Cultivating healthy peace lilies is an enjoyable and rewarding experience for houseplant enthusiasts.
Achieving success in growing these elegant, air-purifying plants mainly depends on using the right soil mix.
With numerous options available, finding the perfect blend may feel a bit overwhelming.
In this article, we'll introduce some of the best soil mixes to ensure your peace lilies thrive and brighten up your living space.
Peace Lilies in Their Natural Habitat: The Type of Soil They Thrive In
Peace Lilies naturally grow in the rainforests of Central and South America. The soil in these rainforests is well-draining and rich in organic matter.
Peace lilies typically favor a slightly acidic to neutral soil in their natural habitat—think pH levels around 5.8 to 6.5.
To keep them thriving, they prefer a well-draining potting mix that can hold moisture to keep their roots hydrated without becoming waterlogged.
What are the Soil Mix Requirements for a Healthy Peace Lily?
A proper soil mix ensures your peace lily has everything it needs to grow lush and vibrant. Let's explore more into what makes up the ideal soil mix for your peace lily.
Well-Draining
Peace Lilies require well-draining soil to prevent root rot and other issues caused by standing water.
A well-draining potting mix that still retains moisture is ideal for these plants to thrive. The key is to allow the soil to dry a bit between waterings—aim for moist, not wet.
Mildly to Neutral Acidic Balance
As mentioned, peace lilies flourish in a slightly acidic to neutral pH environment, which is typically in the range of 5.8 to 6.5.
This pH supports nutrient availability and uptake, which is crucial for the plant's health and blooming capacity.
To help maintain this pH balance, use water free of chlorine and fluorides, as peace lilies can be sensitive to these chemicals.
Packed with Organic Nutrients
These plants love soil that’s rich in organic matter.
Adding compost or worm castings can provide the nutrients they need for growth and maintain the lush greenery of their leaves.
Yellow leaves? Learn whether you should cut the dead leaves off your peace lily, including when and how to do it properly, by reading our article on the topic.
Just the Right Moisture
As mentioned earlier, the soil should stay damp between waterings but not soggy.
This plant's natural habitat is a humid rainforest floor, so the goal is to emulate those conditions to some degree.
By allowing the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again, you can maintain the right level of moisture.
Consistent moisture without waterlogging encourages healthy root and leaf growth, ensuring the plant has the resources to produce its characteristic white flowers.
Noticing a drooping peace lily? Revive your plant by following the steps in this guide.
Best Soil Mixes for Cultivating Healthy Peace Lilies
Creating the ideal soil mix for your peace lily is essential to its growth and overall health.
Here are the best soil mix recipes to help your peace lilies thrive.
Soil Mix Recipe #1
A simple and effective soil mix can be made by combining two parts of regular indoor potting mix or cactus mix with one part bark or perlite for increased aeration.
This mix increases aeration while still providing essential nutrients for your peace lily to flourish.
Soil Mix Recipe #2
Here's an intriguing tidbit: Despite their name, peace lilies aren't true lilies. They're a proud part of the Araceae family, also known as aroids.
So, this recipe by Kaylee Ellen, made for aroids, ensures they get the right balance of drainage, aeration, and nutrients they need to flourish.
This soil mix includes:
- 5 parts orchid bark for aeration
- 4 parts coir for moisture balance
- 5 parts perlite for drainage
- 2 parts worm castings for a nutritional kick
- 2 parts activated charcoal for soil purification
For an excellent choice of activated charcoal for your aroid soil mix, check out Olivette's Horticultural Charcoal on Amazon.
This blend is especially beneficial for peace lilies, promoting healthy root growth and ensuring a supportive environment for their unique care requirements.
Soil Mix Recipe #3
As you already know, moisture is key for peace lilies, but you also want to avoid waterlogged soil.
Mix together equal parts of coir, perlite, and regular indoor potting mix.
Coir, from coconut husks, holds onto moisture nicely. Perlite makes sure the soil isn't too wet by letting air flow and water drain through.
And the potting mix gives your peace lily a variety of nutrients to grow well.
This combo is just right for keeping your peace lily in the ideal damp conditions it loves without overdoing it.
Soil Mix Recipe #4
If you're looking to improve aeration and drainage, this recipe is perfect for preventing root rot in peace lilies.
Mix one part orchid bark, one part perlite, one part peat moss, and one part indoor potting mix. The orchid bark and perlite will help increase airflow to the roots.
For the orchid bark component, consider exploring the DUSPRO Recycle 2QT Premium Orchid Bark on Amazon.
Soil Mix Recipe #5
If you're looking for tthe right balance of drainage and moisture retention, try this custom blend:
- 2 parts horticultural coarse sand
- 2 parts cactus or houseplant soil
- 1 part coconut coir or perlite or orchid bark
No pre-moistening of the mix is necessary. Just make sure your plant is hydrated after potting.
Soil Mix Recipe #6
Finally, try this all-purpose recipe specifically designed for healthy, blooming, and vibrant foliage.
Combine two parts of indoor potting mix, one part peat moss, one part perlite, and one part aged compost.
Just make sure to balance the compost amount to avoid creating a too nutrient-dense mix, which could compromise the soil's drainage capabilities.
Store-Bought Soils and Their Impact on Peace Lilies
When caring for peace lilies, it's vital to be aware of the soil you use.
Store-bought potting mixes might not always be ideal as they can retain too much water, leading to root rot.
Dense, finely-particled commercial soils could trap water, risking root decay even with good watering practices.
Again, it's essential to strike a balance—your mix should be well-draining yet capable of holding onto moisture to satisfy the plant’s needs.
We did find a few pre-mixed soil options. But you'll need to add coarser elements, like bark, horticultural sand, or perlite, to prevent waterlogging.
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
This mix, rich with sphagnum peat moss, can be a good start. Adding perlite can enhance its drainage.
See the Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix on Amazon
Tank's-Pro Cactus & Succulent Mix
The Tank's-Pro Cactus & Succulent Mix is already well-draining and can serve as a good base, but consider enriching it with compost for added nutrients.
Learn more about this cactus mix on Amazon
Closing Thoughts on the Ideal Soil Mix for Peace Lilies
Each peace lily might respond differently to these soil mix recipes, so we recommend trying out a few and observing your plant's response.
As long as you maintain a well-draining, slightly acidic, nutrient-rich, and moisture-retaining environment, your peace lily should thrive.