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