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