The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a popular houseplant known for its glossy, deep green foliage and distinct white, spoon-shaped spathes. Native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, these plants thrive as understory growth, requiring filtered light and consistent warmth. Placing a peace lily outside is possible, but only when specific environmental conditions mimic its natural, stable habitat. For most regions, successful outdoor placement is temporary and strictly dependent on managing temperature and light.
Defining the Peace Lily’s Outdoor Limits
The primary factor determining a Peace Lily’s outdoor viability is temperature, as this tropical plant lacks adaptation to cold. It performs best between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C). Growth stalls below 60°F (15.5°C), and chilling injury begins below 55°F (13°C).
Exposure to frost or near-freezing temperatures can cause irreversible damage or kill the plant entirely. Year-round outdoor placement is only possible in tropical climates where frost is nonexistent. For most gardeners, placement must be seasonal, waiting until nighttime temperatures are reliably above 60°F from late spring to early fall. The plant also prefers a relative humidity of at least 50%.
Proper Light Placement When Outdoors
Outdoor light intensity is significantly greater than indoor light, requiring special placement consideration to prevent damage. In their native habitat, Peace Lilies receive only dappled sunlight filtering through a dense canopy. When moved outside, they require bright, indirect light or partial shade.
Direct, unfiltered sunlight, especially intense afternoon rays, quickly causes leaf scorching, often called sunburn. This damage appears as brown or yellow spots and severely stresses the plant. The ideal outdoor location mimics the forest floor, such as under a dense tree canopy, on a north-facing patio, or beneath a shaded porch. Sufficient indirect light is necessary for flowering and encourages the production of white spathes.
Transitioning the Plant Between Indoors and Outdoors
Hardening Off
Moving a Peace Lily from the stable indoor environment to the variable outdoors requires a gradual process known as “hardening off.” This acclimation period reduces the shock experienced when the plant is suddenly exposed to different light, temperature, and wind conditions. The process should take one to two weeks, starting by placing the potted plant in a fully shaded, sheltered outdoor location for a few hours daily. Over this transition, the time spent outside is slowly increased, allowing the plant’s cells to adapt to the elements.
Pest Management
Before placing the plant outside for the summer, repot it if necessary and check thoroughly for indoor pests. Crucially, before the seasonal return indoors, a meticulous pest inspection is required. This prevents the transfer of outdoor insects, slugs, or snails into the home environment. A thorough cleaning should be done while the plant is still outside, including spraying down the foliage and soaking the pot to drown any soil-dwelling organisms.