Overwintering guide
How to overwinter pygmy bucephalandra
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — pygmy 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 pygmy bucephalandra in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and pygmy bucephalandra rots from the base.
More pygmy bucephalandra care
Overwintering pygmy bucephalandra — FAQ
Does pygmy bucephalandra need to come indoors for winter?
No hardiness zone is recorded for pygmy bucephalandra; it prefers to stay above about 22°C (72°F) while in growth, so treat it as frost-tender unless you know otherwise for your area. Pygmy 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 pygmy bucephalandra for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water pygmy bucephalandra in winter?
Cut watering right back — pygmy 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 pygmy bucephalandra over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and pygmy bucephalandra rots from the base.