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Dormancy and rest periods

Also known as Winter rest, Summer dormancy, Aestivation

Growing know-howDepends
A Venus flytrap at the start of spring, emerged from winter dormancy Photo: Tippitiwichet · CC BY 2.0

In short

Dormancy is a period of arrested growth that lets plants survive cold or dry seasons. Many houseplants simply slow down in low light rather than going fully dormant; some bulbs, tubers and temperate plants die back completely. During rest, water less, stop feeding and do not repot.

How it looks

Signs a plant is resting rather than dying: growth stops, new leaves stop appearing; some plants lose their leaves or die back to a bulb, tuber or rhizome (for example cyclamen and amaryllis rest dry over summer). Firm bulbs, tubers, rhizomes and roots show the plant is alive.

Signs

Slower drying of the mix, yellowing and dieback of foliage in seasonal plants, no new growth. Problems arise if a resting plant is watered and fed as if it were growing: the mix stays wet and roots rot.

Life cycle

Predictive dormancy starts before bad conditions, cued by shorter days and falling temperatures; consequential dormancy (including dry-season aestivation) follows the arrival of drought or other stress. Some temperate plants need a chilling period to break dormancy.

What favours it

Triggers are shorter days, lower temperatures and dry seasons. In tropical homes with little change in day length or temperature, many plants grow year round; the ICPS notes that Venus flytraps grown indoors under lights do not need dormancy to survive and that putting indoor plants in the refrigerator for dormancy is unnecessary. Outdoors in cold climates, dormancy protects them from freezing.

Prevention

  • Learn whether your plant has a true dormancy (bulbs, tubers, temperate carnivorous plants) or only slows down.
  • Water less as growth slows; check the mix and let it dry more than in the growing season.
  • Stop feeding during rest; resume lightly when clear new growth appears.
  • Do not repot a resting plant; wait for active growth.
  • Give resting houseplants the brightest spot available and keep them away from heaters and cold windows.

Treatment

Start with the first step and move down only if the problem persists.

  1. If a dormant bulb or tuber has leaves dying back, reduce watering and let foliage wither naturally; restart watering when new shoots appear.
  2. If a plant rots during rest, remove soft tissue and repot into fresh, barely moist mix.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Respecting rest periods avoids root rot and supports strong regrowth and flowering in seasonal plants.

Cons

  • Dormant plants can look dead and are sometimes thrown away by mistake.

Look-alikes

Root rot
A dormant plant has firm roots, bulbs or rhizomes; rot makes them soft, dark and smelly.
Underwatering
A thirsty plant wilts and recovers after watering; a dormant plant stays still regardless.

Typical uses

Bulbs and tubers such as amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and cyclamen, temperate carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap, and temperate woody plants.

Sources

  1. Dormancy — Wikipedia
  2. Beautiful winter houseplants and care tips — RHS
  3. Growing Dionaea muscipula — International Carnivorous Plant Society
  4. Properly Watering Container Houseplants — Virginia Cooperative Extension

Written in our own words from these sources. Check a product label before using any treatment.