7 Reasons Your Peace Lily Flowers Are Turning Green (And What to Do)

Peace lilies are among the most beloved houseplants in American homes. With their elegant white “flowers” (technically specialized leaf bracts called spathes) and glossy dark green foliage, they bring a touch of the tropics to living rooms, offices, and bedrooms across the country. 

But what happens when those pristine white blooms suddenly turn green? If you’ve ever stared at your peace lily in confusion, wondering “Why is my flower turning green?”, you’re not alone.

I’ve been growing peace lilies for over 15 years — from my first apartment in Chicago to my current home in North Carolina — and I’ve seen this phenomenon more times than I can count. 

At first, I panicked. Was my plant dying? Did I overwater it? Was it getting too much light?

The truth is far less dramatic — and actually quite fascinating. In this guide, we’ll explore why peace lily flowers turn green, what it means for your plant’s health, and how to prevent it.

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What Are Peace Lily “Flowers” Anyway?

Before we dive into the green flower mystery, let’s clarify a common misconception: peace lilies don’t have true flowers. 

What we call the “white flower” is actually a specialized leaf called a spathe, and the tiny yellowish structures on the spike (spadix) are the real flowers. The spathe starts out white to attract pollinators in its native rainforest habitat, then transitions through cream, light green, and finally dark green as it ages.

Key Fact: The green color in peace lily “flowers” is chlorophyll—the same pigment that makes leaves green—revealing itself as the spathe matures.

This natural color change is perfectly normal. But when it happens too early, too dramatically, or across all new blooms, that’s when you need to pay attention. The table below gives a quick summary of what happens and how to troubleshoot.

Symptom	Likely Cause	Quick Fix
New blooms open green	Genetics or overfertilization	Check cultivar; reduce fertilizer
Old blooms green, new ones white	Normal aging	Do nothing—enjoy!
All blooms pale green + leggy	Low light	Increase indirect light
Green blooms + brown leaf tips	Sun stress or hard water	Move + use filtered water
Green blooms + salt crust on soil	Overfertilization	Flush soil thoroughly

Why your Peace Lily Flowers are Turning Green

Here are common reasons for this issue.

1. Natural Aging (The #1 Reason—And It’s a Good Thing!)

Your peace lily’s white spathe isn’t a flower that stays white forever. It’s a modified leaf designed to attract pollinators in the wild. Once pollination is done (or in your home, when no pollinators show up), the plant says, “Job complete!” and recycles the spathe.

This usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from when the bloom first opens. It happens in stages as follows:

• Stage 1: The white color fades to cream.
• Stage 2: Chlorophyll (the green pigment in leaves) slowly appears.
• Stage 3: The spathe turns fully green and starts photosynthesizing—like a bonus solar panel for the plant!

What to do

• Leave green spathes alone—they’re feeding the plant!
• Only cut them off when they turn brown and crispy, using clean scissors at the base of the stem.
• Want more white blooms? Give bright, indirect light (more on that soon).

2. Too Much Direct Sunlight (The “Sunburn” Effect)

Peace lilies grow under tall rainforest trees in nature. They love light, but hate direct sun. Harsh rays bleach the spathe and trigger early greening as a stress response. American hot spots for this problem include:

• South- or west-facing windows (especially in Texas, Arizona, or California)
• Patios or sunrooms during summer
• Near glass doors where heat builds up

Warning signs

• Spathes turn greenish-white or yellowish-green
• Brown scorch marks on leaves
• Wilting even when soil is moist

How to fix it

1. Move your plant 3–6 feet back from the window.
2. Add a sheer curtain to filter light.
3. Consider the North or east window, or 5–8 feet from a south window.

Pro tip for hot states (AZ, NV, NM):

Use a light meter app on your phone. Aim for 400–800 foot-candles (bright but not blinding). Anything over 1,000 = too much!

3. Not Enough Light (The “Living in a Cave” Problem)

In dim rooms, your peace lily struggles to make energy. It can still bloom, but new spathes often open pale, weak, or already tinged green because the plant lacks the power to produce pure white pigment. Common low-light zones in U.S. homes include:

• Basements, hallways, or offices with fluorescent lights
• North-facing rooms in winter (especially in northern states like Minnesota or Michigan)
• Apartments with small windows

Tell-tale signs

• Long, stretched-out stems (reaching for light)
• Small, floppy, or pale green spathes
• No blooms for 6+ months

How to fix it

• Relocate your plant to a brighter spot (but avoid direct sun).
• Add a grow light and aim for 12–14 hours per day. Place 12–18 inches above the plant

4. Overfertilizing (Feeding It Too Much “Junk Food”)

Many gardeners grab Miracle-Gro or all-purpose plant food (often 24-8-16 or higher). Peace lilies are light feeders—they get overwhelmed easily. Too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen, tells the plant: “Grow leaves, not flowers!” The spathe starts acting like a leaf and turns green early.

