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INDOORPLANTCARE
Pruning · Peace Lily

How to Prune a Peace Lily

Spring cleanup annually; remove spent flowers and damaged leaves anytime. Best time: Spring.

Frequency
Spring cleanup annually; remove spent flowers and damaged leaves anytime
Best season
Spring
Tools
Sharp scissors or pruners; isopropyl alcohol
Aftercare
Switch to filtered or distilled water if brown tips keep returning — peace lilies are fluoride-sensitive.

Where to cut on a Peace Lily

Cut entire leaves at the base of the petiole, just above the soil line. Cut spent flower stalks (after the white spathe turns green and starts to fade) all the way back to the base.

Step-by-step

  1. 1
    Remove yellowing or damaged leaves by cutting the petiole at the soil line.
  2. 2
    Cut spent flower stalks all the way back to the base once the spathe turns green and starts to brown.
  3. 3
    For brown leaf tips: trim following the natural leaf shape, leaving a thin brown line — cutting into green produces a new brown tip immediately.
  4. 4
    Sterilize your scissors between cuts.
  5. 5
    Divide an overgrown peace lily at repotting time rather than pruning — peace lilies do not respond to heavy pruning and divide easily.

Why prune a Peace Lily

  • Keeps the plant tidy and encourages new flower production
  • Removes the spent flower stalks that otherwise look sad and brown
  • Trimming brown tips improves appearance

What ruins a Peace Lily when pruning

  • Cutting healthy green leaves to "shape" — peace lilies do not branch, so each removed leaf is one less leaf forever
  • Trimming brown tips straight across — looks artificial
  • Pruning a stressed (drooping, dry) plant — fix watering first

Botanical reference: Missouri Botanical Garden — Spathiphyllum

For full Peace Lily care, see the Peace Lily care guide. To repot the same plant, see how to repot a Peace Lily.