I was asked last week by @CutePolypremum to give some inf...
I was asked last week by @CutePolypremum to give some information on Dormancy. I wanted to try to make a condensed version to help people out a little.
I've tried, I know I may have missed some plants because there are so many different species so I decided to compile a list of the most popular.
I've included what to look for, why it's so important and how to help you plants out! 🌿
If I missed some or are wondering about a specific species feel free to ask. I will try my best to answer.
Dormancy Requirements
Plants that require dormancy.
Any plant that is fruiting should have a winter dormancy. It comes naturally to a long list of species. It is triggered to happen in plants with shorter days and cooler temps.
Some things you may notice. Slowed growth, browning and dropping leaves. Your plant may be losing some of its bright vibrant color or its stops flowering all together. Your plant will start drinking less so the soil will stay wet longer. This is your sign it needs a nap to gain some energy.
Here are some tips to help it through:
1. Less light- 6 hours under a grow light is plenty. Too much and you'll be fighting against nature 🌿
2. No fertilizer- dormant plants won't be using it and it can burn the roots.
3. Water less you don't want to cause root rot!
4. Some plants such as Venus Fly trap you can stick in your fridge, garage or shed. To induce a full dormancy.
Now with our wonderful indoor grow lights we can force our plants to skip it. Many people fear that the plant won't ever come back if they are forced into dormancy. So they fight it. Here is why you should not fight against nature, and just let your plant do what comes naturally.
Every year you fight it and don't allow it time to rest it will become weaker and stressed. You will ultimately be shortening your beautiful plants life causing a plant that is weak and prone to infections. Your plants growth will slow and eventually you will lose your plant.
But, if you allow it to rest it will come back stronger, bigger and with more flowers, fruit and foliage. It will be healthy come spring with stored energy it's built up through winter and ready for renewed growth. You will be aiding your plant and increasing its lifespan by decades!
This will provide the fruiting plant or trees time to gain energy during a period of rest. This is critical for fruiting plants to have renewed growth and a high yield the next growing season starting in spring.
A brief list of common plants is:
Meyer Lemon
Lime Trees
Pepper plants
Zz plants
Snake Plants
Pothos
Spider Plants
Hibiscis
Peace Lily's
Venus Fly Trap
Hoya
Dracenia
Rubber Plant
A good tip to remember is plants that are native to areas with big seasonal changes coming in the form of:
Monsoon seasons
Cold winters/ warm summers
Extreme heat- common for some succulents and cactus.
These plants will have some form of dormancy it may be partial
dormancy so may a bit different than the grass in our yards that gets brown or the trees that drop all their leaves only to come back bigger and better after winter. But they still need that period of rest just like those outdoor plants. It is a good thing they work hard all year looking beautiful for us so we need to help them out a little along the way by giving them a well deserved rest! ❤️
My African Tortoise Plant goes summer dormant when it gets hot. All leaves will drop. Its dormancy is triggered by high heat. And need a summers rest to come back in fall.
Others summer dormant plants are:
See attached photo for succulents
Signs of summer dormancy may include stopped growth. Yellow and brown leaves and even some drooping may occur. They will drink less so will retain moisture longer.
To help summer dormant plants out:
1. Move to a cooler location
2. Water Less
3. No fertilizer
Winter Dormant Succulents
Apply same rules as above for winter dormancy.
See attached photo
These photos were copied from succulentsbox.com @2025 Succulents Box
#dormancy #dormancyhelp #dormancylist #winterdormancy #summerdormancy #dormancytips
I've tried, I know I may have missed some plants because there are so many different species so I decided to compile a list of the most popular.
I've included what to look for, why it's so important and how to help you plants out! 🌿
If I missed some or are wondering about a specific species feel free to ask. I will try my best to answer.
Dormancy Requirements
Plants that require dormancy.
Any plant that is fruiting should have a winter dormancy. It comes naturally to a long list of species. It is triggered to happen in plants with shorter days and cooler temps.
Some things you may notice. Slowed growth, browning and dropping leaves. Your plant may be losing some of its bright vibrant color or its stops flowering all together. Your plant will start drinking less so the soil will stay wet longer. This is your sign it needs a nap to gain some energy.
Here are some tips to help it through:
1. Less light- 6 hours under a grow light is plenty. Too much and you'll be fighting against nature 🌿
2. No fertilizer- dormant plants won't be using it and it can burn the roots.
3. Water less you don't want to cause root rot!
4. Some plants such as Venus Fly trap you can stick in your fridge, garage or shed. To induce a full dormancy.
Now with our wonderful indoor grow lights we can force our plants to skip it. Many people fear that the plant won't ever come back if they are forced into dormancy. So they fight it. Here is why you should not fight against nature, and just let your plant do what comes naturally.
