Winterfat Care
Krascheninnikovia ceratoides
An extremely hardy shrub with silvery-white leaves, native to the cold, dry steppes of Anatolia. It needs full sun and perfectly drained, gravelly, calcareous soils; drainage is vital to prevent root rot in Izmir's wet winters.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- General care: Make sure water does not collect around the plant because of the winter rains.
- Pests & diseases: Root rot is the biggest risk in winter wetness. Frost protection is not needed; it is very frost hardy.
- Pruning: Before new growth begins, it can be pruned lightly down to 10-15 cm above the ground to shape and revitalize the plant.
- General care: Clear weeds.
- Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
- Fertilizing: Not required, it prefers poor soils; do not overfeed.
- General care: New shoots appear.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water newly planted seedlings once. Mature plants do not need watering.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
- General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
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