What Type Of Light Does A Peace Lily Need? An Expert Guideline

What type of light does a peace lily need?

If you are a peace lily grower or thinking about buying one, then it’s essential to know what kind of sunlight a peace lily needs. 

So, why delay, let’s start the journey with a plant trick to know what kind of sunlight does a peace lily needs.

Importance Of Light For Peace Lily

Light is one of the most important factors for plants to live healthy and beautiful. This also applies to peace lilies. But why is light so important? Don’t they thrive in a dark corner? Well, there is various importance of light for peace lilies such as: 

• Photosynthesis
• Leaf Health
• Flowering

• Photosynthesis: All living things need food to survive. Plants produce their food on the leaves through photosynthesis. Light plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, where plants convert light energy into chemical energy to fuel their growth. Though peace lilies thrive in low light, they still need some light to photosynthesize. They use light along with carbon dioxide and water and turn all of that into food and energy.
• Leaf health: Proper light conditions also can contribute to healthy leaf development. Peace lilies have glossy, dark green leaves, and sufficient light helps maintain their vibrant color and glossy appearance. Inadequate light can result in yellow or pale leaves.
• Flowering: Peace lilies can give a touch of elegance and tranquillity to any indoor space through their beautiful white flowers. Adequate light is essential for peace lilies to produce flowers. While they can survive in low-light conditions, they can not bloom as prolifically. So, if you see a small flower, then light is tha main culprit. Providing sufficient light encourages the development of white, spathe-like flowers, adding to your plant’s aesthetic appeal.

In a word, peace lilies cannot photosynthesize without light; I mean, they can’t live. If your peace lily doesn’t get enough sunlight, it will grow leggy, weak, and develop other problems.

Different Types Of Lights For Indoor Plants

There are different types of lights that you can use for indoor plants, depending on their light requirements, your budget, and your preference. Some of the most common types are:

• LED lights: If you need energy-efficient, long-lasting, and less heat producing lights then you should consider LEDs. They can also be customized to emit different colors and intensities of light, which can affect the growth and flowering of your indoor plants.
• Fluorescent lights: Fluorescent lights come in different shapes and sizes, such as tubes, bulbs, or panels.  These are also energy-efficient and produce a cool, white light that mimics natural sunlight. They are ideal for plants that need bright, indirect light, such as herbs, ferns, and pothos.
• Incandescent lights: These lights emit a warm, yellow light that is suitable for some low-light plants, such as peace lilies, snake plants, and ZZ plants. These are also the cheapest and easiest to find, but least efficient and produce a lot of heat.
• High-pressure sodium lights: If you have a commercial greenhouse, then you will need high-pressure sodium lights. Because they are very powerful and produce a bright, orange-red light that stimulates flowering and fruiting in plants. 

What Type Of Light Does A Peace Lily Need?

Various types of plants prefer different lighting conditions based on their natural habitat. For example, tropical plants, like peace lilies, prefer bright, indirect light and more frequent watering in order to mimic a rainforest environment.

As an indoor plant, I always prefer peace lilies to grow in your living or working spaces. It’s not only known for its stunning beauty of white blooms and green foliage but also for its adaptability in different light conditions. 

Depending on different types of peace lily light requirements, their preference can vary. Let’s see: 

Indoor Peace Lily Light

So, then what kind of light does a peace lily need? While various types of peace lilies can grow indoors, peace lilies can thrive in low to bright light. 

If you want to ensure optimal growth and flowering of your peace lily, then they need bright and indirect light for at least 6 hours per day. You can place it near a north, or east-facing window or under a bright artificial light that is about 12 inches away from your plant.

Some varieties of peace lily like Spathiphyllum wallisii, Spathiphyllum ‘Cupid’ can grow well in low to moderate light indoors. 

After knowing What type of light does a peace lily need indoors, you have placed your plant in the right spot. You should avoid harsh, direct sunlight. This can scorch the leaves, and your peace lily looks burnt. You should also monitor the signs of your peace lily to adjust the light accordingly.

Outdoor Peace Lily Light

Do peace lilies need full sunlight? The natural habitat of the peace lily consists mainly of tropical rainforests of  central and south america. Where they thrive under the canopy of large trees, are protected from direct sunlight and grow in humid environments. 

So, you can also grow your peace lilies outdoors in a properly shaded environment. If you plan to grow your peace lily outdoors, it’s important to note that peace lilies do not tolerate direct sun exposure, as it can cause the leaves to burn and drop off.

Then what kind of light does a peace plant need? To ensure optimal growth, you have to place your plant in an area that receives dappled or filtered sunlight throughout the day. This can often be achieved by positioning your peace lily under a larger plant, like a tree or shrub, to provide the necessary shade.

Similar to indoor peace lilies, your outdoor peace lilies also need six to eight hours of indirect light per day. If your plant does not receive enough light, it may become leggy and produce fewer flowers.

