The Significance of the Peace Lily Plant
The peace lily is a striking indoor plant with elegant dark green leaves that are often more than a foot long and huge fragrant white flowers, called spaches, on an off-white stalk or stem called a spadix. Native to Colombia and Venezuela, the peace lily is a tropical plant common in Latin American rainforests. In the U.S., it is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10-11 and grows up to 18 inches tall. The peace lily has strong symbolic significance.
Sympathy
The peace lily is a plant often sent in sympathy when someone in the family dies. It symbolizes the rebirth of the soul and transcendence from this earthly life. It is also a symbol of peace and hope.
- The peace lily is a striking indoor plant with elegant dark green leaves that are often more than a foot long and huge fragrant white flowers, called spaches, on an off-white stalk or stem called a spadix.
- The peace lily is a plant often sent in sympathy when someone in the family dies.
Purity
As a white lily, the peace lily shares in signifying chastity and purity. It is associated with the Christian Virgin Mary.
Psychic Balance
As a flower essence, peace lily helps balance people's energy when they have been exposed to radiation, such as that emitted by electronic devices, according to SpiritofTransformation.com. It is also believed to be effective healing agent for people receiving radiation treatment for cancer. The peace lily is associated with calm, healing and expanding consciousness. In the psyche it is believed to create a feeling of things becoming right and whole.
Feng Shui
The ancient Chinese art and science of Feng Shui is system of principles governing spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi). Feng Shui is used in siting, designing and decorating buildings. In this realm, the peace lily calms and harmonizes the energy of the house. It ameliorates the energy of discord and strife that have affected the building in the past. The peace lily is believed to have strong protective and cleansing vibrations.
- As a white lily, the peace lily shares in signifying chastity and purity.
- The peace lily is associated with calm, healing and expanding consciousness.
Peace Lily
Pot peace lilies in a commercial potting mix blended for houseplants. A peace lily that wilts can often be revived by a thorough watering and a spritz of water on the leaves. Locate the peace lily 6 to 8 feet from a west- or south-facing window for best flowering. Do not place the lily where it can receive direct sunlight, which scorches the leaves. Fertilize with a 20-20-20 houseplant fertilize. Make monthly applications during spring and summer with a dilute solution of only one-quarter to one-half strength. Wash aphids or spider mites off the plant with running water.
- Pot peace lilies in a commercial potting mix blended for houseplants.
- A peace lily that wilts can often be revived by a thorough watering and a spritz of water on the leaves.
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Writer Bio
Tanya Lee is a professional writer with more than 30 years experience. She has published extensively in the field of education and as a journalist, the latter in such publications as "High Country News" and "News from Indian Country." Lee holds a M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
