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