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