Overwintering guide
How to overwinter ceratopteris cornuta
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — ceratopteris cornuta 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 ceratopteris cornuta in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and ceratopteris cornuta rots from the base.
More ceratopteris cornuta care
Overwintering ceratopteris cornuta — FAQ
Does ceratopteris cornuta need to come indoors for winter?
No hardiness zone is recorded for ceratopteris cornuta; 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. Ceratopteris cornuta 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 ceratopteris cornuta for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water ceratopteris cornuta in winter?
Cut watering right back — ceratopteris cornuta uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills ceratopteris cornuta over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and ceratopteris cornuta rots from the base.