Overwintering guide
How to overwinter rothschild's slipper orchid
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — rothschild's slipper orchid 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 rothschild's slipper orchid in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and rothschild's slipper orchid rots from the base.
More rothschild's slipper orchid care
- Overwintering rothschild's slipper orchid — our other guide for the same plant
- Full rothschild's slipper orchid care guide
- Rothschild's Slipper Orchid temperature range
- How often to water rothschild's slipper orchid
- How to prune rothschild's slipper orchid
- Common rothschild's slipper orchid problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering rothschild's slipper orchid — FAQ
Does rothschild's slipper orchid need to come indoors for winter?
Rothschild's Slipper Orchid is hardy to roughly USDA zone 11 — winter lows around 4°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Rothschild's Slipper Orchid 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 rothschild's slipper orchid for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water rothschild's slipper orchid in winter?
Cut watering right back — rothschild's slipper orchid uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills rothschild's slipper orchid over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and rothschild's slipper orchid rots from the base.