Overwintering guide
How to overwinter bracted lipstick plant
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — bracted lipstick plant 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 bracted lipstick plant in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and bracted lipstick plant rots from the base.
More bracted lipstick plant care
Overwintering bracted lipstick plant — FAQ
Does bracted lipstick plant need to come indoors for winter?
Bracted Lipstick Plant is hardy to roughly USDA zone 11 — winter lows around 4°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Bracted Lipstick Plant 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 bracted lipstick plant for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water bracted lipstick plant in winter?
Cut watering right back — bracted lipstick plant uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills bracted lipstick plant over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and bracted lipstick plant rots from the base.