Overwintering guide
How to overwinter saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl'
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' 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 'mac's black pearl' in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' rots from the base.
More saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' care
Overwintering saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' — FAQ
Does saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' need to come indoors for winter?
Saintpaulia 'Mac's Black Pearl' 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 'Mac's Black Pearl' 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 'mac's black pearl' for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' in winter?
Cut watering right back — saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' 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 'mac's black pearl' over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and saintpaulia 'mac's black pearl' rots from the base.