This article may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information.

If the flowers on your peace lily are turning brown, you’re not alone – this is a common issue that puzzles many plant owners. While peace lilies are known for their elegant white blooms, those flowers don’t always stay pristine.

So what causes this browning, and how can you keep your plant looking its best?

Let’s dig into the possible reasons and what you can do to fix it.

Easy Peace Lily Care Guide 💚

 Want one? Get your very own Peace Lily here!

💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Peace Lilies like consistently moist soil but don’t tolerate sitting in standing water.

🌱 Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix with good moisture retention - I personally use this potting mix. A mix with peat, perlite, or coco coir, like this one, works well.

☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light is ideal for blooming, but Peace Lilies can also tolerate lower light conditions. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch their leaves.

🌡️ Temperature: Keep your Peace Lily in a room between 65-85°F (18-29°C). Avoid drafts, cold temperatures, and sudden temperature changes.

🌿 Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (my top pick is this Miracle-Gro one) once a month during spring and summer. Pause fertilizing in fall and winter.

Why are the flowers on my peace lily turning brown?

If the flowers on your peace lily are turning brown, this is usually due to it being too stressed from problems in the care it’s receiving. This can also simply be part of its natural aging process.

We’ll go through each of these in more detail below.

1. Light

The best light for your peace lily is medium, indirect sunlight, including dappled light. If your peace lily is getting too much or too little light, this can cause the leaves or the flowers on your peace lily to turn brown.

A good solution to this is to reposition your peace lily so it’s near a window facing east, so it gets just the right amount of sun, or create a dappled light effect by placing items between your peace lily and its light source.

Peace lilies also grow well under fluorescent lights, so that may be an option for you too.

2. Soil

As the peace lily can be susceptible to rot if its soil is allowed to stay too moist, it’s best to plant it in well-draining soil with lots of organic matter – like my favorite one below.

#1 TOP PICK
N/A

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The best fertilizer for Peace Lilies, supporting bright, lush foliage and beautiful blooms. Feeds instantly to keep your plant looking its best

Repotting your peace lily with fresh soil (gently!) could be a simple solution to this problem – and some of the other problems we’ll mention later too, actually. The potting mix above will do this job perfectly.

3. Temperature

As the peace lily is originally from tropical areas, it prefers a slightly warmer environment than other indoor plants. In particular, if you think the room where your houseplant is kept has dropped below 60F (16C), this could very well be why the flowers on your peace lily are turning brown.

If this is the case, turn the thermostat up to at least 70F (21C) to keep your peace lily warm and happy.

4. Fertilizer

Too much fertilizer is another reason why the flowers on your peace lily may be turning brown. It can also cause your peace lily to develop brown tips on its leaves.

Consider yourself a houseplant pro? Take this quiz and prove it!

If you think you may have overfertilized your peace lily, repotting your plant in fresh soil is a quick solution.

The ideal fertilizer schedule for your peace lily is to start in late winter with a balanced houseplant fertilizer, with my top pick for this being below (although make sure you water it down to about 50% of its strength, as the peace lily really doesn’t need much). 

#1 TOP PICK
N/A

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The best fertilizer for Peace Lilies, supporting bright, lush foliage and beautiful blooms. Feeds instantly to keep your plant looking its best

You should then use this on the peace lily approximately every six weeks, which will make sure you’re promoting growth in spring and summer to help it flower for as long as possible without giving it too much of a good thing.

5. Humidity

Much like the fact that the peace lily prefers warmer temperatures, it also likes to have a good humidity level too.

If you think the air may be too dry around your peace lily, you can try regularly misting your plant or place a humidifier in the room. A small humidifier like this would be perfect for this.

Alternatively, you could place a tray with small stones and water in it below the pot that contains the plant, which can help to create a humidity dome. Just be careful that the base of the pot isn’t put directly in the water as this can make the peace lily’s soil too damp.

6. Age

Unfortunately, your peace lily’s flowers won’t live forever. The first stage in the flower’s life involves it being green and closed up, but it eventually opens to its full white version you’ve probably enjoyed.

