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