I have a hard time telling what is root rot and what isn't. I know it has root rot and I've tried cutting it off to the best of my knowledge.

I have this plant from my mothers funeral. It was fine for about a year amd a half until I had to repot it for the second time after it outgrew it's pot. It seemed prone to getting root bound (my fault) and so I rinsed the roots and loosed them very gently before repotting. Unfortunately I picked a pot that was too big and I've been struggling ever since.

I replaced the soil after the soil from the too big pot was way too wet for much too long and that's when the root rot had already set in. It's been a little over a month of me trying to save it. Today I moved it to a smaller pot and plan not to water it. I had to cut more rotted roots from it again and definitely have to prune it.

The soil is only the slightest bit damp, I can't squeeze any water from it or roll it into a ball.

I packed the soil as firmly and gently as I could while stabilizing it. I know this plant has to be traumatized but I have to save him if I can. I've never fertilised as far as I'm aware. I'm using miracle grow and I think it has fertiliser in it.

Is there anyway I can save this plant? I don't think I've seen any progress since it started to wilt. Here's some pictures but be warned, it's not looking good. Some leaves soggy and others brown and crisp. Not pruned yet.

The roots of your Peace Lily have been severely compromised by the repotting and unnecessary removal of the original soil.

At this point recovery will be slow and difficult at best. It should be out in a small pot just large enough to accommodate the roots and barely enough soil to cover them. Then, water it thoroughly. Any leaves that don't perk up within 24 hours should be cut off as they will never recover

Try to keep the soil moderately damp. Keep it a few feet from a sunny window and keep it warm. That is all you can do. Fertilizer will not help.

WillC said:The roots of your Peace Lily have been severely compromised by the repotting and unnecessary removal of the original soil.

At this point recovery will be slow and difficult at best. It should be out in a small pot just large enough to accommodate the roots and barely enough soil to cover them. Then, water it thoroughly. Any leaves that don't perk up within 24 hours should be cut off as they will never recover

Try to keep the soil moderately damp. Keep it a few feet from a sunny window and keep it warm. That is all you can do. Fertilizer will not help.

By barely enough soul to cover do you mean relatively loose or just enough to fit in the smaller pot?

Thank you so much for your response!!!

The pot should be no more than an inch deeper and an inch wider than the roots. The potting mix should be porous.

I've also repotted peace lilies into 'far too big a pot' several times, but I always make sure to let it get bone dry before watering or to water when it tells me to by slightly drooping AND seeing a dry top.

My advice: take it out again, wash the roots as best you can, cut everything nessecary and replace ALL potting compost with fresh one. After replanting: cut off ALL foliage and keep slightly damp. It might take some weeks, but it'll grow (anecdotal experience)

Arico said:I've also repotted peace lilies into 'far too big a pot' several times, but I always make sure to let it get bone dry before watering or to water when it tells me to by slightly drooping AND seeing a dry top.

My advice: take it out again, wash the roots as best you can, cut everything nessecary and replace ALL potting compost with fresh one. After replanting: cut off ALL foliage and keep slightly damp. It might take some weeks, but it'll grow (anecdotal experience)

Only cutting the leaves or the stem as well?

Crescens said:


Only cutting the leaves or the stem as well?

Yes, stems too; as far back down as possible

Perhaps anecdotal, not carefully researched, but In my experience, washing off and working apart peace lily roots is traumatic to this plant and they take a very long time to recover. If you go back to a smaller pot, I would try NOT to rough up the roots.
Please accept my condolences. I do understand your sentiments for this plant. But please also don't beat yourself up. I tell myself that all peace lilies from the nursery trade are related to each other through tissue culturing or propagation, so if I buy a new one, it is good enough. A new one should be fine in it's pot for a long time. Plants in cheap nursery pots can be set 'as is' in nicer slightly bigger pots, and do very well. Always having 'A ' peace lily as memorial to your mom- isn't that still a nice thing?

sallyg said:Perhaps anecdotal, not carefully researched, but In my experience, washing off and working apart peace lily roots is traumatic to this plant and they take a very long time to recover. If you go back to a smaller pot, I would try NOT to rough up the roots.
Please accept my condolences. I do understand your sentiments for this plant. But please also don't beat yourself up. I tell myself that all peace lilies from the nursery trade are related to each other through tissue culturing or propagation, so if I buy a new one, it is good enough. A new one should be fine in it's pot for a long time. Plants in cheap nursery pots can be set 'as is' in nicer slightly bigger pots, and do very well. Always having 'A ' peace lily as memorial to your mom- isn't that still a nice thing?

Thank you! Absolutely. If worse comes to worse then I will do that. I never even thought about that idea. That's a wonderful idea! I'll update everyone later!

Washing off compost, cutting back leaves and stems and repotting again will kill off your plant for sure. It's already stressed to the max. You could try to save it but who wants to look at that mess?

I'd do as Sally suggests and get a replacement plant.

kniphofia said:Washing off compost, cutting back leaves and stems and repotting again will kill off your plant for sure. It's already stressed to the max. You could try to save it but who wants to look at that mess?

I'd do as Sally suggests and get a replacement plant.

If there's going to be a replacement, might aswell right?

Washing the roots is extremely stressful for the plant and provides no benefits whatsoever.

WillC said:Washing the roots is extremely stressful for the plant and provides no benefits whatsoever.

Why not?

Most houseplants have fibrous roots which also have microscopic root hairs which function to absorb water and nutrients into the plants. By washing compost off the roots you are damaging and possibly destroying these extremely small and essential parts of the plant. To then expect an already stressed plant to recover from that is frankly impossible.
When repotting you should disturb the roots as little as possible anyway.

kniphofia said:Most houseplants have fibrous roots which also have microscopic root hairs which function to absorb water and nutrients into the plants. By washing compost off the roots you are damaging and possibly destroying these extremely small and essential parts of the plant. To then expect an already stressed plant to recover from that is frankly impossible.
When repotting you should disturb the roots as little as possible anyway.

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/...

Lee-Roy - The link you provided is for outdoor plantings. Good cultural practices for potted plants used indoors is very different.

Lee-Roy why are you trying to be contradictory? I've grown houseplants for over 40 years, Will does this for a living. We're trying to give Sally and others good advice.

WillC said:Lee-Roy - The link you provided is for outdoor plantings. Good cultural practices for potted plants used indoors is very different.

And why is that? I'd say you're permitted to do more because of all the moddly cuddling people do with their house plants; easier to keep an eye on them.

kniphofia said:Lee-Roy why are you trying to be contradictory? I've grown houseplants for over 40 years, Will does this for a living. We're trying to give Sally and others good advice.

I'm not. I'm trying to figure out why YOU are so obsessed about NOT cutting anything. And 40 years of growing house plants means nothing if you didn't do it 'the right way'...Like I said, I did so with my own peace lilies (not so long ago in fact) and they are doing very well thank you.
Besides, there are lots of professionals who grow and sell crappy plant stock despite their 'professional know-how', especially in woody plants.

Anyway, let the TS make up her own *d-word* mind regarding which of us to believe. (And no, that's not a jab against the TS)