Peace lily flowers naturally turn green after 2 or 3 weeks to allow for photosynthesis and seed development, but excessive fertilizer and sunlight can accelerate this process.
Peace lily blooms typically endure for approximately three weeks under optimal circumstances before transitioning from their original white hue to green, and ultimately brown, prior to withering away.
Continue reading to discover the reasons behind your peace lily flowers changing color to green and what actions you should take.
Life Cycle of the Flower-Peace Lily Flowers Turn Green as They Age
Peace lily flowers turn green as a natural part of their life cycle, allowing them to photosynthesize and provide the developing seed head with more energy for reproduction.
The spathe or bract of the peace lily flower, which is a specialized type of leaf, is naturally white to attract pollinating insects in its original habitat.
The spathes of peace lily flowers usually remain white for about 2 to 3 weeks before transitioning into a green color and eventually withering away and turning brown.
When Peace Lily flowers turn green, it signifies that they have accumulated chlorophyll, enabling them to photosynthesize and function like a leaf.
The Peace Lily flower changes from white to green and gains the capacity to photosynthesize in order to give its developing fruit (which turns into a seed head) energy so it can generate seeds, thus providing the next generation of Peace Lilies with the best opportunity for germination and growth.
The peace lily flower, also known as spathe, serves multiple purposes by attracting pollinators and providing additional energy for seed production, giving the plant a competitive edge in its natural habitat.
Peace lily flowers turning green during their life cycle is a completely normal occurrence.
Nonetheless, there exist two elements that can accelerate the pace at which the Peace Lily flowers shift their color from white to green…
Too Much Fertilizer Can Encourage Peace Lily Flower to Turn From White to Green
Peace lilies, which are native to South America, thrive in soil with low to moderate fertility. If you give them too much fertilizer or use a concentration that is too high, it can lead to an increase in foliage growth and cause the white flowers to turn green more quickly.
It should be observed that all peace lily blooms will ultimately transform from white to green, typically within 2 or 3 weeks. However, the process can be accelerated by overusing fertilizer, causing the color change to occur more rapidly.
While plants like monstera, pothos, and spider plants are known for their foliage growth, they do not produce as many flowers as peace lilies, which may not bloom as frequently but have a greater number of flowers.
A typical houseplant fertilizer is formulated with a high concentration of nutrients to encourage the growth of leaves, which can create an environment that is too nutrient-rich for peace lilies to bloom (too much fertilizer can cause peace lilies to droop).
Peace lilies may require fertilizer applications since their roots can deplete the limited amount of nutrients present in their potting soil.
Therefore the best thing to do is to apply fertilizer at half or ev<a href=”http://www
By maintaining the appropriate nutrient balance, the peace lily can thrive and produce healthy foliage and blooms without being overfed with nutrients that lead to green flowers and wilting.
Too Much Sunlight can Contribute to Peace Lily Flowers Turning Green
Excessive sunlight can also cause peace lily flowers to change color from white to green.
Peace lilies are among the few houseplants that bloom in the shadows.
Bright indirect light is an effective method to enhance the quantity of peace lily flowers, but based on my observation, it may also accelerate the process of peace lily flowers turning green compared to those grown in darker areas of the house.
Although there is not enough research to confirm it, it is believed that the peace lily’s white flowers may turn green earlier in sunnier conditions because more light creates favorable conditions for the green flowers to provide energy, allowing the plant to produce seeds and ensure its survival as a species.
My personal preference is to place my peace lilies in bright areas of the house, even if it causes the flowers to turn green, because they tend to produce more abundant blooms. However, it’s important to avoid exposing them to direct sunlight as this can damage the leaves.
Check out my article, Reviving a Wilting Peace Lily).
Do Green Peace Lily Flowers Turn White Again?
Peace lily flowers undergo a color change from white to green after 2-3 weeks, and once they turn green, they do not revert to their original white color. This transformation occurs because the flower’s purpose shifts from attracting pollinators when it is white to performing photosynthesis when it turns green.
The peace lily undergoes a natural process where its flowers transition from white to green before ultimately withering and turning brown.
Should I cut Off Green Peace Lily Flowers?
Peace lily flowers that turn green do not need to be removed since they are still performing photosynthesis and providing energy to the plant, but it is advisable to trim any flowers that are transitioning from green to brown as they are dying and no longer beneficial for the peace lily.
To enhance the look of the peace lily and encourage blooming, trim the stem of the withering flower down to its base.
(Check out my article, Why Are My Peace Lily Flowers Turning Green??)
Key Takeaways:
- Peace lily flowers naturally turn green as part of their life cycle, typically after two weeks, to facilitate photosynthesis and provide more energy for the developing seed.
- Excessive fertilizer can cause peace lily flowers to turn green faster as it promotes foliage growth, leading to a reduction in flower production and an increased tendency for the leaves to turn green for photosynthesis.
- If exposed to excessive sunlight, peace lily flowers may change their color from white to green at a faster pace, whereas they tend to remain white for an extended period in shadier conditions, albeit with reduced flowering.
- Once peace lily flowers turn green, they do not revert to their original white color as the green hue indicates that they are providing nourishment for the growing seeds before eventually withering and turning brown.
- Green peace lily flowers do not require trimming since they can still perform photosynthesis and supply the plant with energy, but once they transform from green to brown, it is advisable to cut them back to the plant’s base.