Overwintering guide
How to overwinter saintpaulia 'jolly ellie'
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' 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 saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' rots from the base.
More saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' care
Overwintering saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' — FAQ
Does saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' need to come indoors for winter?
Saintpaulia 'Jolly Ellie' is hardy to roughly USDA zone 11 — winter lows around 4°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Saintpaulia 'Jolly Ellie' 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 saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' in winter?
Cut watering right back — saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and saintpaulia 'jolly ellie' rots from the base.