You may have heard that peace lilies are unable to survive the cold at all, but how true is this? In this article, not only will you find out how cold is too cold for peace lilies, but you’ll also find out what to do to bring them back from the brink of destruction!
So keep reading to find out everything you want to know!
Can Peace Lilies Survive The Cold?
Peace lilies definitely don’t do well in cold conditions, and if left in the cold for even one night, a lot of damage can be caused to them. This is why it’s so important to make sure that the temperature of their environment doesn’t drop below 60°F.
How Cold Is Too Cold For Your Peace Lily?
Believe it or not, while above 60°F is the ideal temperature for peace lilies, it’s possible for them to survive in temperatures between 40 to 55°F. Anything below this will cause cold damage and even death.
You should also note that if you’re keeping your peace lily in temperatures between 40-55°F while it won’t kill them, it may slow and even stop their growth altogether.
Amazingly, some hybrid peace lilies have also been cultivated that are a lot more cold-resistant than other cultivars. In fact, even after exposure to 38°F for 5 days, only 5 percent of their leaf surface was damaged! Whereas other cultivars had up to 50% damage on their leaves!
What Are The Signs Of Cold Damage?
If you’ve left your peace lily in an environment where they’re going to be suffering from cold damage, it’s important to recognize the signs! Here are a few common symptoms.
The Leaves Have Turned Black At The Edge
The first sign that your peace lily has suffered from cold damage is that its leaves are starting to turn black around the edges. As the cold damage becomes worse, the blackening will move further and further into your plant.
The Leaves Begin To Dry Out
Once cold damage becomes more severe, the leaves will begin to go completely black and dry out completely. Once this happens, there’s no cure for the leaf, and you’ll simply have to remove it.
Damage Occurs Within 3-5 Days
Cold damage typically won’t show symptoms straight away. In fact, it can take between 3-5 days for the effects of cold to show in your peace lily.
Damage To The Roots And Stem
You may also notice cold damage has affected the roots and stem of your peace lily as well. And unfortunately, if the roots have been damaged, it’s a lot less likely that your peace lily will bounce back when compared with the stem.
Only The Older Leaves Are Damaged
Fortunately, this is a good sign. If only the older leaves are damaged, but the younger ones are fine, then it means your peace lily was only exposed to the cold for a short amount of time, and it’s much more likely it will make a full recovery.
How Do You Treat A Frost Damaged Peace Lily
If your peace lily has suffered from frost damage, there isn’t too much you can do in terms of treatment. However, you should definitely do the following:
- Start by removing any of the dead leaves, so your peace lily doesn’t waste any energy or nutrients trying to regrow them.
- Look for green buds on the crown (the fleshy part near the soil). If you see them then it is a good indicator that your peace lily will continue to grow, and it may have just temporarily gone into dormancy.
- Move your plant somewhere warmer. This is the most important step. Make sure you’re moving your plant to an area where the temperature is at least 60°F.
- Be patient. If your peace lily has suffered from cold damage, then it’s going to take a while for it to start growing again. Especially if it’s temporarily gone into a state of dormancy.
- Continue to water it as normal, once a week with 2 to 3 mistings of the leave should be sufficient.
How Can You Keep Your Peace Lily Warm Enough In The Future?
Keeping your peace lily warm enough isn’t hard. You just need to keep them somewhere with a temperature of at least 60°F. But here are a couple of things you should remember about their placement.
Make Sure There Are No Drafts
First of all, you should make sure that there are no drafts where you’re keeping your peace lily. Even if the room itself is warm enough, a draft can drop the temperature around your peace lily, causing cold damage to occur. So be careful when placing them near windows, fans, and air conditioners.
Keep Them Near A Window If Possible
If possible, try to keep your peace lily near a window by indirect sunlight. This way, you’re going to make sure they stay warm enough but that they’re also not going to get damaged by the sun. As an extra step, you should also use curtains for the days when the sunlight is overpowering for your peace lily.
Recap
As you now know, peace lilies can survive in temperatures as low as 40°F. However, the optimal temperature is anything above 60°F, to make sure there’s adequate growth. And if you think you’re peace lily has been left out in the cold too long, don’t worry, a lot of time they’re able to survive cold conditions for a short period of time!
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