Seasons2 min read

Dormant or dead? Plant dormancy

How plants rest, and how to tell they're still alive

What dormancy is

Dormancy is a resting period when a plant slows down or stops growing. It helps plants survive harsh times like winter or drought, and a dormant plant can look dead while it's perfectly alive underneath.

Who goes dormant

Some rests come every year and some only in hard times.

Trees and shrubs that drop their leaves in autumn.
Perennials that die back to the ground while their roots stay alive.
Bulbs, which store food and rest after flowering.
Cool-season lawns, which can turn brown in a summer drought; warm-season lawns go brown after the first hard frost.
Houseplants, many of which rest in the short days of winter.

Alive or not?

Before you pull anything out, check.

Scratch a stem with a fingernail. If green shows, it's alive.
If it's brown all the way through and snaps easily, that part is dead.
Cut a bud open; green inside is a good sign.
Bulbs should feel firm. Soft, sunken or dark spots mean rot.

Care while resting

Give dormant plants little water and no fertilizer, and keep them out of warm drafts that could wake them too early. Cacti and most succulents like a cool, nearly dry winter rest, which helps them flower; Christmas cactus is the exception and needs regular water in winter.

Amaryllis can be rested by keeping it cool, about 55°F (13°C), for 8 to 10 weeks with little water. A brown cool-season lawn can stay dormant for 4 to 6 weeks without harm; keep traffic off it and don't fertilize.

Be patient in spring

Some plants leaf out weeks later than others. Wait until similar plants nearby are green before you decide, and cut away dead stems once you can see what's alive.

Perennials that died back to the ground often still have living roots, and a tree can take years to show drought damage. Once growth starts, resume normal watering and feeding, following the label.

Sources

General guidance, not a diagnosis. Written by PlantWiz in our own words from the sources above.