Signs you’re overdoing it

• Dark green, oversized leaves
• Green or small spathes
• White crust on soil (salt buildup)
• Brown leaf tips

How to fix it

1. Stop fertilizing immediately.
2. Flush the soil. Pour distilled or rainwater through the pot until it runs clear (about 3x the pot volume).
3. Wait 6–8 weeks before feeding again—and then use ¼ strength of a balanced fertilizer (like 10-10-10).

5. Temperature Swings (Too Hot, Too Cold, or Too Dry)

Peace lilies are tropical—they want steady, comfy conditions. Extreme temps mess with pigment production and cause green or droopy spathes. Ideal range includes:

• Day: 65–80°F (18–27°C)
• Night: Above 60°F (15°C)

Common U.S. trouble spots:

Problem	Where It Happens	Fix
Cold drafts	Near windows in NY, IL, MI	Move 2–3 feet away
Hot, dry air	Near heaters in CO, UT	Use a pebble tray
AC vents	In FL, TX summers	Redirect airflow

How to fix it

• Use a digital thermometer/hygrometer to monitor humidity.
• Keep humidity 40–60%. There are several ways to achieve this. Using a pebble tray (Fill with water, set pot on top), a humidifier (Great for dry winter homes), and misting.

6. It’s Just the Variety! (Some Peace Lilies Are Naturally Green-ish)

Not all peace lilies are pure white. Some cultivars have genetically pale or green-tinged spathes—and that’s okay!

Popular varieties that often turn green:

Variety	Spathe Color	Where You’ll Find It
‘Mauna Loa’	Creamy → light green	Walmart, Lowe’s
‘Domino’	Variegated leaves, green-white spathes	Specialty nurseries
‘Sensation’	Large, ages to pale green	Big box stores
‘Picasso’	White with green veins	Online or local shops

What to do

• Check the tag or Google your variety.
• Accept a little green—it’s part of their charm!

7. Water Quality (The Silent Saboteur)

Tap water in many U.S. cities contains chlorine, fluoride, or minerals that build up in soil. This can stress the plant, causing green spathes + brown leaf tips.

High-risk areas

• Florida, Arizona, Nevada: Hard water (high calcium/magnesium)
• Most cities: Chlorinated municipal water

Signs

• White crust on the soil
• Brown leaf edges
• Green or stunted spathes

How to fix it

• Use rainwater or distilled water. 
• Let tap water sit for 24 hours to evaporate chlorine 
• Use a filter (removes some minerals)

Bonus: Repot every 1–2 years in fresh, peat-based potting mix to prevent buildup.

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How to Encourage Snow-White Peace Lily Blooms 

Follow this proven routine I’ve used successfully in three different U.S. climate zones:

Step 1: Optimize Light

• Place your peace lily near the east or north window 
• Use a grow light if natural light is limited.
• Rotate the plant weekly for even growth

Step 2: Water Correctly

• Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry
• Use room-temperature water
• Ensure excellent drainage (no saucers with standing water)

Step 3: Feed Sparingly

• Fertilize March–September only
• Use ¼ strength balanced fertilizer every 6–8 weeks
• Flush soil every 3 months

Step 4: Maintain an Ideal Environment

• 65–80°F day, 60°F+ night
• 40–60% humidity
• No drafts

Step 5: Prune Strategically

• Remove fully green or brown spathes at the base
• Cut yellow leaves to reduce stress

Step 6: Repot Every 2 Years

• Use a peat-based, well-draining mix
• Pot size should be 1–2 inches larger than the root ball
• Spring repotting is the best

Peace Lily Care by U.S. Region (Customized Tips)

Peace lily care and maintenance requirements can broadly vary based on your regional climatic conditions. Here are tips that can help you achieve your goals.

Region	Light Tip	Water Tip	Temperature Tip
Northeast (NY, PA)	North window + grow light in winter	Use dechlorinated water	Keep away from cold windows
Southeast (FL, GA)	Sheer curtains on south windows	Water frequently, ensure drainage	Avoid AC vents
Midwest (IL, OH)	East window ideal	Check soil weekly	Use humidifier in winter
Southwest (AZ, NM)	Avoid west sun, use grow light	Use distilled water	Mist daily or use pebble tray
West Coast (CA, OR)	North or east window	Monitor for root rot	Stable temps year-round
Mountain States (CO, UT)	South window with sheer curtain	Low humidity—use humidifier	Protect from heater drafts

Final Thoughts

Here’s the truth I’ve learned after years of growing peace lilies: green flowers are not a failure—they’re a phase.

A peace lily with a mix of white, cream, and green spathes is a mature, thriving plant doing exactly what nature intended. Your job? Provide the right light, water, and care so it keeps producing those stunning white blooms year after year.

References

1. University of Florida IFAS Extension. (2023). Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) Care. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP579
2. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Spathiphyllum wallisii.
   https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276124
3. Clemson Cooperative Extension. (2022). Houseplant Problems: Peace Lily.
   https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/peace-lily/
4. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Plants (ASPCP). (2024). Top 10 Houseplant Myths. https://www.aspcp.org/myths
5. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). (2023). Spathiphyllum: Indoor Care.
   https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/spathiphyllum/growing-guide