Overwintering guide
How to overwinter scaly-stem columnea
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — scaly-stem columnea 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 scaly-stem columnea in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and scaly-stem columnea rots from the base.
More scaly-stem columnea care
Overwintering scaly-stem columnea — FAQ
Does scaly-stem columnea need to come indoors for winter?
Scaly-stem Columnea is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Scaly-stem Columnea 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 scaly-stem columnea for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water scaly-stem columnea in winter?
Cut watering right back — scaly-stem columnea uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills scaly-stem columnea over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and scaly-stem columnea rots from the base.