Overwintering guide
How to overwinter begonia 'northern lights'
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — begonia 'northern lights' 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 'northern lights' in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and begonia 'northern lights' rots from the base.
More begonia 'northern lights' care
- Overwintering rex begonia — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Full begonia 'northern lights' care guide
- Begonia 'Northern Lights' temperature range
- How often to water begonia 'northern lights'
- How to prune begonia 'northern lights'
- Common begonia 'northern lights' problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering begonia 'northern lights' — FAQ
Does begonia 'northern lights' need to come indoors for winter?
Begonia 'Northern Lights' 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 'Northern Lights' 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 'northern lights' for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water begonia 'northern lights' in winter?
Cut watering right back — begonia 'northern lights' 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 'northern lights' over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and begonia 'northern lights' rots from the base.