Overwintering guide
How to overwinter blue rabbit's foot fern
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — blue rabbit's foot fern 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 blue rabbit's foot fern in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and blue rabbit's foot fern rots from the base.
More blue rabbit's foot fern care
- Overwintering blue rabbit's foot fern — our other guide for the same plant
- Full blue rabbit's foot fern care guide
- Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern temperature range
- How often to water blue rabbit's foot fern
- How to prune blue rabbit's foot fern
- Common blue rabbit's foot fern problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering blue rabbit's foot fern — FAQ
Does blue rabbit's foot fern need to come indoors for winter?
Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern 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 blue rabbit's foot fern for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water blue rabbit's foot fern in winter?
Cut watering right back — blue rabbit's foot fern uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills blue rabbit's foot fern over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and blue rabbit's foot fern rots from the base.