Peace Lily Guide: How to Feed, Grow & Keep Your Spathiphyllum Thriving

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is one of the most popular indoor plants in Australia—and for good reason. With its deep green leaves and elegant white blooms, it brings calm and beauty to any room. But to keep your peace lily looking its best, regular feeding with the right fertiliser is key.

Peace Lily Light & Watering Tips

Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower-light areas. Avoid direct sunlight, which burns the leaves.
Water: Water thoroughly when the top 3–4 cm of soil feels dry. Peace lilies like moist soil but will droop dramatically if they dry out too far.
Humidity: They thrive in high humidity—mist regularly or place near a bathroom or humidifier.

Peace lilies can be grown in pots indoors year-round and do best when slightly root-bound. Repot only when growth slows noticeably or roots are pushing through the base.

Soil & Drainage for Peace Lilies

Use a well-draining indoor potting mix. Adding perlite or orchid bark improves aeration, helping prevent root rot. Always use a pot with a drainage hole and empty saucers after watering.

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How to Fertilise a Peace Lily (Step by Step)

Learning how to fertilise a peace lily properly is key to keeping your plant healthy and blooming. Peace lilies prefer gentle, balanced nutrition delivered in liquid form. Follow these simple steps to avoid overfeeding:

Choose a balanced liquid fertiliser with an NPK ratio like 20-20-20 or 16-4-14.
Dilute to half strength (e.g., 2–4 ml per litre of water) to avoid leaf burn.
Apply every 2 to 4 weeks during the growing season (spring to early autumn).
Water the plant first, then apply the fertiliser to damp soil.
Flush the soil with plain water every 6–8 weeks to remove excess salt and nutrient build-up.

Tip: Brown tips or yellowing leaves often mean overfeeding. Scale back frequency or dilute more if this occurs.

Peace Lily Care in Australia: Indoors vs Outdoors

While peace lilies are most commonly kept indoors, they can also thrive outside in the right Australian climate. Here’s how to care for your peace lily outside and inside:

Indoors: Place in bright, indirect light. Use a balanced liquid fertiliser like Complete Grow NPK 20-20-20 every 2–4 weeks.
Outdoors: Only grow peace lilies outside in warm, frost-free areas like QLD or northern NSW. Keep in dappled shade and protect from direct sun.
Fertilise lightly: Even outdoors, overfeeding causes more harm than good. Stick to low-strength liquid formulas every 3–4 weeks during warmer months.

Whether indoors or outdoors, peace lilies need well-drained soil, filtered light, and gentle fertilising. With the right care, these elegant plants can thrive all year round in many parts of Australia.

What Fertiliser Should You Give a Peace Lily in Australia?

In Australia’s varied indoor climates, the ideal fertiliser for peace lilies must be gentle, balanced, and suited to container growth. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are tropical plants that require specific care when grown in pots indoors — especially when it comes to feeding.

Many store-bought fertilisers, especially cheap granular or slow-release products from big-box stores like Bunnings, can be too harsh for peace lilies. They often lack micronutrients or contain high phosphorus levels that may burn roots or result in leaf yellowing.

Best Fertiliser Options for Peace Lilies

NPK 20-20-20 Liquid Fertiliser: Provides equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Ideal for leafy growth and regular flowering. Highly recommended for general houseplant feeding routines.
Indoor Plant Food (NPK 16-4-14): Formulated with lower phosphorus for more sensitive indoor plants. Supports green foliage, strong roots and balanced growth — perfect for peace lilies kept in lower light areas or decorative pots.
Micronutrient Chelates: Products that include iron, zinc, boron, magnesium help prevent common peace lily issues like pale leaves, weak growth, or lack of blooms.

Why Peace Lilies Need a Special Fertilising Approach

Unlike heavy-feeding plants like tomatoes or flowering annuals, peace lilies are sensitive to nutrient overload. They store excess salts in their root zone, which can quickly cause tip burn, drooping, or even root damage.

That’s why it’s essential to use diluted, water-soluble formulas — and to match feeding frequency with their growth cycle. In Australia, where air conditioning and low humidity are common indoors, plants often grow more slowly. Overfeeding in these conditions does more harm than good.

For best results, choose a trusted Australian brand like Complete Grow, which designs fertilisers for local indoor conditions and plant needs. Our formulas are made by growers who understand what peace lilies really need: complete nutrition, gentle ratios, and consistent results.

Quick Tips for Peace Lily Feeding in Australia

Use liquid fertiliser — never sprinkle granules on top of the pot.
Feed every 2–4 weeks from September to April. Pause in winter.
Flush with clean water every 1–2 months to clear salt build-up.
Choose Australian-made blends formulated for our growing conditions.

Looking for the best peace lily fertiliser in Australia? Try our top-rated NPK 20-20-20 Liquid Plant Food or our — both available now with free shipping from CompleteGrow.com.au.