Peace lilies are a beloved houseplant in many UK homes, yet coaxing them into flower can often prove challenging. With the arrival of a heatwave in parts of the country, gardening enthusiasts are eager to employ techniques that yield the most impressive blooms.
The Rice Water Remedy
A natural household remedy that has gained widespread acclaim for its effectiveness on non-flowering peace lilies is watering the plant with a cup of uncooked rice water once a month. This simple solution, free from harsh chemicals, is favoured by many gardeners who prefer eco-friendly methods.
Rice water is considered a premium natural fertiliser because it contains modest amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus—three vital nutrients that enhance flower production, boost foliage growth, and support root development. It is also rich in zinc, iron, and sulphur, all powerful plant nutrients when added to the soil in appropriate quantities.
Additionally, rice water holds trace amounts of magnesium and B vitamins, which aid the plant's energy production, resulting in larger and more impressive blooms, particularly in peace lilies.
How to Apply Rice Water
To prepare the fertiliser, simply add cold tap water to a cup of rice and rinse it thoroughly, using your hands or a spoon. The water will turn cloudy—this is where the beneficial nutrients reside. After washing, pour the solution into a container and use it to water your peace lily once a month. If the solution seems too strong, dilute it with fresh water. Avoid storing the rice water for extended periods.
Gardener Tishana, founder of Coco and Seed, explains: "After you wash your rice, the water that is left back contains starches and minerals. The minerals contain trace macronutrients of NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that help your plants grow."
Alternative Rice Flour Method
Another rice-based trick is said to make peace lilies produce an abundance of flowers. On the YouTube channel Plant Tips, a houseplant expert revealed that combining rice flour with water can yield spectacular blooms. The specialist shared: "Amazing result, grow peace lily with one cup of rice flour, so many flowers explode."
To try this method, stir one cup of rice flour into water until it forms a thin, runny consistency. Use this solution to wipe down the leaves of your peace lily, then pour the remaining mixture directly into the soil. As with the rice water method, apply this treatment no more than once a month to avoid harming the plant.
The Plant Tips expert demonstrated the technique by watering a peace lily with the rice flour solution and misting its surface with a spray bottle. Three months later, the plant was bursting with blossoms and appeared healthier and more vigorous than before.
With both rice-based methods, it is vital to apply the natural fertiliser sparingly—no more than once monthly. During periods when rice water is not used, ordinary tap water or rainwater should be given to your peace lily.