However, the next step is for it to turn green again. It may again become white with time, however the flower can also sometimes turn brown at this point and, ultimately, drop off.

peace lily flower turning brown

It’s completely normal for peace lily flowers to die as part of its standard lifecycle and a new flower will almost certainly grow eventually.

At the same time, it can make it tricky for you to diagnose your peace lily’s problems if there’s a chance that its flower turning brown could just be part of its normal aging process. 

Here, the best strategy is to look at your peace lily’s leaves. If they’re also changing color, such as turning brown or yellow, or if your peace lily’s leaves are drooping, it’s probably one of the other issues we’ve discussed rather than old age.

7. Watering

Both overwatering and underwatering can be a reason for the flowers on your peace lily turning brown. The key to watering your peace lily is to make sure the soil is moist, but not too damp – nor should it be too dry.

What does an overwatered peace lily look like?

An overwatered peace lily will often have both its flower and leaves drooping, with the flower often turning brown and the leaves changing to yellow.

You can see a picture of this below. As you can see, the flowers have seen better days (with the top flower almost out of the photo having turned brown) and the first streaks of yellow are forming on the leaves.

While a sad-looking peace lily can be due to other reasons, if you do see your peace lily drooping, it’s very possible that overwatering is the cause.

How often does a peace lily need to be watered?

Your peace lily should be watered about once a week, although it’s important to make sure the soil isn’t too damp. This is why, before watering it, you should stick your finger in the soil. If the top inch or so of the soil is dry, it’s time to water your peace lily.

In addition to keeping an eye on your peace lily’s moisture level, they can also be sensitive to anything that’s in your tap water, like excess amounts of fluoride. To avoid this, try to stick to using distilled water for your peace lily, ideally which is at room temperature.

What do you do if you overwater a peace lily?

If you overwater a peace lily, the best thing you can do is to simply stop watering it and wait. The peace lily is quite hardy so letting it dry out is often the best solution, although improving the drainage in its pot can also help.

These are fairly hardy houseplants, which is why the process of how to save a peace lily is usually quite straightforward: doing nothing. You can resume watering it once the soil reaches the point where it passes the “finger test”.

In addition to the flowers on your peace lily turning brown if you overwater it, this can also lead to the leaves turning yellow. If that’s the case, you can just trim these off. They’ll grow back bigger and better than ever.

What to do if your peace lily’s flowers start turning brown?

Brown flowers on your Peace Lily can be fixed with a few simple steps. First, check your watering habits – both under and overwatering can cause browning. Next, examine the light conditions, as too much direct sunlight can scorch the flowers.

Lastly, ensure proper humidity levels, as dry air can lead to brown tips.

Adjust your watering routine based on the soil moisture. Stick your finger about an inch into the soil – if it’s dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still damp, wait a day or two.

Remember, Peace Lilies prefer slightly moist soil, not waterlogged or bone-dry.

Move your plant to a spot with bright, indirect light. Peace Lilies thrive in areas away from harsh sun rays.

peace lily flower turning brown

A north or east-facing window is often ideal. If you can’t avoid some direct light, use a sheer curtain to filter it.

Boost humidity around your plant. Try misting the leaves regularly or placing a humidity tray filled with pebbles and water nearby.

You can also group your Peace Lily with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.

Check for pests like spider mites or aphids. These tiny invaders can cause damage that leads to browning. If you spot any, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or use an insecticidal soap.

Trim off the brown parts of the flowers with clean, sharp scissors. This won’t harm your plant and will improve its appearance. Make sure to cut at an angle to prevent water from pooling on the cut surface.

How to prevent your peace lily from turning brown

To keep your Peace Lily’s flowers from turning brown, focus on proper care and maintenance. Water your plant when the top inch of soil feels dry, and ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. Place your Peace Lily in a spot with bright, indirect light to avoid leaf burn.

