Overwintering guide
How to overwinter squirrel's foot fern
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — squirrel's foot fern 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 squirrel's foot fern in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and squirrel's foot fern rots from the base.
More squirrel's foot fern care
- Overwintering squirrel's foot fern — our other guide for the same plant
- Full squirrel's foot fern care guide
- Squirrel's Foot Fern temperature range
- How often to water squirrel's foot fern
- How to prune squirrel's foot fern
- Common squirrel's foot fern problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering squirrel's foot fern — FAQ
Does squirrel's foot fern need to come indoors for winter?
Squirrel's Foot Fern is hardy to roughly USDA zone 9 — winter lows around -7°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Squirrel's Foot Fern 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 squirrel's foot fern for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water squirrel's foot fern in winter?
Cut watering right back — squirrel's foot fern uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills squirrel's foot fern over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and squirrel's foot fern rots from the base.