I have inherited a large Peace Lily which I would like to divide into smaller plants. Is this possible and when would be the best time to do it?

J Kent, Upton REG SAYS: Yes, certainly you could divide a Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum). The ideal time would be just a growth is beginning for the new season March/April but the job could also be done at any time during the growing season.

I would try to do it before late August so that the roots still have a decent period of good growing time left before growth begins to slow down again.

The plant should divide reasonably easily but you could always use a hand fork to help you to tease the sections apart.

Having said, that I would not split it down too much, just into halves would be best as smaller plants tend to take longer to settle down into a regular pattern of flowering.

Use houseplant or potting compost and pots that are about 2.5cm (1in) bigger in circumference than the rootball of the Peace Lily section as, once again, larger pots will promote vegetative growth rather than blooming.

Water well after re-potting and afterwards keep the plants moist but allow the surface to dry out between waterings.

Peace lilies come from South America and for some reason many people think that they need to be kept in a shady spot.

All right, it's true that they will grow in shade, but they certainly do not flower well, if at all, under those circumstances and usually when a question comes up about a non-flowering Spathiphyllum the cause can be attributed to where the plant is positioned.

I suppose the best way to describe the ideal situation would be "bright filtered light" not in a hot sunny south or west facing windowsill but near to an east or north facing one would suffice.

I suppose being behind a net curtain in a sunnier window would also be good but at home ours is kept near an east facing French window and it thrives there, flowering regularly.

Placing the pot on a wide saucer of moist grit, or gravel, is also a good idea as this helps to maintain high humidity levels around the foliage - especially when the central heating is on.

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