Every year you fight it and don't allow it time to rest it will become weaker and stressed. You will ultimately be shortening your beautiful plants life causing a plant that is weak and prone to infections. Your plants growth will slow and eventually you will lose your plant.
But, if you allow it to rest it will come back stronger, bigger and with more flowers, fruit and foliage. It will be healthy come spring with stored energy it's built up through winter and ready for renewed growth. You will be aiding your plant and increasing its lifespan by decades!
This will provide the fruiting plant or trees time to gain energy during a period of rest. This is critical for fruiting plants to have renewed growth and a high yield the next growing season starting in spring.
A brief list of common plants is:
Meyer Lemon
Lime Trees
Pepper plants
Zz plants
Snake Plants
Pothos
Spider Plants
Hibiscis
Peace Lily's
Venus Fly Trap
Hoya
Dracenia
Rubber Plant
A good tip to remember is plants that are native to areas with big seasonal changes coming in the form of:
Monsoon seasons
Cold winters/ warm summers
Extreme heat- common for some succulents and cactus.
These plants will have some form of dormancy it may be partial
dormancy so may a bit different than the grass in our yards that gets brown or the trees that drop all their leaves only to come back bigger and better after winter. But they still need that period of rest just like those outdoor plants. It is a good thing they work hard all year looking beautiful for us so we need to help them out a little along the way by giving them a well deserved rest! ❤️
My African Tortoise Plant goes summer dormant when it gets hot. All leaves will drop. Its dormancy is triggered by high heat. And need a summers rest to come back in fall.
Others summer dormant plants are:
See attached photo for succulents
Signs of summer dormancy may include stopped growth. Yellow and brown leaves and even some drooping may occur. They will drink less so will retain moisture longer.
To help summer dormant plants out:
1. Move to a cooler location
2. Water Less
3. No fertilizer
Winter Dormant Succulents
Apply same rules as above for winter dormancy.
See attached photo
These photos were copied from succulentsbox.com @2025 Succulents Box
#dormancy #dormancyhelp #dormancylist #winterdormancy #summerdormancy #dormancytips
Last watered 1 year ago
18
Best Answer
@SuperbRaspfern thank YOU for such a detailed post! It's really important info for succulent owners (or any plants for that matter). For years I couldn't figure out why my outdoor aeoniums shriveled up in the summer and kept watering them thinking that was the issue. Then I found out they're dormant in the summer and shouldn't be watered as often. Total game changer for me! 😀
@stephonicle Your welcome ❤️. Hopefully by sharing through our experiences we can make it easier for others just starting out. And, we can help them to know what to expect so they don't give up. Growing to love plants as much as we do. Because there is so much joy in caring for our plants, watching them grow, leaves unfurling and flowers blooming. ❤️
Excellent post. Im terrible about doing dormancy for most of my succulents. I need to just start adding dormancy period to my plant tags 🤷♂️! Ty too @stephonicle
@SuperbRaspfern @stephonicle legends !!!! I didn’t even know some plants go dormant in summer! (So I’m not crap at succulents after all 😭) thank you so much ☺️
@SuperbRaspfern
Hi dear Shannon 😊
That's a lot of work and effort you put into your post and surely, so many of us will appreciate it!
I'm going to screenshoot it so it can be analyzed and referred to as often as needed.
Thanks so much! 🤗🌹🙋❣️
Hi dear Shannon 😊
That's a lot of work and effort you put into your post and surely, so many of us will appreciate it!
I'm going to screenshoot it so it can be analyzed and referred to as often as needed.
Thanks so much! 🤗🌹🙋❣️
@TheConservator No worries, anytime you can tag me, I'm always happy to help. It took me years to learn to copy and paste 😂. Now it's like what, how could have I not figured that out years ago. Technology does NOT come easy to me! Seriously had to call a nephew over to my house after getting cap locks stuck and trying for hours to unstick it. He laughed and fixed it in 2 seconds! 🥲😂😅
@CutePolypremum I'm glad you asked it was fun and a great idea! ❤️💡Seems as though it's quite helpful for others. Anytime really 🌿😁
@SuperbRaspfern GREGS going to have to put you on the PAYROLL!🙌 soon if you keep doing things lije this and those in detail copy and paste posts u have ! 🥰
@TheConservator 😂Glad I'm not alone 🥲