Overwintering guide
How to overwinter pencil pine
Winter watering
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
The mistake that kills pencil pine in winter
Cutting pencil pine hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.
More pencil pine care
Overwintering pencil pine — FAQ
Does pencil pine need to come indoors for winter?
Pencil Pine is hardy to roughly USDA zone 7 — winter lows around -18°C. That means it can stay outside all winter in most temperate gardens. Pencil Pine is properly hardy and overwinters outside without fuss. Tidy away anything dead or diseased, apply a mulch over the crown to steady soil temperatures, and otherwise leave it alone — many hardy plants actually need a cold period to flower and grow well the following year. Save hard pruning for the right season rather than doing it in autumn.
When should I move pencil pine for winter?
Tidy and mulch in late autumn; leave the plant undisturbed until spring.
How often should I water pencil pine in winter?
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
What kills pencil pine over winter?
Cutting pencil pine hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.