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