Overwintering guide
How to overwinter three-leaf licuala
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — three-leaf licuala 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 three-leaf licuala in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and three-leaf licuala rots from the base.
More three-leaf licuala care
Overwintering three-leaf licuala — FAQ
Does three-leaf licuala need to come indoors for winter?
Three-leaf Licuala is hardy to roughly USDA zone 12 — winter lows around 10°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Three-leaf Licuala 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 three-leaf licuala for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water three-leaf licuala in winter?
Cut watering right back — three-leaf licuala uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills three-leaf licuala over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and three-leaf licuala rots from the base.