Overwintering guide
How to overwinter red nerve plant
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — red nerve plant 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 red nerve plant in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and red nerve plant rots from the base.
More red nerve plant care
- Overwintering fittonia — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Overwintering red nerve plant — our other guide for the same plant
- Full red nerve plant care guide
- Red Nerve Plant temperature range
- How often to water red nerve plant
- How to prune red nerve plant
- Common red nerve plant problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering red nerve plant — FAQ
Does red nerve plant need to come indoors for winter?
Red Nerve Plant is hardy to roughly USDA zone 11 — winter lows around 4°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Red Nerve Plant 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 red nerve plant for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water red nerve plant in winter?
Cut watering right back — red nerve plant uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills red nerve plant over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and red nerve plant rots from the base.