Question
Hi, I have several peace lilies in my home.  They range in size from 1 foot to over 3 feet tall.  Each of my plants blooms periodically throughout the year.  While visiting a garden shop recently, I noticed that the center of the blooms had been removed from the peace lilies.  The shop keeper said that is the way they arrived from the grower but she did not know why the center of the blooms had been removed.  Is there a reason to remove the center of the blooms from a healthy peace lily?  

Answer
Hi Angie,

Your question is very interesting and you are very observant!

The center of the Spathiphyllum flower that you refer to is called a spadix. It is where pollen is produced. The outer hood of the flower is called a spathe.

It is possible that the grower mistakenly believes that removing the spadix will prolong the life if the flower (spathe). But that is not true. The only other reason to remove the spadix is to keep the white pollen from falling onto the green leaves below. Sometimes people see the white pollen and think it is powdery mildew or mealybug. But the pollen is easy enough to remove with a duster, so there is no advanatage to doing that.

So if you were wondering if it would benefit your peace lilies to remove the spadix, the answer is no.


Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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