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