Best Soil for Peace Lilies
One of the most confusing parts of houseplant care for many beginning plant parents is choosing the right soil. After all, not all soils and potting mixes are created equal!
Peace lilies are a classic beginner-friendly houseplant, but they still have clear preferences when it comes to soil and potting. So what’s the best soil for peace lilies?
Fun fact: Peace lilies aren’t actually lilies at all! They’re actually a member of the araceae family, also known as aroids. This family of plants generally prefers a balanced soil that retains a little moisture but still drains well so the soil stays evenly damp, but not soggy.
Unfortunately, many of the potting soils you’ll find at Lowe’s or Home Depot either drain way too quickly and dry out the roots or hold on to too much moisture, which can lead to overwatering and even root rot!
We find that the best solution is to either purchase a specialty mix formulated for aroids or to make your own potting mix.
Here are our favorite recipes and ready-made potting mixes for peace lilies and other aroids!
Option #1: Best Soil for Peace Lilies in a Pinch
If you need to pot your peace lily, like, yesterday and don’t have time to order a specialty mix or a bunch of ingredients, you can mix 2 parts regular indoor potting mix or cactus mix with 1 part bark or perlite to increase aeration. You can find these ingredients at any store with a gardening section.
This mix is great in a hurry, but it may not be the best long-term solution for your peace lily because it still holds on to moisture. However, the bark or perlite will improve drainage and keep the soil more aerated than if you potted in potting mix straight out of the bag.
Option #2: DIY Aroid and Peace Lily Soil
If you’re more of a do-it-yourself person and want to go all in on creating high-quality potting mix for your plants, we love this aroid soil recipe from Kaylee Ellen on YouTube.
In a large bowl, mix together:
- 5 parts orchid bark
- 4 parts coir
- 5 parts perlite
- 2 parts activated charcoal
- 2 parts worm castings
This option is a little pricey up front because you’ll need to buy all the ingredients separately, but you can make a lot more soil for aroids and other houseplants. This is a great option if you have several plants that need to stay healthy!
Option #3: Ready-to-Use Potting Mix for Aroids
If you’re looking for a quality soil without all the extra work, the easiest (and our favorite!) option for the perfect peace lily soil is our Premium Monstera Potting Soil.
While we formulated this potting mix especially for monstera varieties, monsteras are aroids, just like peace lilies, and we’ve found that they have very similar soil preferences. Premium Monstera Potting Soil works great for peace lilies!
This potting soil is a top-quality, premixed blend of coco coir, orchid bark, perlite for the ideal balance of drainage and moisture retention. This mix also stays well-aerated thanks to the bark and perlite and won’t compact easily, which will give your peace lily’s roots plenty of space to grow and breathe!
You can buy Premium Monstera Potting Soil on Amazon.
Check out our other great peace lily care guides!
The Best Fertilizer for Peace Lilies
How Often to Water a Peace Lily
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