Winter can be challenging, and some plants just take a break during the bleak winter months; this break is known as dormancy. Sometimes, it’s easy to tell when plants are dormant; other times, it’s not so easy. Learn more about dormant plants, how to tell when a plant is dormant, and how to adjust houseplant care during dormancy.
What is Dormancy?
Dormancy is a rest period that plants use to recover from the last growing season and prepare for the next. A dormant period is necessary for many plants living outdoors, and it’s a lot like hibernation. Many plant owners think their houseplants are dormant in the winter, but houseplants do not experience proper dormancy.
Why Do Plants Go Dormant in the Winter?
Dormancy is a response to stressful winter conditions; chilly temperatures and less sunlight lull plants into a deep sleep. Most plants use this time to rest and store energy for spring. How long plants stay dormant depends on the plant and the environment. Warm temperatures and increased sunlight will wake up dormant plants and get them growing again.
Is My Plant Dying or Dormant?
Dormant plants can sometimes look a lot like dying plants. Landscape plants are more likely to look dead when dormant. Drooping stems, wilted leaves or leaves that fall off are common signs that landscape plants are dormant.
Houseplants tend not to have as dramatic a response to dormancy, but they also don’t go all in the way outdoor plants do. Houseplants do not get cold enough to be fully dormant, and what they experience is not as deep of sleep. Most houseplants will simply stop growing during the winter in response to less sunlight. The plant is basically paused—it’s not dying, but it’s growing. The controlled environment in most homes keeps houseplants lush and green and generally looking good all year.
A dying houseplant will develop yellow or brown leaf spots and wilted stems and may experience leaf drop. Insufficient light and humidity are often the culprits when a houseplant’s health takes a turn during the winter. Evaluate your plant and the conditions in your home and adjust your winter plant care as needed.
Winter Houseplant Care
During the winter, you want to maintain your indoor plants and keep them alive, but you don’t need to give them the support necessary during the spring and summer when they’re actively growing.
Winter Sun
Days are shorter during the winter, and the reduction in sunlight triggers dormancy or reduces growth. Most houseplants are fine with slightly less light, but monitor your plants. Sun-loving plants in a south- or east-facing window will probably be fine. Continue to spin the container a quarter turn every week or two so each side receives sunlight. Plants that need medium or low light may need a temporary upgrade. Consider moving plants closer to a light source or using grow lights to supplement the available sunlight.
Watering Routine
Less sunlight stalls growth, and plants need less water when they aren’t growing. Temperature and humidity also impact the rate at which water evaporates, affecting how often the plant needs water. Continue to give the plant the same amount of water; just plan to do so less frequently. The best way to know when to water houseplants is to gauge the dampness with your finger. Most houseplants need water when the top few inches of potting mix is dry, but succulents only need water when all of the mix is dry. Watering a houseplant every certain number of days just because that’s what you always do is likely to lead to overwatered plants during the winter.
Do Houseplants Need to Go Dormant?
Not all houseplants need a dormant period, but some do. Follow your plant’s lead, and if they go dormant or slow down, let them. The conditions inside most homes are warm enough that plants can continue to grow. If you can provide ideal conditions, your houseplants will keep growing. You may need grow lights and humidifiers to make it happen, but with the right conditions, houseplants will not slow down during the winter. It takes dedication, but you can keep most houseplants actively growing all year.
Flowering plants are a slightly different story. Some plants bloom seasonally, while others bloom continuously. Houseplants that bloom may need a break, or rather, may need to experience the limited sunlight of winter, especially if you want them to flower. Extended periods of sunlight or darkness are sometimes vital for a plant to set buds.
Winter Plant Care
Dormancy is very different for outdoor plants versus indoor plants. Houseplants do not go dormant but slow down in response to less sunlight. You need to adapt your winter houseplant care, especially if you want your plants to grow during the colder months. Base your care on the type of plant. Increased light and humidity are the keys to keeping your houseplants growing all year if that’s what you choose.