Overwintering guide
How to overwinter flame violet
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — flame violet 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 flame violet in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and flame violet rots from the base.
More flame violet care
- Overwintering flame violet — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Overwintering flame violet — our other guide for the same plant
- Full flame violet care guide
- Flame Violet temperature range
- How often to water flame violet
- How to prune flame violet
- Common flame violet problems & fixes
Overwintering flame violet — FAQ
Does flame violet need to come indoors for winter?
Flame Violet is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Flame Violet 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 flame violet for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water flame violet in winter?
Cut watering right back — flame violet uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills flame violet over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and flame violet rots from the base.