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Peace lilies like temperatures between 18-30˚C, or 65-85˚F.
They can tolerate a wider range of temperatures though – they’re just unlikely to grow. If temperatures exceed 37˚C/100 then you may get crispy edges and drooping.
Peace lilies can survive pretty well in low temperatures for short periods of time, but they won’t tolerate frost.
Peace lily temperature requirements
Temperature range required for growth
65-85˚F/18-30˚C.
Peace lilies are tropical plants. Their natural habitat is the tropical rainforests of Mexico and Central America.
However, peace lilies have been kept as houseplants for hundreds of years. They were popular in Victorian times when houses were cooler and have been bred to adapt to a wide range of temperatures.
If you can keep your peace lily within this temperature range, you’ll get fast growth and a bushy growth pattern.
Maximum temperature
Peace lilies can tolerate temperatures of up to 37˚C/100˚F without suffering any permanent damage.
There are various factors that influence how well plants will recover from high temperatures and a few things you can do to protect them.
- Light
Protect peace lilies from direct light during heatwaves. Close the curtains, or move the plant into the shade.
Since peace lilies like broadly the same temperature range humans do, if the spot they’re in is uncomfortably hot, move them to somewhere you feel more comfortable.
- Humidity
High humidity helps to keep temperatures lower, and prevents too much moisture loss from the the plant. Running a humidifier in hot weather can help prevent brown spots showing up on peace lily leaves.
Does high humidity in hot weather make the environment uninhabitable for humans? Yes, but don’t worry, your peace lily doesn’t care.
Peace lily humidity requirements
Minimum temperature
As stated above, 18˚C/65˚F is the minimum recommended temperature for peace lilies if you want them to grow.
However, my home regularly gets WAY below 18˚C in the winter, especially at night. This can send tropical houseplants into situational dormancy.
This just means that plants that don’t have a ‘proper’ dormancy period and are naturally evergreen, will go into a dormancy-like state (i.e. they won’t grow) until their situation improves.
Provided you continue to care for them well over winter, they won’t deteriorate much.
I can’t find any actual research into just how cold peace lilies can get before they suffer permanent damage, BUT they can definitely survive around 11˚C/51˚F.
If your peace lily does get frost-damaged, then it could still be ok. Cut off any damaged leaves, keep it somewhere warm, and hope it regrows in the spring. Soil retains heat quite well, so one night spent in the frost doesn’t necessarily mean it’s game over.
Caring for a peace lily in hot weather
How to tell if your peace lily is too hot
Most plants droop when they’re too hot. There are two reasons for this:
- Reduced turgor pressure
Plants rely on water pressure (called turgor pressure) to give them structural integrity and keep their leaves from drooping. In hot weather, they lose a lot of water through their stomata, and therefore the pressure is reduced.
- An attempt to reduce surface area
Plants droop their leaves in hot weather to try to reduce their surface area and prevent water being lost through their stomata. Peace lilies wilt very dramatically when they’re hot, whereas other plants like Calathea roll their leaves up to try to reabsorb any water lost through their leaves.
How to cool your peace lily down
- Take it out of direct light
- Mist it – this will make it close its stomata as well as physically cooling it down
- Keep the soil moist – you can add extra coir or moss to the top to prevent it from drying out too quickly
Caring for a peace lily in cold weather
How to tell if your peace lily is too cold
Again, annoyingly, plants tend to droop when they’re cold. You may also see blackening on the leaves if it’s got significant cold or frost damage.
If you suspect cold damage, always check the roots – the signs of cold shock and root damage are very similar.
How to protect your peace lily from the cold
- Bring it inside well before the first frost. Here in the UK, I bring all of my outdoor houseplants (that seems like a contradiction in terms, but you know what I mean) inside by late September.
- Move them from bathrooms, conservatories, or similarly cold rooms by the end of October – or whenever you need to put the heating on.
Peace lilies are generally too fussed about temperature and can tolerate higher and lower than you might expect. However, it’s best to keep them in their comfort zone if you want optimal growth and flowers.
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