How to Care for Your Peace Lily Outdoors

The Peace Lily, or Spathiphyllum, is a popular houseplant known for its glossy leaves and white flowers. While commonly grown indoors, it is possible to move a peace lily outdoors, but its success depends on providing specific conditions. For those with the right environment, it can be a rewarding addition to a patio or shaded garden during warmer months. Success requires understanding its needs for temperature, light, and protection.

Ideal Outdoor Growing Conditions

Peace lilies are tropical plants and are not built for the cold. They can only survive outdoors year-round in warm climates, specifically USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12, where temperatures rarely drop below 60°F. For gardeners in other zones, peace lilies can be treated as seasonal container plants. They can be moved outdoors after the last frost and brought back inside before winter arrives. This method allows the plant to benefit from a summer outdoors without succumbing to cold temperatures.

Proper light is a primary factor for a peace lily’s health outdoors. In their native environment, they grow on the forest floor, receiving filtered sunlight. Direct sun will scorch their leaves, causing yellow or brown patches. The ideal placement is a location that offers bright, indirect light or deep shade, such as under a covered porch or a large tree.

Physical protection is another consideration. Strong winds can tear the plant’s large leaves and dry out the soil much faster. Heavy rainfall can oversaturate the soil and lead to root problems. A sheltered location that buffers the plant from strong wind and intense downpours is best.

Outdoor Care and Maintenance

Watering an outdoor peace lily requires a different approach than for an indoor one because the soil can dry out more quickly. Due to higher temperatures, wind, and more light, you should check the soil moisture directly instead of using a fixed schedule. If the top inch of soil feels dry, it is time to water. Be mindful of rainfall, as a heavy storm can provide enough moisture.

A container-grown peace lily needs a well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter to retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. If you are planting directly into a garden bed in a suitable climate zone, amend the native soil. Incorporating compost or other organic material will improve the soil’s fertility and drainage.

An outdoor environment stimulates more vigorous growth, which requires more frequent feeding. During the active growing seasons of spring and summer, apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every six to eight weeks. This supports the production of lush foliage and the signature white blooms peace lilies are known for.

Transitioning Peace Lilies Outdoors

Moving a peace lily from a stable indoor environment to the outdoors requires a gradual adjustment period known as “hardening off.” This process helps prevent shock from the sudden change in light, temperature, and airflow. An abrupt move can cause the plant to wilt or its leaves to become pale, so a slow transition is best.

Begin by placing the plant in a deeply shaded and protected spot for just one or two hours a day. Over one to two weeks, gradually increase the amount of time it spends outside, allowing it to acclimate to the different conditions. Throughout this period, watch the plant for any signs of stress. If you notice drooping or discolored leaves, the transition may be too quick, so reduce its time outdoors for a few days before increasing it again. This careful introduction to its new environment will ensure the plant remains healthy.

Common Outdoor Challenges

When moved outdoors, a peace lily is exposed to a new range of pests. Slugs and snails can be an issue in damp, shady locations, often leaving holes in the leaves. Aphids are another potential problem, appearing as small insects on new growth. Regularly inspecting the leaves, including the undersides, helps catch infestations early.

For anyone growing a peace lily outside of zones 10-12, preparing for winter is a final step. Before the first frost is expected, bring the plant back indoors. Before moving it, carefully inspect the plant and its soil for any pests that may have come along for the ride. Treat them if necessary to protect your other houseplants.