Overwintering guide
How to overwinter wallich's wood fern
Winter watering
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
The mistake that kills wallich's wood fern in winter
Cutting wallich's wood fern hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.
More wallich's wood fern care
- Overwintering wallichiana fern — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Full wallich's wood fern care guide
- Wallich's Wood Fern temperature range
- How often to water wallich's wood fern
- How to prune wallich's wood fern
- Common wallich's wood fern problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering wallich's wood fern — FAQ
Does wallich's wood fern need to come indoors for winter?
Wallich's Wood Fern is hardy to roughly USDA zone 6 — winter lows around -23°C. That means it can stay outside all winter in most temperate gardens. Wallich's Wood Fern is properly hardy and overwinters outside without fuss. Tidy away anything dead or diseased, apply a mulch over the crown to steady soil temperatures, and otherwise leave it alone — many hardy plants actually need a cold period to flower and grow well the following year. Save hard pruning for the right season rather than doing it in autumn.
When should I move wallich's wood fern for winter?
Tidy and mulch in late autumn; leave the plant undisturbed until spring.
How often should I water wallich's wood fern in winter?
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
What kills wallich's wood fern over winter?
Cutting wallich's wood fern hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.