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