Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Canna-leaved Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum cannifolium)— schedule & NPK
Also called Canna-leaved Peace Lily, Cannifolium Peace Lily.
More about canna-leaved peace lily
About Canna-leaved Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum cannifolium · also called Canna-leaved Peace Lily, Cannifolium Peace Lily · houseplant
Spathiphyllum cannifolium is a tropical species from northern South America and the Caribbean, distinguished by broad, canna-like leaves and creamy-white spathes. Less common in cultivation than hybrid cultivars, it is a collector's species valued for its bold foliage and authentic species character. Care requirements mirror other peace lilies: consistent moisture and warmth.
Growth habit: Upright, clump-forming with broad arching leaves
Watch for — Slow or no flowering: Species-type peace lilies can be reluctant bloomers indoors compared to cultivars bred for flower production. Ensure adequate indirect light, allow a slightly cooler resting period in autumn, and avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers that encourage vegetative growth at the expense of blooms.
What fertiliser canna-leaved peace lily actually wants — and why
Canna-leaved Peace Lily is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for canna-leaved peace lily: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed canna-leaved peace lily, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For canna-leaved peace lily:
Apply a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser (half strength) once every three to four weeks during spring and summer. Avoid high-potassium 'tomato' feeds, which can interfere with calcium uptake. Do not feed from October through February. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when canna-leaved peace lily is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for canna-leaved peace lily
Half strength is the safe default for canna-leaved peace lily — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water canna-leaved peace lily first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the canna-leaved peace lily watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding canna-leaved peace lily
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for canna-leaved peace lily:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding canna-leaved peace lily
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full canna-leaved peace lily care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of canna-leaved peace lily with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for canna-leaved peace lily
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising canna-leaved peace lily — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does canna-leaved peace lily need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Canna-leaved Peace Lily is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed canna-leaved peace lily?
Apply a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser (half strength) once every three to four weeks during spring and summer. Avoid high-potassium 'tomato' feeds, which can interfere with calcium uptake. Do not feed from October through February. Apply a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser (half strength) once every three to four weeks during spring and summer. Avoid high-potassium 'tomato' feeds, which can interfere with calcium uptake. Do not feed from October through February. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for canna-leaved peace lily?
Half strength is the safe default for canna-leaved peace lily — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding canna-leaved peace lily look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding canna-leaved peace lily year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of canna-leaved peace lily?
Flush the pot of canna-leaved peace lily with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Canna-leaved Peace Lily care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water canna-leaved peace lily — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise beetle peperomia
- How to fertilise jelly peperomia
- How to fertilise peperomia 'pixie lime'
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library