Overwintering guide
How to overwinter echinodorus bleheri
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — echinodorus bleheri 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 echinodorus bleheri in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and echinodorus bleheri rots from the base.
More echinodorus bleheri care
Overwintering echinodorus bleheri — FAQ
Does echinodorus bleheri need to come indoors for winter?
Echinodorus bleheri is hardy to roughly USDA zone 18. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Echinodorus bleheri 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 echinodorus bleheri for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water echinodorus bleheri in winter?
Cut watering right back — echinodorus bleheri uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills echinodorus bleheri over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and echinodorus bleheri rots from the base.