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