Maintain high humidity around your plant by misting it regularly or using a pebble tray. This helps prevent browning caused by dry air. Clean the leaves gently with a damp cloth to remove dust and improve photosynthesis.

peace lily flower turning brown

Fertilize your Peace Lily every 6-8 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Don’t overfeed, as this can lead to salt buildup and brown leaf tips.

Here are some other quick care tips for your peace lily to prevent browning:

  • Use filtered water or let tap water sit out overnight
  • Avoid temperature extremes and drafts
  • Repot every 1-2 years to refresh soil nutrients
  • Prune yellowing or damaged leaves promptly

By following these preventative measures, you’ll help your Peace Lily thrive and produce healthy, white flowers. Remember to observe your plant regularly and adjust care as needed.

FAQs

Do you cut off dead peace lily flowers?

You should cut off dead peace lily flowers, known as “deadheading”, as this will create room for a new stalk and, ultimately, a new flower to emerge. Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the flower stalk at its base, close to where it emerges from the leaves.

You don’t have to wait for the peace lily flower to fully die before doing this, especially if you think that it may have died from disease as leaving it for too long could allow the disease to spread.

Once the flower looks like it’s gone past the point of no return, simply trim it off and wait for a new one to grow.

(And the same can be done with leaves that have changed color because of a problem.)

How do you deadhead a peace lily?

To deadhead a peace lily, simply cut off the flower at the base of the plant. It’s good to do this as close to the bottom as you can as this creates more space for a new flower, as well as indicating to the plant that it should bloom again.

It also helps to make your plant look better. While having a big, beautiful white flower on your peace lily is the ultimate goal, there’s no doubt that it’s better to have no flower for a while than one that’s seen better days.

So while you may be hesitant to deadhead your peace lily, just keep in mind that it will definitely be for the greater good.

peace lily flower turning brown

How do I get my peace lily to bloom again?

The best way to get your peace lily to bloom again is to look after it based on its care requirements. That is, water it only when needed, make sure it’s in a room where it’s temperature, humidity and light needs are met and be careful of overfertilizing.

In fact, having a consistent watering and fertilizing schedule is the best way to encourage your peace lily to flower for as long as possible. Watering around once a week is best (although take a look earlier in this article for what to check before watering your peace lily) while you’ll generally only want to fertilize it every six weeks. 

Using the right fertilizer, like our top fertilizer pick for the peace lily, is also important.

Why are my peace lily buds turning brown before they open?

Lily buds may turn brown before opening due to overwatering, underwatering, or extreme temperatures. Check your watering routine and ensure the plant isn’t exposed to drafts or heat sources. Adjust your care accordingly to prevent bud browning.

Humidity levels also play a role in bud health. If the air is too dry, mist the plant regularly or use a humidity tray.

Proper fertilization is crucial too – use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during the growing season.

What causes peace lily leaves to turn brown at the tips?

Brown leaf tips on peace lilies often result from inconsistent watering or low humidity. Water your plant when the top inch of soil feels dry, and avoid letting it sit in water. Increase humidity by misting, using a pebble tray, or running a humidifier.

Fluoride in tap water can also cause browning. Try using distilled or rainwater instead. Overfertilizing is another common culprit – follow the recommended dosage and frequency on your fertilizer package.

Will my peace lily flowers return to white after they turn brown?

Once peace lily flowers turn brown, they won’t return to white. The browning process is irreversible and indicates the flower is aging or dying. It’s a natural part of the plant’s life cycle.

Don’t worry though – your peace lily will produce new white flowers in time. Remove the brown ones to encourage new growth. With proper care, including adequate light, water, and humidity, your plant will continue to bloom periodically throughout the year.

Final thoughts

The peace lily is a beautiful looking houseplant so it’s only normal that you panic a bit if you wake up one day and see the flowers on your peace lily turning brown or black.

Fortunately, most of the problems that cause this are easily solvable, either by simply sitting and waiting or making a few adjustments to where your peace lily is located or the pot that it’s in. 

While it’s never fun to think your indoor plant is dying, especially one as striking to look at as the peace lily, just know that it’s very likely that your plant will recover – and, in fact, come back bigger and better than ever.