Why does my peace lily have brown leaves or droop?
Short answer
Brown leaf tips and edges on a peace lily are most often caused by too much fertilizer or by the soil drying out too far. Drooping usually means the plant is thirsty, and it should perk up after watering. If it droops while the soil is wet, check the roots: root and stem rot from overwatering is the most common peace lily problem. Scorched patches mean it is getting direct sun.[1, 2]
What do you see?
Find the row that matches your peace lily, then jump to it for how to tell the causes apart and fix each one.
| What you see | Likely causes |
|---|---|
| Brown leaf tips or edges | Too much fertilizer, soil drying out, or salts and dry air |
| Drooping or wilting | Usually dry soil; if the soil is wet, root rot |
| Brown, black or pale spots | Direct sun, cold-water splashes, or a leaf-spot disease |
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering, dry soil or a lack of nutrients |
| Healthy leaves but no flowers | A young plant or too little light |
Compare the symptoms
Illustrations, not photos: drawn to show the typical pattern of each symptom. Free to reuse.
- Brown leaf tips or edges
- Drooping or wilting
- Brown, black or pale spots
- Yellow leaves
- Healthy leaves but no flowers
Each symptom, its causes and fixes
Brown leaf tips or edges
Likely: too much fertilizer, soil drying out, or salts and dry air.
Too much fertilizer
How to tell: You feed more often than every six to eight weeks, or at full label strength. A white to gray crust on the soil or the pot rim means salts have built up.
- Water the pot heavily so water runs out of the drainage holes for a while. This rinses out extra salts. Empty the saucer afterward.
- Scrape off any white crust and top up with fresh potting mix.
- From now on, feed only in spring and summer: a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at a quarter of the label strength, every six to eight weeks.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1], Clemson Cooperative Extension [2]
Soil drying out too much
How to tell: The leaves droop before you water, and the edges turn yellow and then brown.
- Water as soon as the top of the mix starts to dry. Keep it moist but not soggy.
- Use room-temperature water, and don’t leave the pot standing in water.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Hot, dry air or tap water
How to tell: The plant sits near a heater or an air-conditioning vent, or the tips keep browning even though you water and feed correctly.
- Move the plant out of the direct blast of heating and air-conditioning vents.
- Clemson’s general houseplant guide says some houseplants are sensitive to fluoride or chlorine in tap water. Try rainwater, or tap water left to stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1], Clemson Cooperative Extension [2]
Drooping or wilting
Likely: usually dry soil; if the soil is wet, root rot.
Thirsty plant
How to tell: The potting mix feels dry and the leaves hang down. The leaf edges may also turn yellow.
- Water thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom of the pot, then empty the saucer.
- Keep the mix moist but not soggy from then on, letting it dry only slightly between waterings.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Root or stem rot from overwatering
How to tell: The plant droops even though the soil is wet. Slide it out of the pot: rotten roots are brown to black and may be soft. The stem may have a brown or black ring at the soil line.
- If only a few roots are rotten, cut them off and repot in fresh potting mix in a clean pot.
- Choose a pot only 1–2 inches wider than the root ball: a much bigger pot keeps the mix too wet.
- If most roots are dark, soft and dead, the plant is unlikely to recover. Clemson advises throwing it away.
- Water less often from now on, and never leave the pot standing in a saucer of water.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1], Clemson Cooperative Extension [2]
Pot-bound plant or salt buildup
How to tell: Roots grow out of the drainage holes or circle on top of the soil, or there is a white crust on the soil.
- Repot into a pot 1–2 inches wider, gently loosening the roots.
- If there is a crust, rinse the salts out by watering heavily, and feed less.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1], Clemson Cooperative Extension [2]
Brown, black or pale spots
Likely: direct sun, cold-water splashes, or a leaf-spot disease.
Direct sun
How to tell: The plant gets direct sun for part of the day, and the damaged patches are on the leaves facing the light.
- Move it out of direct sun into bright, indirect light.
- A spot farther from the window is fine: peace lilies tolerate low light.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Cold-water spots
How to tell: White or straw-colored spots or patches appear after cold water splashed on the leaves.