Sign That Determines Whether Peace Lily Needs Lights Or Not

A very common question that peace lily owners want to know is, how to determine if my peace lily needs lights or not? It’s really necessary to know, as light is one of the most important factors for the growth and well-being of peace lilies. 

Don’t worry; you can notice the following signs to determine their need of light or not: 

• Yellowing Leaves: If the leaves of your peace lily are turning yellow leaves, especially the older leaves at the bottom, it might be an indication that your plant is not getting enough light. 
• Leggy Growth: Leggy or elongated growth with larger gaps between leaves also indicates your peace lily needs light. It happens when your plant is stretching toward the light source in an attempt to receive more sunlight. 
• Reduced Flowering: Peace lilies tend to produce more flowers when they receive sufficient light. If you find flowers are dying, then it needs more frequent lighting. 
• Pale or Faded Leaves: Pale or faded leaves, particularly in varieties with variegated foliage, can suggest that your plant is not getting enough light to maintain its vibrant coloration.
• Leaning Towards Light Sources: If you notice your peace lily leaning or reaching towards a light source, it is trying to maximize its light exposure. 

Note: Some of these signs can also be shown for other reasons like improper watering, overfertilization, etc. So, consider lighting when your peace lily is in a spot where it has no light source.  

How To Set Up Lights For A Peace Lily: A Step-By-Step Guide

Peace lilies are incredible houseplants with lots of benefits and abilities. You can enjoy their beauty and benefits, even if your indoor space has no sunlight. Peace lilies can also grow well in artificial light. Wondering how to set up lights for a peace lily?  Follow these step-by-step:

• Step 1: Choose the Right Lighting:
• Step 2: Positioning The Light:
• Step 3. Optimize The Light Schedule:
• Step 4. Monitor The Signs:
• Step 5. Regular Maintenance

Step 1: Choose the Right Lighting:

First you need to choose a type of light that suits your peace lily’s needs. You have to know what type of light do peace lilies need? You can use LED lights, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, or high-pressure sodium lights, depending on your budget, preference, and space. 

LED or fluorescent lights are commonly used for indoor plants.

Step 2: Positioning The Light: 

The second step is to position the light at an appropriate distance from your peace lily. 

The distance may vary depending on the type and intensity of the light levels, but generally, you want to avoid placing the light too close or too far from your plant. 

If you set up too close, it can cause the leaves to scorch and brown spots, while too far can reduce the effectiveness of the light. A good rule of thumb is to place the light about 12 inches away from your plant.

Step 3. Optimize The Light Schedule:

Next, optimize the light schedule for your peace lily. Peace lilies like 14 hours of light per day, but they also need a period of darkness to rest.

You can use a timer or a dimmer to control the duration and intensity of the light, or manually turn it on and off. You can also supplement the artificial light with natural light, if available, by placing your peace lily near a window or a bright indoor light.

Step 4. Monitor The Signs: 

After completing the above steps you should monitor the signs of your peace lily to adjust the light accordingly.

Peace lilies are adaptable and forgiving plants that can survive in various light conditions, but they will show some signs if they are not getting enough or getting too much light. 

If your peace lily is drooping, wilting, or yellowing, it may need more light. If your peace lily is curling, browning, or fading, it may need less light. 

Step 5. Regular Maintenance: 

Finally, you have to keep the lights clean and replace bulbs as needed. Dust and dirt can reduce light output, affecting your plant’s ability to photosynthesize.

By providing your peace lily with the right type and quality of light, you can help it grow healthy and beautiful.

Tips To Ensure Peace Lilies Get Enough Light

If you don’t know what kind of light do peace lilies need, then you can’t ensure their enough light.  Follow these tips to ensure your peace lily gets enough light:

• Move your peace lily to a spot that receives bright but indirect light, such as near a north-facing window or under a bright indoor light.
• Avoid direct sunlight or too intense light, as this can scorch the leaves and cause them to turn brown and crispy.
• Provide at least six hours of light per day, preferably 14 hours, to encourage blooming.
• Rotate your peace lily plant regularly to ensure all sides receive equal light exposure. This helps prevent the plant from leaning towards the light source and promotes even growth.
• Regularly inspect your plant to monitor the signs of your peace lily to adjust the light.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Let’s wrap it up, sunlight is a vital factor for all plants. But not all plants need the same type and same amount of light. 

As an indoor plant, peace lilies need bright indirect sunlight. They can also thrive in low to moderate light conditions. What if I expose them to direct sun? 

It would be the wrong decision. Peace lilies are not true lilies.  Like other plants peace lily can’t tolerate direct sunlight. But they can live in artificial light. 

Today you learned what type of light does a peace lily need. Apply the tips and rules according to the article and enjoy the aesthetic beauty and benefits of your peace lily.