Overwintering guide
How to overwinter blood-red bertolonia
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — blood-red bertolonia 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 blood-red bertolonia in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and blood-red bertolonia rots from the base.
More blood-red bertolonia care
Overwintering blood-red bertolonia — FAQ
Does blood-red bertolonia need to come indoors for winter?
Blood-red Bertolonia is hardy to roughly USDA zone 12 — winter lows around 10°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Blood-red Bertolonia 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 blood-red bertolonia for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water blood-red bertolonia in winter?
Cut watering right back — blood-red bertolonia uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills blood-red bertolonia over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and blood-red bertolonia rots from the base.