Question
QUESTION: Hi
I've been given care of a peace lily with a lot of big leaves which look scorched and yellow.  It looks a bit small and stunted - I'm wondering how to 'help' it to grow some more and healthy up?  

Should I cut the yellow leaves (the whole plant is yellow actually), and if so, where and how should i cut on the stem that won't kill anything?

I'm holding off fertilising and other stuff for now, I'm just worried because it's just not growing much at all (it doesn't look pot-bound either - maybe overwatered which may account for the leaves)?

ANSWER: Miranda,

Scorched leads me to belive that you may have it outdoors, peace lillies should never be outdoors. They do not like the sun or wind or too much water. No, do not cut the leaves off unless they collapse. If they collapse you should cut them off at the base of the stem with sharp scissors. Keep the plant in a bright put not sunny location, at most close to an east window, sun from an east window will not hurt the plant. Do not water more than once a week and never leave water sitting in the drain tray. An hour after you water empty the drain tray. This plant does not like wet feet. It does not like a self watering pot. It cannot be constantly wet. It has to dry out between waterings. If the soil feels moist and the plant is heavy when you pick it up do not water it, it must dry out between waterings. As you realized the yellow leaves are most likely from overwatering. Empty the drain tray and dry the plant out as quickly as possible. Setting it near a fan would help. In the winter watering it every 2 weeks is often enough. If in doubt about whether it needs watered or not wait another day or two. Good luck.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for that Darlene - I don't currently own a fan, but it's winter where I am, so hopefully a nice day (inside) in a sunny location and the heating in the evening will help dry it out?  My own PL seems to need a bit more watering than usual in its current location, because of the heaters (and probably because it's beginning to bloom again!) My friend was telling me that when he accidentally tipped over the PL in his car, water spilled out so that sounds a lot like overwatering to me.  

I have no experience with overwatering though - WILL the roots dry out with a bit of heat (from heaters / indoor sun?)  If so, should I wait before the plant 'droops' before I water it again? Is it possible that it's not absorbing water at all, hence the spillage when it tipped?

Thanks again for your advice

Answer
Miranda,

Yes, if it has been overwatered so long that it is all yellow the roots may be nearly all rotted off so it may be absorbing very little water because it may have almost no roots. Just pour all the water off that you can then leave it sitting in a sunny location and don't water it till the pot feels light weight when you pick it up. The yellow leaves may get droopy because they are dead. In that case cut them off but if the soil still feels spongey and moist do not water the plant. You can use a shish kabob skewer and insert it into the soil and if it comes out moist do not water. Hopefully the roots will send out some new green growth before the plant totally dies and the plant will regrow. When you water it again give it less water than it has been given in the past. Good luck.

Darlene