What bug is this and a solution for them? - Ask Extension
Hello,
For 20 years, I‘ve had a thriving peace lily in a pot. Now, something is afflicting it. The tips turn black and dry, as if something is su...
Knowledgebase
What bug is this and a solution for them? #817417
Asked December 10, 2022, 2:04 PM EST
Hello,
For 20 years, I‘ve had a thriving peace lily in a pot. Now, something is afflicting it. The tips turn black and dry, as if something is sucking the chlorophyll or water out of the leaves. The stems also look like they’re snapped. A change I did this fall, before this calamity, is that I added soil from my yard into the pot, and I left it outside sometimes for sun. The lily has only been an indoor plant most of its life. I wonder if the bug came from the soil or time outdoors. It’s now clinging on for dear life. The foliage is very sparse. The young leaves are particularly attacked. Thank you in advance for your help.
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
We think that the problems with your Peace Lily are more likely to be cultural/environmental than due to insect pests or disease.
These plants don't need a lot of light- they are low light plants that can even do well in a north-facing window.
Leaf tips can brown out and leaves yellow from issues related to water uptake and the very dry air in our homes. As you suspect, we think that the addition of soil from your yard may have had an impact in either keeping the soil too moist or too dry. The bent stem could have been weakened, but it also looks like the pot had an impact/dent made near that area as well so it could just be physical harm.
The good news is we can see a new leaf getting ready to unfurl which means all is not lost.
In the 20 years that you have had the plant, has it been re-potted at all? We think that it is possible that the plant is pot-bound and could use some fresh, appropriate potting soil (soil-less mix not yard soil), root release/loosening and t.l.c. to improve.
Here are our pages on Houseplant care:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-and-caring-indoor-plants
Christine
These plants don't need a lot of light- they are low light plants that can even do well in a north-facing window.
Leaf tips can brown out and leaves yellow from issues related to water uptake and the very dry air in our homes. As you suspect, we think that the addition of soil from your yard may have had an impact in either keeping the soil too moist or too dry. The bent stem could have been weakened, but it also looks like the pot had an impact/dent made near that area as well so it could just be physical harm.
The good news is we can see a new leaf getting ready to unfurl which means all is not lost.
In the 20 years that you have had the plant, has it been re-potted at all? We think that it is possible that the plant is pot-bound and could use some fresh, appropriate potting soil (soil-less mix not yard soil), root release/loosening and t.l.c. to improve.
Here are our pages on Houseplant care:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-and-caring-indoor-plants
Christine
Hello,
Ok, thank you for the tips! I’ve been so worried about losing my “friend” of 20 years. :)
Thanks again for your time and help,
Helen
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On Monday, December 12, 2022, 10:17 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
You are welcome. We are always happy to help.
