Peace lilies thrive in soil that drains well and holds some moisture so that the plant does not rot or mold from overwatering, nor does it dry out from a complete lack of water retention. Ingredients that are light enough to allow for air pockets so that your peace lily’s roots can breathe are ideal.
In this article, we’ll provide you with the top options for peace lily potting mix, where to buy it, and how to make your own. So get ready to give your peace lily the best potting environment it could ever need!
What Is The Best Potting Mix For Peace Lilies?
The best potting mix for peace lilies includes ingredients that allow proper drainage while still retaining moisture. Potting mixes containing vermiculite, coir, bark, perlite, or peat moss are perfect for peace lilies because these ingredients not only retain the necessary moisture but also provide oxygen pockets for your peace lily’s roots to breathe.
Potting mixes designated for succulents and cacti are also good options for your peace lily. These are usually chock full of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium that your peace lily needs to grow and flower.
If you are having trouble finding any of these potting mixes, a workable alternative is to purchase regular potting soil and mix in perlite, sand, peat moss, or coco peat. Any commercial potting mix that indicates soil as one of the ingredients will not allow the drainage your peace lily’s roots need, so be sure not to plant your peace lily in regular potting mix alone.
In addition, potting mixes that already contain fertilizer may not be a good option for your peace lily, whose roots may be burned if overfertilized. Instead, apply a conservative amount of fertilizer every six weeks in the growing season.
Where Can I Buy Potting Mix For My Peace Lily?
Peace lily potting mix should be available for purchase at most garden centers. If you are in the US, these include Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowes. You can also purchase cactus and succulent potting mix from these locations if you decide to go that route.
If you want to use regular potting soil and mix in ingredients such as peat moss and perlite, these ingredients should also be available for purchase from any local garden center or home improvement store.
Instead of a physical store, you can also opt to shop online, for example, at Amazon. Besides the convenience, this also allows you to find hard-to-get ingredients, such as coco peat.
How Do I Make My Own Peace Lily Potting Mix?
There are a few different recipes for making peace lily potting mix. However, they all include a majority of ingredients that promote good drainage and water retention.
For a simple potting soil, mix equal parts:
- Perlite
- Peat moss
- Cactus, orchid, or succulent potting mix.
Another recipe that might run a little more expensive – due to the specialized nature of some of the ingredients – but provides excellent quality soil for your peace lily can be made by combining:
- Two parts worm castings
- Two parts activated charcoal
- Four parts coir
- Five parts orchid bark
- Five parts perlite.
Since all of these store-bought ingredients should already be sterilized, you do not have to worry about any microbial infection to your peace lily. However, if you would rather use your compost material instead of the pre-mixed orchid, cactus, or succulent potting soil, it is best to sterilize it before use.
Spread the compost material in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook in the oven at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit (95 degrees Celsius) for approximately one hour. Be sure to let the material cool before mixing with the other ingredients and planting your peace lily.
Compost is a great ingredient to use when making peace lily potting soil because compost material – such as coffee grounds – can provide a natural fertilizer to help your peace lily grow. All without the worry of scorching the roots due to chemical fertilizer!
Final Words
Peace lilies are beautiful houseplants that require specific potting conditions to truly thrive. Potting mixes that provide decent drainage, allow for soil retention, and leave space for air pockets are ideal for peace lilies. Store-bought potting mix with ingredients such as perlite, peat moss, or coir should do well for your peace lily.
Cactus and succulent potting mixes also provide the proper potting environment. All of these can be purchased from local garden centers, home improvement stores, or online.
Alternatively, you can make your own peace lily potting mix from either store-bought materials or your compost.
No matter which option you choose, be sure to give your peace lily the best soil to help it grow!