Natural change

Dormancy

Many plants rest for part of the year: growth stops, and bulbs may lose all their leaves. That's normal.

What you'll see

• Growth slows or stops in autumn and winter, even with normal care.
• Bulbs and tubers such as amaryllis, caladium and cyclamen let their leaves yellow and die down.
• The soil stays wet longer between waterings because the plant uses less water.

Why it happens

Plants slow down when days are short and cool, and some go fully dormant to get through a cold or dry season.

What to do

1. Water less: let the top inch (2.5 cm) of mix dry before watering, then soak the root ball.
2. Stop feeding until new growth starts, usually in spring.
3. For dormant bulbs, cut back watering as the leaves fade, remove dead leaves and keep the pot dry and above 50 to 60°F (10 to 16°C).
4. Don't throw a dormant bulb away; water sparingly when new shoots appear, then normally once leaves develop.

Keep it from coming back

• Give amaryllis a cool, drier rest of 8 to 10 weeks in autumn to help it flower again.
• Learn which of your plants rest, and when, so you don't mistake rest for illness.

Sources

• University of Vermont Extension: Hibernating houseplants
• Iowa State University Extension: Bulbs well-suited as houseplants
• RHS: How to grow hippeastrum

General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.