What to Do With a Peace Lily in November to Help It Survive the Winter and Flourish Again in Spring

Peace lilies are relatively easy houseplants to care for, but they need a few seasonal adjustments as the weather cools. November brings shorter days, lower temperatures, and the start of the heating season, all of which can affect how well your plant grows indoors.

I have the Peace Lily Plant from Trees.com in my own home, and good peace lily care at this time of year is largely about adapting to these changing conditions. From adjusting your watering routine to finding a spot away from cold drafts and heating vents, a few simple jobs will help keep your plant healthy through winter.

1. Move Your Peace Lily Somewhere With Plenty of Indirect Light

As daylight hours shorten in November, your peace lily may benefit from a change of position. These tropical plants naturally grow beneath larger trees, so they prefer bright, indirect light rather than direct sunshine. When considering where to place a peace lily, an east-facing window is often ideal, while a spot slightly back from a south- or west-facing window can also work well.

If your plant has been sitting in a shady corner over summer, move it somewhere brighter for winter, but avoid strong direct sunlight, which can scorch its leaves. A lightweight plant stand, such as IKEA's OLIVBLAD, can help lift your peace lily closer to a window, while an LED grow light from Amazon is worth considering if your home doesn't get much natural daylight.

2. Adjust How Often You Water

One of the most important parts of peace lily care in November is adjusting your watering routine. As temperatures drop and growth slows, your plant won't use water as quickly as it does in spring and summer. Rather than following a fixed schedule, check the soil first. Peace lilies prefer consistently lightly moist soil, but don't like sitting in waterlogged soil. Allow the top inch to dry out slightly before you water a peace lily again, then let any excess water drain away.

Peace lilies are expressive plants, and their leaves often droop when they're thirsty, but that shouldn't be your only sign they need a drink. Regularly checking the soil will help you avoid both underwatering and overwatering. An Amazon indoor watering can with a long, narrow spout makes it easier to direct water towards the soil, while an XLUX Soil Moisture Meter from Amazon can help you check moisture levels before watering.

3. Keep It Away From Cold Drafts and Heating Vents

Peace lilies are tropical plants, so they don't appreciate sudden temperature changes. November is when many of us start turning on the heating, but the warm, dry air from radiators and heating vents can be particularly uncomfortable for these humidity-loving houseplants. Try to keep your peace lily somewhere with a relatively consistent temperature, ideally between 65°F and 80°F.

Some of the places to never grow a peace lily include spots beside exterior doors, drafty windows, radiators and fireplaces. While a little extra warmth is welcome, direct heat can dry out the leaves and surrounding soil much faster than you might expect. If your home gets particularly dry during winter, the DREO cool-mist humidifier can help maintain a more comfortable level of humidity around your plant.

4. Give the Leaves a Little Attention

Peace lilies are loved for their glossy, deep-green foliage, so November is a good time to give the leaves a little attention. Dust can collect on their broad leaves, particularly when windows are kept closed more often during winter. Gently wipe each leaf with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and help keep the foliage looking fresh. A microfiber cleaning cloth is a useful addition to your houseplant kit for this job.

This is also a good opportunity to check for yellowing leaves, brown tips or any signs of pests. Remove dead or badly damaged foliage using clean, sharp scissors, such as a pair of Fiskars Steel Micro-Tip Pruning Scissors from Amazon, cutting close to the base of the stem. If you notice brown tips, don't immediately assume your plant needs more water. Low humidity, inconsistent watering and mineral buildup from tap water can all contribute to this problem.

5. Increase Humidity Around Your Plant

Indoor heating can make the air particularly dry during November, which isn't ideal for a tropical plant like a peace lily. Although they can adapt to average household conditions, peace lilies appreciate higher humidity. If the air in your home feels particularly dry, you could use a glass plant mister from Walmart to lightly mist the surrounding air.

Another simple trick is to group your peace lily with other houseplants, helping to create a slightly more humid microclimate around their foliage. Just make sure there is enough space between plants for good airflow.

6. Hold Off on Fertilizing

If you've been feeding your peace lily regularly throughout spring and summer, November is the time to slow down. Peace lilies naturally grow less during the colder months, particularly when daylight is limited, so they don't need the same amount of nutrients as they do during their active growing season. If you're wondering when to fertilize a peace lily, I'd avoid feeding throughout winter and resume in early spring when you begin to see fresh growth.

Applying too much fertilizer when a plant isn't actively growing can lead to a buildup of salts in the soil, potentially damaging its roots. When it's time to start feeding again, the Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food for All Plants from Amazon is a good option.

You could also choose a balanced, water-soluble plant food, such as the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food from Amazon, diluted according to the instructions, to support healthy foliage and new growth.

7. Remove Spent Flowers and Check for New Growth

Although peace lilies are best known for their beautiful green foliage, their distinctive white flowers are another reason they're such popular houseplants. Flowering can become less frequent as daylight hours decrease, so don't worry if your plant isn't producing new blooms in November. This is a natural part of its seasonal growth cycle.

If your peace lily has any flowers that have turned green or brown and begun to fade, remove them by cutting the flower stalk down near the base. A pair of precision Fiskars Pruning Shears from The Home Depot will help you make a clean cut without damaging the surrounding foliage. This also keeps the plant looking tidy and allows it to focus its energy on maintaining healthy leaves.

Avoid forcing new flowers with additional fertilizer or moving the plant into direct sunlight. Instead, focus on providing consistent care until growing conditions improve in spring.

What to Avoid With Your Peace Lily in November

While peace lilies are generally forgiving tropical houseplants, there are a few common mistakes to avoid as winter approaches:

Don't overwater: Cooler temperatures and slower growth mean the soil takes longer to dry out. Always check the soil before watering.

Don't leave it in a dark corner: Shorter days mean your plant needs to make the most of available indirect light.

Don't repot unnecessarily: November isn't the ideal time to disturb the roots. Unless there is an urgent issue, wait until spring to repot.

Don't place it next to a radiator: Direct heat can dry out the foliage and create uncomfortable growing conditions.

Don't worry about fewer flowers: Reduced flowering is normal during the darker months, and your plant may naturally bloom more readily again in spring.

With a few simple seasonal adjustments, your peace lily should make an easy transition into winter. Focus on providing the right light, adjusting your watering routine and keeping it away from cold drafts and dry heat. There's no need to overdo things – consistent, gentle care through the colder months will help keep its foliage healthy and give it the best chance of producing fresh growth when spring arrives.