Overwintering guide
How to overwinter cup ginger
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — cup ginger 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 cup ginger in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and cup ginger rots from the base.
More cup ginger care
Overwintering cup ginger — FAQ
Does cup ginger need to come indoors for winter?
Cup Ginger is hardy to roughly USDA zone 12 — winter lows around 10°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Cup Ginger 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 cup ginger for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water cup ginger in winter?
Cut watering right back — cup ginger uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills cup ginger over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and cup ginger rots from the base.