Garden Care Guide

Gloxinia Care

Sinningia spp.

A tuberous tropical houseplant grown for its large, velvety flowers. Success depends on striking the right balance between moist soil during the growing period and a completely dry tuber during the rest period; water should not touch its leaves.

Frost-tender (protect from frost) · 10 °C / 50 °F

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.

January
  • Watering: The tuber should be dormant and completely dry; no watering is done.
  • General care: Store the tuber in a cool (10-15°C), dry and dark place (in its pot or in peat).
  • Pests & diseases: Check the tuber occasionally for rot or shriveling.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 10 °C.
February
  • Watering: At the end of the month, cover the tuber with fresh, lightly moist soil and begin watering very sparingly.
  • General care: Time to plant the tuber in fresh, well-drained soil. The top of the tuber should be just below soil level.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the new shoots.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 10 °C.
March
  • Watering: As new shoots grow, slowly increase watering; water from below as the top of the soil dries.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • Plant protection: Check the new growth for aphids.
  • General care: Place it in a spot with bright, indirect light.
  • Pests & diseases: To prevent crown rot, do not pour water into the center of the plant.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 10 °C.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Every 2 weeks, give a flower-promoting (high-phosphorus) fertilizer at half dose; do not overdo it.
  • Plant protection: Check for aphids, mealybugs and thrips.
  • General care: Flower buds form; rotate the pot so it receives light evenly.
  • Pests & diseases: If white powder (powdery mildew) forms on the leaves, increase air circulation.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Remove spent flowers.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk. Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy soil that holds water, plant it on a raised mound or berm 20-30 cm high so that the root collar stays above the surrounding soil level.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch for signs of disease.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue regular feeding, but do not overfeed.
  • Pruning: Encourage new blooms by carefully pinching off spent flowers together with their stalks.
  • Plant protection: Continue pest control.
  • General care: It likes high humidity, but do not mist the leaves; use a humidity tray.
  • Pests & diseases: Spotting on flowers (botrytis) can be caused by poor ventilation and high humidity.
  • Frost risk: Protect from the scorching sun.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue regular feeding.
  • Pruning: Keep deadheading.
  • General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Frost risk: Protect from the scorching sun.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue regular feeding.
  • Pruning: Keep deadheading.
  • General care: Flowering may begin to slow down.
  • Frost risk: Protect from the scorching sun.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Stop fertilizing completely.
  • General care: Allow the plant to enter dormancy naturally; the leaves will yellow and dry.
  • Frost risk: Keep away from open windows.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: Cut all dry leaves and stalks.
  • General care: Put the pot away with its tuber in a cool, dry, dark place.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure the tuber is not rotting.
  • Frost risk: Store where there is no frost.
November
  • Watering: No watering is done.
  • General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 10 °C.
December
  • Watering: No watering is done.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 10 °C.

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.

Browse all plant guides