Overwintering guide
How to overwinter echinodorus 'red flame'
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — echinodorus 'red flame' 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 'red flame' in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and echinodorus 'red flame' rots from the base.
More echinodorus 'red flame' care
Overwintering echinodorus 'red flame' — FAQ
Does echinodorus 'red flame' need to come indoors for winter?
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' is hardy to roughly USDA zone 18. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Echinodorus 'Red Flame' 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 'red flame' for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water echinodorus 'red flame' in winter?
Cut watering right back — echinodorus 'red flame' 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 'red flame' over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and echinodorus 'red flame' rots from the base.