Yes, turmeric plants survive winter indoors just fine when you manage their dormancy the right way. Your plant will likely lose its leaves and look dead through the cold months. But the rhizomes stay alive under the soil and will sprout again when warmth returns in spring.
Overwintering turmeric gets easier once you understand what the plant needs during this rest period. I have brought my turmeric through four winters now with good results each time. The key is cutting back on water and letting the plant sleep until spring arrives.
The shorter days and cooler temps of winter trigger a natural dormancy response in turmeric. UC Master Gardeners note that plants may go dormant due to the lack of sunlight during cold months. This rest period is normal and healthy for tropical plants like turmeric.
Turmeric winter dormancy starts when you see the leaves turn yellow and droop in late fall. Do not panic when this happens to your plant for the first time. The plant is moving all its energy down into the rhizomes for storage. Let the leaves die back on their own rather than cutting them off early.
Once all the leaves have died, cut back your watering to almost nothing. Your dormant turmeric needs just a tiny sip of water every 3-4 weeks to keep the rhizomes from drying out. Too much water during dormancy causes rot since the plant is not using any moisture.
Keep your dormant plant in a spot that stays above 50°F (10°C) through the whole winter. Cooler temps will not kill the rhizomes right away but can cause damage over time. A spare room or basement that gets some natural warmth works well for storage.
When I first grew turmeric, I worried my plant had died when the leaves all fell off in November. I almost threw out the pot before a friend told me to just wait and see. Those bare pots sat in my spare room until March when tiny green shoots popped up from the soil.
You can also dig up your rhizomes and store them bare through the indoor turmeric cold months ahead. Brush off the soil and place them in a paper bag with some dry peat moss or sawdust. Keep the bag in a cool dark spot that stays above 50°F (10°C) until planting time.
Watch for new growth to appear in late winter or early spring as days get longer. This signals your turmeric is ready to wake up and grow again. Start watering more often and move the pot back to a bright warm spot to get the growing season started.
Your turmeric will come back stronger each year as the rhizome mass gets bigger. Second year plants sprout faster and grow taller than first year starts from the store. This makes the winter wait worth the patience you put in each cold season.
Read the full article: How to Grow Turmeric Indoors Successfully
