Want a taller, fuller Spathiphyllum? Here are tricks to grow tall peace lilies that look lush, healthy, and packed with glossy green foliage!
Anyone can keep a peace lily alive, but getting one that grows tall, lush, and packed with glossy leaves is a different story. While most care guides focus on watering schedules and lighting, here are a few simple tricks that often get overlooked. These small changes can make the difference between an average peace lily and one that becomes a true indoor focal point.
Tricks to Grow a Taller and Fuller Peace Lily
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1. Start With the Largest Variety You Can Find
Many people don’t realize that not all peace lilies reach the same size. Compact varieties stay relatively small no matter how well you care for them. But a mature ‘Sensation’ can produce leaves several feet long under ideal conditions, making it one of the largest peace lily varieties available.
If your goal is a dramatic, floor-filling plant, look for varieties such as ‘Sensation’, ‘Mauna Loa Supreme’, ‘Sensation White’, ‘Sweet Chico’, ‘Allison’, or ‘Bingo Cupido’.
These cultivars generally develop larger foliage and a fuller habit than compact peace lilies commonly sold in grocery stores and garden centers. Here are some wonderful varieties you can check out!
Pro Tip: As large varieties mature, some outer leaves may naturally arch outward under their own weight. A discreet plant support or soft plant stakes can help keep the foliage more upright and give the plant a taller, tidier appearance.
2. Keep Multiple Crowns Growing Together
Peace lilies naturally produce additional crowns, or growing points, from the base of the plant as they age. Instead of rushing to divide them, allow these crowns to mature together whenever possible.
As each crown develops its own leaves, the plant gradually becomes denser and more impressive. This is one of the reasons mature peace lilies often look much fuller than younger plants. What appears to be a single large plant is frequently several crowns growing side by side in the same pot.
Unless the plant is severely overcrowded, there is often no rush to divide it.
Pro Tip: Every few months, inspect the crown and remove dead stems or dried material at the base. It improves airflow, makes watering easier, and helps new leaves emerge without obstruction. Here are more such tricks for bigger peace lilies!
3. Raise the Pot Off the Floor
This may sound like a small detail, but it can make a surprising difference, especially during the colder months. Floors made from tile, concrete, stone, or marble often remain much cooler than the surrounding air, even in heated homes.
When roots sit against these cooler surfaces for months at a time, growth can slow down considerably. Using a plant stand, rolling plant caddy, or simple pot feet creates a layer of insulation between the container and the floor.
We suggest buying a sturdy plant stand and a rolling plant caddy to keep the airflow.
It also improves airflow around the pot and helps excess moisture evaporate more efficiently after watering.
4. Leave the Flower Stalks Only as Long as They Look Good
A healthy peace lily can produce flowers for weeks, but once the white spathe begins turning green, brown, or papery, it has already served its purpose. Still, the plant will continue to direct resources toward it, which could be better used for foliage growth!
So cut old flower stalks at the base as soon as they begin declining. This encourages the plant to focus on producing fresh foliage and new growth instead of supporting aging blooms. If your goal is a larger, fuller plant rather than maximum flowering, this simple habit can help over time.
Pro Tip: Use clean scissors to remove the entire flower stalk near the base, rather than trimming only the flower. Here’s another one, keep your plant in one of these spots; it’ll surprise you by growing massively!
5. Give the Plant Even Light on All Sides
Notice how, in commercial greenhouses, plants receive light from above, resulting in more upright and balanced growth?
You can often spot the difference just by looking at the leaves. Plants receiving light primarily from one side tend to lean toward the window and develop uneven growth. On the other hand, overhead lighting encourages newer leaves to emerge more upright, helping the entire plant maintain a fuller appearance.
If you’re using a grow light, keep it roughly 12 to 18 inches above the foliage and adjust the height as the plant grows. On the other hand, giving the pot a quarter turn every two weeks also helps all sides receive equal light exposure.
This encourages more balanced growth and prevents the plant from developing a permanent lean.
Buy this LED grow light to maintain upright growth when natural light is limited.
Quick Check: If most of your peace lily’s leaves are leaning toward a nearby window, the plant is probably receiving more side light than overhead light. And definitely check if your peace lily is in one of these worst spots and relocate it if needed.
Peace lilies may not be the fastest-growing houseplants, but they reward consistency. A few small changes today can lead to larger leaves, fuller growth, and a much more impressive plant over time.
The Definitive Guide to Houseplants by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan is a great buy for all the plant lovers out there.
