As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we, Rohdea japonica, enter a state of dormancy. Our metabolic processes slow to a near halt. Our roots absorb water at a fraction of their warm-weather rate, and our foliage ceases active growth. Therefore, your care must adapt. Overwatering is now the single greatest threat to our survival. Soggy, cold soil will lead to rapid root rot, as our inactive roots simply cannot process the moisture and will succumb to decay. You must allow the soil to dry out significantly between waterings. Check the soil moisture by feeling it an inch or two below the surface; water only when it is quite dry to the touch. A deep, occasional watering is far preferable to frequent, light sips.
While our leathery, evergreen leaves are moderately cold-tolerant, our root system is the most vulnerable part of our being during winter. Frozen roots mean death. In the ground, a thick layer of mulch is our best defense. After the first hard freeze, please apply a generous 3 to 4-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark, leaf mold, or straw, around our base. This blanket does not heat the soil but acts as a superb insulator, preventing the rapid freeze-thaw cycles that can heave us out of the ground and protecting the root zone from the coldest temperatures. For our pot-bound brethren, the risk is even greater. Their roots are exposed on all sides to the freezing air. You must either bury the pot in the ground and mulch over it, or move the container to an unheated but protected space like a garage or shed.
Our broad leaves, though tough, are subject to winter desiccation or "windburn." When the ground is frozen, we cannot replace moisture lost through our foliage to the relentless, dry winter winds and even the low winter sun. This results in unsightly browning, bleaching, and scorched leaf tips. A physical windbreak is immensely beneficial. Planting us in a naturally sheltered location, such as on the north or east side of a building or wall, is ideal. For exposed plants, a screen of burlap or evergreen boughs erected on the windward side can break the force of the wind and prevent excessive moisture loss, preserving our verdant appearance.
Heavy, wet snow and ice accumulation pose a significant physical threat. The weight can bend and break our sturdy but nonetheless vulnerable leaves, causing lasting structural damage. It is important to gently brush off heavy snow from our foliage using a soft broom or your hand, brushing in an upward motion. However, if a layer of ice has encased our leaves, you must leave it be. Attempting to remove ice will almost certainly cause more damage, snapping the frozen tissue. We are resilient and will often recover from ice damage once it melts naturally, even if we appear battered temporarily.
