Succulents have a pretty chill lifestyle and are low maintenance and self-sufficient.
But, did you know that they can even go dormant in the winter?
Understanding the dormancy cycle of your succulent can help you make sure that they do not get overfed or overwatered, and are placed in the right conditions until they commence growing in the warm season.
In This Short Guide – We will provide you with the necessary information on how to identify and manage dormancy in your succulents, and how to prepare them for the winter so they are in great shape for Spring!
You may not have even thought about the growth pattern of your succulents
When you’re amassing a lovely collection of sweet succulents, you might not be giving much thought to their growth habits.
It may be worth considering that growth is not consistent throughout the year for a succulent, and at different times of the year the succulent is growing or is not growing.
What is dormancy?
This is a time when your succulent goes into a period where it stops growing and holds moisture and sweetness in its soft tissues during bad weather.
When a succulent goes into a hibernation mode, it prepares its soft tissues for the harsh temperature and an unusually low availability of nutrients.
Dormancy is not just for winter
It is vital to bear in mind that succulent dormancy is not limited to the windows of winter as well.
This biological standby state is simply a tactic the plant uses to preserve life, because some species of succulents also enter dormancy state during the summer season as well.
Why is this? Because in their native environment, if there was harsh summer sun, that could destroy a metabolically active plant. So suculents are always geared up for hedging on their bets and enter dormancy on top of their better judgment and gut feeling.
Dormancy is generally determined by the climate where the succulent is grown
Conditions in which the plant is growing is the main reason for dormancy in a succulent because succulents are opportunistic growers.
If you have nice summers, but bad, cold winters your succulent will prepare itself for the coming months by becoming dormant for the winter.
The length and severity of your local winters will determine how dormancy is affected in the succulent.
If your succulent is indoors, it is unlikely it will experience a marked dormancy period
As the environment of a heated and air-conditioned home are constant, it is very unlikely that a succulent will be inclined to shut down.
In other words, if this is in an unheated environment, all can proceed as usual while you show it some tender loving care!
Winter dormant succulent species
Listed below are some well-known examples of succulent species that enter dormancy during the winter.
These plants do most of their growth during the spring, summer, and fall.
Once the temperatures drop below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C), these plants will start to shut down.
If you have some of these succulents in your possession you can expect them to be growing less between the end of fall and mid-spring:
- Adenium
- Agave
- Ceropegia
- Echeveria
- Euphorbia
- Ferocactus
- Mangave
- Opuntia
- Pachypodium
- Pedilanthus
- Rhipsalis
- Schlumbergera
- Sedum
- Sempervivum
- Tillandsia
- Titanopsis
Considerations for getting your succulent through a winter dormancy
During the wintertime, succulents simply need more considerate care.
There isn’t a reason to panic, just be to remember your succulent isn’t going to be growing as much, and you will need to provide protection from very cold temperatures.
Your plan of action will be easier if you have houseplants to care for, or container plants you can take inside, than it will be for the succulents you leave inthe garden for winter.
Here is the gist of it all.
Note the minimum temperature tolerance
Succulents are plants of hot arid climates that tolerate extremely cold temperatures as desert winter nights can be below freezing.
Succulents can either be cold hardy like Sempervivum or tender like Echeveria.
Some succulents like Sedum kamtschaticum and Orostachys sp. may go into deep dormancy and lose their leaves, while others go dormant, dying back to the roots to sprout again in the spring.
While the tender succulents may experience challenges adapting to very cold conditions, and need frost protection or indoor care.
Remember that you should always be well aware of their minimum temperature tolerance so that you can protect them from long periods of freezing temperatures that may damage them.
Aloe Vera is one of those succulents, that will grow all year long, despite harsh winter temperatures.
The growth can be so vigorous and sustained, that it may even benefit from being fed.
In winter, hold back on the water
A succulent doesn’t really need any water during the winter dormancy as it is not growing.
A dormant succulent would simply not take up any water and may become waterlogged and rot.
However, indoor succulents may not enter dormancy as all conditions are just fine.
If you do turn up the furnace a few degrees, the plants would certainly love damp soil.
Don’t transplant a dormant succulent
If you are thinking about re-potting or replanting a succulent, this should only be done once the dormancy has past.
This is because the succulent is not actively growing and cannot possibly get establish in its new container. They may develop root shock, rot, and die.
You should always wait until a succulent has commenced consistent growth and is ready to grow in a new home to re-pot or transplant.
Dormant succulents are a poor pick for propagation
Nonetheless, the succulent leaves you choose to start with for propagation are not actively growing, so you will have subpar results.
In general, the best time to propagate succulents is in the spring or fall, when they have several weeks to root and establish before winter.
Rounding up
Dormancy is part of the growth cycle of succulent plants, and it should be taken into consideration if your succulent comes to a standstill in the cold winter months.
In reality, winter dormancy in succulents is really only going to be an annoyance to your succulents that are dealing with the harshest part of the winter outside.
Taking care of your dormant succulent in the winter will be like any other plant you are protecting through the cold months, although extra caution will be taken to avoid waterlogging.