Should I Cut The Dead Leaves Off My Peace Lily? [Inc. When And How To]

The peace lily is a common houseplant that is easy to care for. Every so often, some of the leaves and bloom will die as part of their natural cycle. If you are new to caring for peace lilies, you may be wondering if it's necessary to cut the dead leaves. We've done the research for your convenience. 

You should remove the dead leaves of a peace lily plant to encourage new leaf growth. When you see dead leaves that are brown or yellow, cut on the stalk near the base of the plant. If the dead leaves are dry and wilted, you can simply tug on them and they should pull out easily.

When you notice that your peace lily has started to lose its leaves, it's important to know if you should cut off the dead ones or leave them alone. Let's take a closer look at what causes leaves to turn brown, how often you should prune them, and whether or not you should cut off dead leaves.

Plant pot on the table with dead leaf and scissors, Should I Cut The Dead Leaves Off My Peace Lily? [Inc. When And How To]

Should You Remove Dead Leaves From Peace Lily?

Peace lilies are one of the most popular plants for indoor environments. They're easy to care for and their leaves are a natural air purifier. Thus, they are an ideal plant for people who suffer from allergies.

As with most houseplants, dead leaves are a natural part of the growth cycle of your peace lily. You may want to remove them from the plant to keep it looking neat and tidy and to encourage new leaves and blooms to grow.

Peace Lily flower plant in outdoors garden

Pruning your peace lily plant has many benefits, including:

  • Prevents disease from spreading
  • Helps you see pests (e.g, aphids, mealybugs) hiding in the foliage
  • Keeps the plant healthy and produces more green leaves
  • Keeps the plant looking aesthetically pleasing

If you want to keep your peace lily looking its best, it's important to know when and how to cut the dead leaves off your plant.

When to Cut Dead Leaves

The easiest way to determine when to cut a dead leaf is by looking at its color. If it turns brown or yellow, then it's time for you to cut it off.

What will happen if you leave the dead leaves alone? They will just eventually fall off. But you can help speed up this process of decomposition by cutting the dead leaves off at their stem.

If you don't prune and the leaves are left in there too long, they may rot and decay into the plant base which is not good for the plant. Additionally, dead leaves can leach nutrients that are supposed to be going to the healthier leaves.

If you're thinking of leaving the dead leaves to fertilize the soil, then you need to do it properly. To turn dead leaves into mulch, remove them from the stem, cut them into small pieces, and put it directly into the soil.

How To Cut Dead Leaves

Female hands cutting damaged leaves

To cut off dead leaves make sure you cut close to the base of the plant. You want to make sure that you remove all of the dead parts from the stem near where it meets the soil. This will help keep mold from growing on any remaining bits of dead stems.

Use sharp pruning shears so that you don't damage any living parts of your plant while trimming. You can also use a sharp knife or scissors but they may not be as effective at cutting through thick stems. Make sure that they are clean and disinfected before using so that they don't spread any diseases from one plant to another.

Check out these 3-pack stainless steel pruning shears on Amazon.

You can also remove dead leaves by simply pulling them out gently. If they are wilted or dry enough, they should come off easily. Dead leaves can usually be found on the outer parts of the foliage as peace lilies tend to grow new leaves on the middle inner part.

Should I Cut The Brown Tips Off My Peace Lily?

Indoor plants diseases

Sometimes you'll notice that the tips of your peace lily's leaves are turning brown. If you want to keep your plant healthy, you might wonder whether or not to cut the brown tips off.

If your plant has been damaged by a bug or other pests, then you should definitely trim it away. The brown tip is a sign of damage from an infestation, and it can spread if left untreated.

But if your peace lily is just getting older and its leaves are starting to turn brown naturally, then there's no need to cut it off. You can actually choose to leave it alone because it's perfectly normal behavior for this type of plant.

The brown tips are a common occurrence in peace lilies. Trimming it won't help it grow faster. Brown tips are usually an indication that the plant is going into dormancy as part of its growth cycle, or it could indicate that its current environment is not ideal.

Most gardeners recommend letting plants do their thing with minimal interference. This will help ensure that your plant stays healthy for years to come. But mostly for aesthetic purposes, you can trim the tip to remove the brown part and leave the rest of the leaf alone. Or, you can cut the leaf off entirely and just wait for new foliage to grow.

What Causes The Tips Of The Peace Lily To Turn Brown?

The leaves of your peace lily are often a beautiful, deep green, but they can suddenly turn brown for a variety of reasons. The common culprits may include:

  1. Too much water - If you have been watering your plant too much, it is possible that the soil has become too wet. If the soil is too wet, the roots will have a hard time "breathing" or absorbing air.
  2. Too little water - Not giving your plant enough water is one of the most common reasons why tips may dry up and turn brown. The plant is thirsty and needs more moisture. If the leaves are drooping, lack of water is definitely the reason.
  3. A disease or infection - If you notice that your plant is wilting, drooping, has brown tips, and other unusual leaf markings, it could indicate a disease on your plant. You need to take action so that it does not spread further.
  4. Too much sun - If your peace lily gets too much direct sunlight, especially in the summer months, this can cause the leaves to wilt and turn brown. If you notice your plant has been exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time, it may be best to move it into a more shaded area.
  5. Extreme temperatures - Peace lilies are comfortable in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and below 60. Anything higher or lower than this causes stress to the plant.
  6. Too much fertilizer - Too much fertilizer causes salt or sodium buildup in the soil and disrupts the production of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Wrapping Up

Composition with peace lily

Thank you very much for reading through. We hope you picked up some tips on how and when to prune the dead leaves on your peace lily plant.

For more information on how to properly care for a peace lily and other indoor plants, check out these articles below.

My Peace Lily Is Dying - What To Do?

Why Is My Oriental Lily Dying?

What's The Best Window For My Houseplants?

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