The variegated peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) or lipstick plant produces beautiful white blooms with pink spots, providing a lovely floral display in the spring and early summer. This tropical plant requires warm temperatures and high humidity to thrive but can adapt to cooler climates if it receives enough light and warmth year-round.
The variegated peace lily is one of the most popular houseplants you can find, and they can look great in almost any room in your home because of their large size and abundance of foliage. They also grow relatively quickly, so you won’t need much experience to take care of them as long as you follow a few essential tips we’ll cover in this guide.
The Basics of Variegated Peace Lily
Variegated peace lilies are plants that grow in tropical climates. They can be grown as houseplants or outdoors. They need bright, indirect sunlight, with some shade during the hottest parts of the day. Moisture should be present in the soil, but not too much. Hence, ensure to water whenever the top of the soil feels dry, but do not over-water.
Peace lilies aren’t just admired for their leaves alone, with their true beauty in the spectacular white flowers that occasionally bloom. These flowers are similar to calla lilies; they are green while young and gradually turn white as they mature.
Types of Variegated Peace Lily
Now that you understand what a variegated peace lily is all about, you might wonder if they are other types of this unique plant. Below are some varieties of the variegated peace lily:
White Stripe
This variegated peace lily has a distinct design, with a single white stripe running through the middle of each leaf. This plant is also known as the “Silver Streak.” Unlike some other species of peace lily, the white stripe has matte-finish leaves that are large, wide, and bright green.
Domino
This variety is by far the commonest variegated peace lily to find. The Domino’s foliage is a chaotic spray of variegation. The dark green leaves are punctuated with minty green and tiny streaks of white jutting out from the midribs. The leaves are often rumpled, further highlighting their wild patterns.
Platinum Mist
The Platinum Mist is more prevalent and subtle than most other varieties. This plant’s veins are accentuated in a lemon-lime tint, with deeper green in between. It gives them an unusual textured appearance, almost like reptile skin.
Picasso
This peace lily has mismatched, huge white splotches throughout all of its leaves, with the variegation swallowing entire leaves at times. The white often changes in size and intensity, appearing as pure white occasionally and light green occasionally. The variegation can continue down the plant’s stem, providing an eye-catching white appearance!
Patricia
This compact species, often known as Spathiphyllum ‘Patricia,’ features white blossoms and lush green foliage, creating a stunning contrasting display that glows elegantly in your surroundings.
Where to Find Variegated Peace Lilies
Variegated peace lilies can be challenging and not always accessible in retail garden stores. There are, however, alternative options for getting one of these highly prized beauties.
Amazon
Besides being home to a nearly infinite range of items, Amazon, also sells plants. Using Amazon for plant shopping allows you to locate more varieties of plants that you may not be able to find locally, and variegated peace lilies are certainly among the crop.
Etsy
Etsy is a great site to find handcrafted items of various types, even plants! A few Etsy vendors, such as the variegated peace lily, grow and sell plants. So, if you’ve exhausted your local options, you can give this a shot!
Facebook Marketplace
On Facebook, there are always plant aficionados growing and selling off surplus vegetation from their houseplants. So look around to see if you can find someone selling variegated peace lilies!
Local plant nurseries
Local nurseries typically have devoted people cultivating unusual or difficult-to-raise plants that could include the variegated peace lily. Even if they don’t have them, the staff at a nearby nursery could be able to point you in the right direction!
Propagating Variegated Peace Lily
If you want to add a tranquil look to your home or office, the variegated peace lily may be just what you need. This plant offers many perks, such as beautiful leaves with white and yellow edges, easy care, and long-lasting blooms that sweeten the atmosphere in any space.
Follow these simple steps to grow this beauty indoors or outdoors:
- Variegated peace lilies are propagated by dividing the rhizomes (stems). To do this, find a healthy plant stem with at least three leaves.
- Cut it into sections, with each section containing one or two shoots.
- Plant the sections in well-drained soil, preferably on their sides, so the buds will face up.
- Keep them in partial shade until they develop root systems and new growth is visible, then gradually expose them to more light.
- With room temperature water, thoroughly water the variegated peace lily. Allow the soil to dry before re-watering.
- Mist the leaves 3-4 times each week using cool water. Remove any dust or dirt from the leaves using a damp sponge.
- During the growth season, fertilize the variegated peace lily once a month. To dampen the soil, apply a regular 20-20-20 house plant fertilizer.
- Inspect the leaves regularly for signs of pest infestation. Wipe away any damaged leaves with soapy water or isopropyl alcohol.
Caring for Variegated Peace Lily
If you love the look of variegated plants but don’t have a green thumb, then the variegated peace lily might be just the thing for you. This shade-loving houseplant requires little care to thrive indoors and will give you plenty of colors to brighten up even the dingiest corner of your home or office.
Below are ways you can care for your variegated peace lily:
Soil
Variegated peace lilies are not picky about their soil type but prefer less heavy soil. They also prefer to be planted in moist but well-drained soil, allowing the roots to grow deeper into the ground. However, ensure you choose potting soil with peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and compost. Be careful when adding these ingredients because they can hold too much water, which could kill your plant.
Light
Variegated peace lilies are among the most popular plant varieties due to their unique leaves. Hence, they require a lot of direct sunlight to thrive. Although partial sunlight, weaker morning sun, or lights through a covered patio can still do the job. However, ensure that your plant doesn’t get too much direct light, as it can burn the leaves.
Water
Variegated peace lilies need moderate watering, with the soil being moist but not wet. Too much water will cause the leaves to droop or fall over. The watering frequency depends on how warm it is; between once a week and every other day in warmer weather, less often when it is colder outside. It’s also important not to overwater, but don’t let the plant dry out!
Fertilizer
Variegated peace lilies are notoriously difficult to care for, and the most important thing they need is constant fertilizing. You should fertilize twice per month or more often if you notice the leaves starting to yellow or brown. We recommend using any water-soluble and organic fertilizer.
Pruning
The variegation on the leaves will gradually fade as the plant grows. When it does, you can clip off the tips of the still-green leaves. If you want to increase your plant’s size, take cuttings from the tip of healthy stems and replant them in fresh potting soil. Alternatively, repot your plant into fresh potting soil every few years.
Common Problems of the Variegated Peace Lily
Below are some of the common problems you might encounter in your variegated peace lily:
Pests
These are mealybugs, a frequent pest of houseplants like peace lilies. Undersides of leaves and the points where leaves meet stems are where they lay their eggs. Using insecticide spray is an excellent way to get rid of these pests.
Brown spots or tips
If your variegated peace lily’s leaves have dark patches or tips, it might be due to a lack of humidity. Misting the plant regularly or adding a humidifier is ideal for tackling this problem.
Fungus gnats
Fungus gnats will always attack all plant parents at some time, and the variegated peace lily is no exception. The fungus gnats deposit their eggs in the top layer of the plant’s soil and prefer damp soil. A fungus gnat infestation indicates that you’re overwatering your plant.
Yellowing and wilting leaves
If the leaves on your variegated peace lily are drooping and yellow, ensure you are not overwatering it. Water until the top several inches of soil have dried up, and choose a well-draining soil.
To wrap up, variegated peace lilies are flowering plants that thrive in low light, making them ideal for offices and bathrooms with little natural sunlight. If you’re looking to add some greenery to your space, consider growing one of these gorgeous plants from stem cuttings instead of purchasing one from the local florist or nursery.