How To Keep A Lily Plant Alive Indoors

Bringing a lily plant indoors adds elegant blooms and fresh greenery to your home. Learning how to keep a lily plant alive indoors is simpler than you might think, and it starts with understanding its basic needs. With the right care, these stunning plants can thrive inside for years, offering repeat performances of their beautiful flowers.

This guide walks you through all the essential steps. We’ll cover light, water, soil, and troubleshooting common problems. Let’s get started.

Success with indoor lilies hinges on a few key pillars. You need to mimic their preferred natural conditions as closely as possible. Paying attention to these core areas will set your plant up for a long and healthy life.

Choosing the Right Lily and Pot

Not all lilies are equally suited for indoor life. Some varieties adapt better to container living.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): The classic choice. It’s not a true lily but is exceptionally adaptable to indoor light and famously tells you when it needs water.
Asiatic and Oriental Lilies: True lilies often sold as potted gift plants. They can be grown indoors while in bloom, but may need a dormant period to reflower.
Pot Size: Choose a pot only 1-2 inches wider than the root ball. Lilies like to be slightly root-bound. Ensure it has excellent drainage holes.

The Perfect Spot: Light and Temperature

Light is the most common make-or-break factor. Getting this right solves many future problems.

Bright, Indirect Light is Best: A spot near an east or west-facing window is ideal. It provides plenty of light without the harsh, scorching rays of direct southern sun.
Watch for Signs: If your lily’s leaves are pale, leggy, or it’s not flowering, it needs more light. If leaves are turning brown or crispy, it’s getting too much direct sun.
Ideal Temperature: Lilies enjoy daytime temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C) and a slight drop at night. Avoid placing them near heating vents, air conditioners, or drafty windows.

Watering Your Lily Correctly

Overwatering is the fastest way to kill a lily. Their roots need air as much as they need moisture.

The Finger Test: Before watering, stick your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still damp, wait a day or two.
Water Thoroughly: When you water, do so slowly and evenly until water runs freely out the drainage holes. This ensures the entire root ball gets moisture.
Empty the Saucer: Never let the pot sit in standing water. Empty the saucer after 15-20 minutes to prevent root rot.
Water Quality: If possible, use room-temperature water. Peace Lilies can be sensitive to chlorine and fluoride, so filtered or distilled water is a good option if leaf tips brown.

Soil and Fertilizing Basics

The right soil mix provides nutrients and, crucially, proper drainage.

Soil Mix: Use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix. A mix formulated for African Violets works very well for lilies too, as it retains moisture but drains excess water quickly.
Fertilizing Schedule: Feed your lily during its active growing season (spring and summer). Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (like a 10-10-10) diluted to half strength.
How Often: Fertilize every 4-6 weeks during growth periods. Do not fertilize in fall and winter when the plant’s growth slows down or it is dormant.

Managing Humidity

Many homes have dry air, which lilies don’t love. Boosting humidity helps keep leaves lush.

Group plants together to create a humid microclimate.
Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water (ensure the pot sits on the pebbles, not in the water).
Mist the leaves lightly every few days with room-temperature water, especially in winter.

Pruning and Grooming

Regular grooming keeps your plant healthy and looking its best.

Remove Spent Blooms: Once a flower fades, cut it off at the base of its stem. This stops the plant from wasting energy on seed production.
Trim Yellow Leaves: Cut off any yellow or brown leaves at the base with clean scissors. This is normal, especially as new leaves grow.
Clean the Leaves: Gently wipe dust off the leaves with a damp cloth every month or so. This allows the plant to breathe and absorb more light.

Dealing with Pests and Problems

Even with great care, issues can pop up. Here’s how to handle common ones.

Brown Leaf Tips: Usually caused by low humidity, over-fertilizing, or chemicals in tap water. Increase humidity and flush the soil with distilled water.
Yellowing Leaves: Can be a sign of overwatering, poor drainage, or natural aging. Check your watering habits first.
Common Pests: Watch for spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. Wipe leaves with a neem oil solution or insecticidal soap at the first sign of trouble.
No Flowers: Often due to insufficient light. Move to a brighter location and ensure you are fertilizing appropriately in the growing season.

Encouraging Reblooming (For True Lilies)

Getting a gift lily to flower again indoors requires a bit of patience and simulating seasons.

After blooming, continue to care for the plant (water, light, fertilizer) as the leaves are still gathering energy.
In the fall, the leaves will naturally begin to yellow and die back. Reduce watering significantly.
Cut the stems down to the soil and move the pot to a cool (around 40-50°F), dark place for 8-10 weeks. A basement or garage can work.
After this dormant period, bring the pot back into bright light, resume watering, and wait for new growth to appear.

FAQs About Indoor Lily Care

Are lily plants poisonous to pets?
Yes, many true lilies (Lilium species) are highly toxic to cats, and can be harmful to dogs. Peace Lilies contain compounds that can cause mouth irritation. It’s best to keep all lilies out of reach of curious pets.

How often should I repot my indoor lily?
Repot every 1-2 years in the spring, or when you see roots growing out of the drainage holes. Only move up one pot size to prevent overpotting, which can lead to soggy soil.

Why are the leaves on my peace lily turning brown?
Brown leaves are most often a sign of underwatering or exposure to direct, hot sunlight. Check your watering routine and move the plant to a shadier spot. It could also be a reaction to cold drafts.

Can I put my potted lily outside for the summer?
You can! Acclimate it gradually to outdoor conditions over a week. Place it in a shaded, sheltered spot. Bring it back inside well before the first frost in the fall. This can actually benefit the plant.

What’s the difference between a peace lily and a true lily?
Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum) are tropical foliage plants with white spathe flowers. True lilies (Lilium) grow from bulbs and have large, often fragrant, trumpet-shaped blooms. Their care, especially regarding dormancy, differs.

Keeping a lily thriving indoors is a rewarding experience. By providing consistent, attentive care focused on light, water, and soil, you’ll be able to enjoy there graceful presence and spectacular blooms for a long time. Remember, plants communicate; paying attention to changes in leaf color or growth will guide you to becoming an expert in no time.