Overwintering guide
How to overwinter tropical pitcher plant
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — tropical pitcher plant 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 tropical pitcher plant in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and tropical pitcher plant rots from the base.
More tropical pitcher plant care
Overwintering tropical pitcher plant — FAQ
Does tropical pitcher plant need to come indoors for winter?
No hardiness zone is recorded for tropical pitcher plant; it prefers to stay above about 18°C (64°F) while in growth, so treat it as frost-tender unless you know otherwise for your area. Tropical pitcher plant 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 tropical pitcher plant for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water tropical pitcher plant in winter?
Cut watering right back — tropical pitcher plant uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills tropical pitcher plant over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and tropical pitcher plant rots from the base.