Overwintering guide
How to overwinter riccia fluitans
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — riccia fluitans 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 riccia fluitans in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and riccia fluitans rots from the base.
More riccia fluitans care
Overwintering riccia fluitans — FAQ
Does riccia fluitans need to come indoors for winter?
No hardiness zone is recorded for riccia fluitans; 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. Riccia fluitans 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 riccia fluitans for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water riccia fluitans in winter?
Cut watering right back — riccia fluitans uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills riccia fluitans over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and riccia fluitans rots from the base.