Overwintering guide
How to overwinter pemba palm
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — pemba 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 pemba palm in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and pemba palm rots from the base.
More pemba palm care
Overwintering pemba palm — FAQ
Does pemba palm need to come indoors for winter?
Pemba Palm is hardy to roughly USDA zone 11 — winter lows around 4°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Pemba 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 pemba palm for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water pemba palm in winter?
Cut watering right back — pemba 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 pemba palm over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and pemba palm rots from the base.