Overwintering guide
How to overwinter begonia 'joe hayden'
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — begonia 'joe hayden' uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills begonia 'joe hayden' in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and begonia 'joe hayden' rots from the base.
More begonia 'joe hayden' care
Overwintering begonia 'joe hayden' — FAQ
Does begonia 'joe hayden' need to come indoors for winter?
Begonia 'Joe Hayden' is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Begonia 'Joe Hayden' is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move begonia 'joe hayden' for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water begonia 'joe hayden' in winter?
Cut watering right back — begonia 'joe hayden' uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills begonia 'joe hayden' over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and begonia 'joe hayden' rots from the base.