What causes Mountain Rose to go dormant?

Mountain Rose, also known as "alpine rose" or "mountain rose," is called Mountain Rose in English. Although it contains the word "rose," it is not a flower but a type of succulent plant, also called a succulent, belonging to the Crassulaceae family, Aeonium genus.

The leaves of Mountain Rose come in several colors: gray-green, blue-green, and emerald green. After exposure to intense sunlight, the leaves develop reddish-brown markings. Some varieties even have a powdery white coating on the leaf surface, along with fine fuzzy hairs.

Although Mountain Rose stays green year-round, it also knows how to balance work and rest, entering dormancy after its growing period to give itself a break. From mid-September each year to June of the following year is its growing period. In July and August, after summer arrives, this heat-sensitive plant begins to enter dormancy, wanting nothing more than to sleep quietly.

During dormancy, we cannot let our guard down and must arrange the right environment for it. Ensure good ventilation, control watering amounts, and not only avoid scorching sun exposure but also avoid rain, letting it pass the summer safely in a ventilated, dry, and cool environment.

During dormancy, Mountain Rose slightly closes its leaves. At this time it is at its most beautiful, like a rosebud that could bloom at any moment.

Mountain Rose goes dormant because of its environment. It turns out that Mountain Rose is native to the Canary Islands and nearby islands such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma. In these regions, summers are dry with little rain. To survive the harsh summer, the plants have evolved strategies: some varieties' rosette-shaped leaf clusters gradually tighten, wrapping the plant tightly to reduce water loss, and correspondingly, the outer leaves turn orange-red; some varieties spread their leaves to release heat, and some even discard old leaves, keeping only the central leaves fresh. When the wet, cold autumn and winter arrive, temperatures drop and rainfall increases, and the plant begins to grow again, renewing its appearance.