- Water the soil, not the leaves.
- Use room-temperature water.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [2], Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Fungal or bacterial leaf spot
How to tell: Fungal spots are small and brown with yellowish edges, sometimes with rings and tiny black dots in the dead tissue. Bacterial spots look water-soaked, often have a yellow halo, and dry to reddish brown. Clemson describes these for houseplants in general; its peace lily guide doesn’t list them.
- Pick off and throw away the spotted leaves.
- Stop misting, and keep water off the leaves when you water.
- Give the plant space so air can move around it.
- If spots keep spreading, Clemson lists copper soap fungicides for both kinds. Follow the label, spray outdoors in the shade, and bring the plant back in once it is dry.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [2]
Yellow leaves
Likely: overwatering, dry soil or a lack of nutrients.
Overwatering
How to tell: The whole plant is yellowing and the soil stays wet. Check the roots for dark, soft rot.
- Let the mix dry slightly before watering again, and empty the saucer.
- Cut off rotten roots and repot, as described under drooping above.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [2], Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Soil drying out
How to tell: The plant wilts, and the leaves and their edges turn yellow.
- Water thoroughly, then keep the mix moist but not soggy.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Magnesium deficiency
How to tell: The leaf turns yellow between green veins, and the plant may be stunted.
- See the full guide to peace lily yellow leaves for feeding advice.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Healthy leaves but no flowers
Likely: a young plant or too little light.
Too young or too little light
How to tell: The plant is less than a year old, or it sits in a dim spot.
- Give it bright, indirect light, but keep it out of direct sun.
- Be patient with young plants.
Based on: Clemson Cooperative Extension [1]
Normal changes that aren't problems
White flowers turning green
Peace lily flowers are white when they open and turn pale green as they age. That is normal and not a sign of disease. [1]
How to prevent problems
- Water when the top of the mix starts to dry, and never leave the pot standing in water.
- Feed very little: a quarter-strength balanced fertilizer every six to eight weeks in spring and summer.
- Give it bright, indirect light and keep it out of direct sun.
- Keep it at 68–85 °F by day, above 60 °F at night, and away from heating and air-conditioning vents.
- When you repot, go up only 1–2 inches in pot size.
- Water the soil, not the leaves, and use room-temperature water.
- Check the plant regularly so you spot problems early.
Questions people ask
Why are my peace lily’s leaves turning brown?
Brown tips and edges usually mean too much fertilizer or soil that dried out too much. Scorched patches mean direct sun. Clemson’s general houseplant guide adds that when lower leaves yellow, brown and die, the cause is usually a lack of nitrogen or iron (especially in pot-bound plants), or the plant staying too dry for too long. [1, 2]
Why is my peace lily drooping?
Usually because the soil has dried out: water it and it should recover. If it droops while the soil is wet, check the roots. Brown to black, soft roots mean root rot from overwatering. [1, 2]
Why does my peace lily have brown spots?
Brown patches on leaves facing a sunny window are usually sun scorch. Small brown spots with yellow edges can be a fungal leaf spot, and water-soaked spots with a yellow halo a bacterial one. Pale, straw-colored spots usually come from cold water splashed on the leaves. [1, 2]
Why are the tips of my peace lily brown?
Too much fertilizer is a common cause: it burns the leaf tips and roots. Rinse the salts out of the pot and feed only at a quarter strength every six to eight weeks in spring and summer. Soil drying out too much also browns the edges. [1, 2]
What diseases do peace lilies get?
Clemson says root and stem diseases are the most common peace lily problem, usually caused by overwatering. Leaf spots caused by fungi or bacteria affect houseplants in general. Remove spotted leaves and keep water off the foliage. [1, 2]
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on November 10, 2026. The wording and illustrations are our own.
- Peace Lily (HGIC 1512). Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center. Revised Feb 15, 2022.
- Houseplant Diseases & Disorders (HGIC 2251). Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center. Updated Feb 28, 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report an error and we'll check it against the sources and update the page.