winter, and cold spots. A newly delivered or recently repotted plant may also droop for a few days while it settles, even with correct watering. Give it a stable, warm spot in bright indirect light and it should firm up.
One more culprit worth ruling out is water quality. Peace lilies can be sensitive to the fluoride and chlorine in tap water, which shows as brown leaf tips more than drooping, but it is worth knowing. Our notes on using tap water for houseplants explain when it matters.
How to Revive a Drooping Peace Lily
Work through it in order:
- Feel the compost. Dry and light means underwatered, so water thoroughly and wait a few hours.
- Wet and heavy with no recovery means check the roots for rot and repot if needed.
- Rule out cold draughts and sudden temperature drops.
- Get watering consistent so the plant is never bone dry or soggy. Watering when the top few centimetres are dry works better than a rigid schedule.
If you want a peace lily to begin with, our compact Spathiphyllum 'Korto' and the variegated Spathiphyllum Diamond are both good, forgiving choices, and you can see the full range in our peace lily collection.