The Peace Lily, with its graceful white blooms and deep green leaves, is a beloved houseplant in many homes. Elegant, calming, and relatively easy to care for, it adds a touch of tranquility to any space.
However, getting it to bloom regularly can be a challenge—especially for beginners. The good news? There’s a simple, natural trick that can work wonders—and chances are, you already have everything you need in your kitchen: rice and water.
That’s right. A time-tested, eco-friendly method, rice water is rich in nutrients and can breathe new life into your Peace Lily. This gentle homemade “fertilizer” can encourage stronger growth, healthier leaves, and more frequent flowering.
The beauty of this method is that any type of rice will work—white, jasmine, basmati, or even plain long-grain rice. Start by measuring about 180 ml (just under a cup) of uncooked rice and placing it in a
bowl with 2 liters of non-chlorinated water. Then, blend the mixture for a few minutes until the water turns a cloudy, milky white.
Before you use this mixture, be sure to filter it thoroughly. You want to remove any solid bits of rice that could attract insects or cause mold. A fine mesh strainer or even a coffee filter works perfectly.
What you’re left with is a soft white liquid—this is your nutrient-rich rice water.
Pour this liquid gently around the base of your Peace Lily, soaking the soil evenly but being careful not to overwater or make it soggy. This simple, natural solution delivers a healthy dose of essential minerals like calcium,
potassium, magnesium, and boron—key elements for healthy foliage and abundant flowering.
Calcium strengthens plant cell walls and supports overall structure. Potassium promotes flowering and boosts resistance to disease. Magnesium plays a critical role in photosynthesis, helping the leaves stay lush and green.
And boron encourages the formation of new blooms and fresh leaves.
All of these nutrients exist naturally in rice and are easily absorbed by your plant through the water.
To get the best results, use rice water regularly. If your Peace Lily is healthy and already blooming, watering it twice a week with rice water is enough. But if it looks weak, tired, or hasn’t flowered in a while,
increase the frequency to three times a week until you notice improvement.
Light conditions also matter. Peace Lilies prefer soft to medium light and should never be placed in direct sunlight, which can scorch their leaves. Water only when the top layer of the soil feels dry to the touch,
and never let water sit in the saucer under the pot—Peace Lilies hate having “wet feet.”
In addition to rice water, you can occasionally give your plant a boost with other natural fertilizers like bone meal or well-aged chicken manure. These provide slow-release nutrients that further enhance flowering and overall plant health.
And when your Peace Lily becomes large and full, you can easily propagate it by dividing it into smaller sections. Just make sure each part has a healthy root system. Replant each one into its own pot, and soon you’ll
have more beautiful Peace Lilies to enjoy—or share with friends and loved ones.
So, with just a bit of rice, some water, and a little care, you can help your Peace Lily thrive and bloom again and again. It’s simple, affordable, environmentally friendly—and most importantly, it truly works.
