How to tell if a succulent is dormant? One squeeze and two looks will make it clear

Almost every succulent plant has a physiological trait of an annual dormant or semi-dormant period, some in summer, some in winter, all different

Question one: How do you tell whether a succulent has entered dormancy?

Question two: How do you care for a succulent during dormancy?

How to tell if a succulent has entered dormancy?

Key points: one squeeze, two looks

Squeeze

Some succulents show no obvious symptoms when they enter dormancy, and you cannot tell just by looking.

Here is a little trick to share: squeeze it with your hand. When the leaves feel soft and limp and do not plump up even after watering, pay attention. At this point the succulent has most likely entered dormancy, and no matter how much you water it, it will not become plump.

After a succulent enters dormancy, its body automatically enters a closed state and slowly stops growing. If you water heavily at this time, you will only outsmart yourself and end up with water-soaked, rotted roots.

The correct way to water is: place the dormant succulent in a ventilated environment, then give it less water and less light.

Look

Look at the color: during dormancy, the succulent's leaves are dull and lusterless, and the color of the whole plant is basically uniform; the lower leaves change color or the whole plant changes color; the color of the stem tip and the shoot tips is almost the same.

Look at the root system: there are no obvious new roots; the color of the root tips and the middle sections of the roots is basically the same; the root tips and middle sections show mature roots, and the diameter of the root tips gradually decreases.

Look at the state: the succulent leaves close up entirely, forming a closed state; heart leaves: in pointed-leaf types, the leaves become wider and spread outward; they become shorter with a flat top; in broad-leaf types, the leaves stretch outward

Look at the leaves: the old leaves gradually turn yellow, dry up, and finally fall off.

How do you care for a succulent during dormancy?

About watering: fully dormant succulents get no water, and the soil is kept dry; generally dormant succulents keep the soil slightly moist; semi-dormant succulents are watered as appropriate; all succulents even slightly connected to dormancy stop being fertilized.

About temperature: practice has shown that the most suitable temperature for summer dormancy is 25~32 degrees (for winter dormancy, 2~5 degrees; for the few that are sensitive to cold, 7~10 degrees).

About ventilation: after a succulent enters dormancy, its own immune system also weakens, so at this time it should be placed in a ventilated spot to prevent pests and diseases.