Peace lily

For this plant

Keep the soil moist: water every four to seven days in summer, every ten days in winter. It handles prolonged drought poorly.

The principle

A moderate need asks for regularity rather than volume. Water when the top three to four centimetres feel dry: in practice weekly from May to September, every ten to fifteen days the rest of the year. Adjust for the pot — terracotta dries twice as fast as fibreglass.

For this plant

Medium, indirect light; it flowers more near an east- or north-facing window.

The principle

Partial shade is bright but filtered light: a metre back from a glazed door, behind a sheer curtain, or morning sun only. It is the broadest and easiest exposure to achieve in a Moroccan interior. Direct afternoon sun, by contrast, leaves irreversible bleached patches on the leaf.

For this plant

Liquid feed every four weeks from March to September to support flowering.

The principle

Moderate growth is fed once a month from March to September with a balanced liquid feed at the maker's dose. Water with plain water first, then feed: on dry substrate, concentrated fertiliser burns the fine roots. Nothing from October to February, the resting period.

For this plant

From 16 to 28 °C; avoid direct air-conditioning flow, which browns the tips.

The principle

This plant is comfortable between 15 and 30 °C, the range of a Moroccan interior all year. Above 35 °C, move it out of direct sun and water more often without watering more heavily. The most common enemy is not the heat but the dry stream of an air conditioner aimed at the foliage.