Succulents in dormancy are not off the hook - poor care can easily kill them

In summer, some succulents enter dormancy, but some are still in their growing period.

We need to understand that succulent dormancy is actually a way for them to resist harsh environments. Just as the human body needs sleep to replenish energy, they use this method to restore energy.

During dormancy, the succulents' metabolism, water evaporation and so on all slow down. They rely solely on consuming stored nutrients to maintain minimal life activity. When the harsh environment passes and conditions improve, they will gradually resume growth.

At this time, although succulents' need for water decreases, they still need water. You do not need to water as frequently as during the growing season. But you should extend the watering interval, reduce sunlight, and maintain ventilation.

To prevent succulents from dying of thirst, on cool evenings, seize the opportunity to water them, pouring water gently and thoroughly along the edge of the pot. There are many things to pay attention to with succulents during dormancy. In order to better care for and manage them, we also need to learn to identify the dormant period of succulents and the corresponding management for that period.

Identifying the growth dormancy of succulents

Identifying the dormant period and semi-dormant period is easy for experienced growers, but for beginners it seems a bit "tricky."

Actually, when succulents are dormant, their appearance changes along with a series of internal physiological changes. As long as you observe carefully and attentively, you can judge and identify them based on changes in certain characteristics of the plant.

Characteristics of succulents during dormancy:

1. Observe body color:

Leaf color is dull and lacks luster; the whole plant's leaf color is basically uniform; lower leaves change color, or the whole plant changes color; stem tips and branch tips are basically uniform in color; crested and monstrose varieties have uniform color throughout the whole plant.

After succulents enter dormancy, they no longer carry out photosynthesis, and the chlorophyll and anthocyanins in the leaves naturally gradually enter a dormant state as well. So if you see those with uniform color throughout the whole plant and a dull, lusterless color, you can basically conclude they have entered dormancy.

2. Observe growth state:

Pointed-type leaves become wider and stretch outward; become shorter and flat-topped; wide-type leaves extend outward;

There is a small amount of leaf drop, and withering at leaf tips or leaf apex. This is because after entering dormancy, succulents automatically cut off all external water and nutrients, relying entirely on their own consumption to sustain what they need during dormancy;

Complete dormancy, the whole plant drops its leaves, and some varieties have stems above the soil wither; stem tips and branch tips age and thicken into obtuse angles; plant growth stagnates. This is the most obvious phenomenon - after entering dormancy, no matter how you water or provide light, they will not grow.

3. Observe root system:

The color at the root tip and the middle section of the root is basically uniform; the root tip and the middle section of the root show mature root tissue, with the root tip diameter gradually decreasing; there are no obvious new roots at the root area.

Characteristics of succulents during the growing period:

1. Observe body color:

For leaves with fuzz, the new leaves are lighter or darker than the old leaves; for leaves without fuzz, the old leaves are smooth and glossy, and the new leaves are fresh and vibrant;

The color of stem tips and branch tips compared with the middle section of stems and branches is either darker or lighter, forming two kinds of coloration; crested and monstrose varieties show obvious color differences between the top and the middle-lower part.

2. Observe root system:

The color of the root tip compared with the middle section of the root varies from darker to lighter; the root tip has tender shoots 3~5 mm long, and the diameter is larger than the middle section of the root; there are a large number of new roots.

3. Observe growth state:

Central leaves: pointed-type leaves are narrow and long, uneven; wide-type leaves close toward the center or curl inward toward the center; there is no leaf drop, leaf withering, etc.; stem tips and branch tips are fresh and tender, gradually tapering into acute angles; the plant is full of vitality.

Management of succulents during dormancy

When succulents are in the dormant period, the active tissues in their bodies function slowly, and their abilities to absorb, synthesize, convert and release nutrients and water are reduced or even stopped, so the plant stops growing. At this time, you need to pay attention to the following 3 key measures:

1. Water and fertilizer management

For succulents that have entered dormancy, you should keep the soil dry, that is, maintain the soil's loose structure with relatively low moisture.

This does not mean cutting off water completely! Completely cutting off water will destroy the soil's loose structure and cause the soil to compact, which is also very harmful to the root system. In severe cases, it may even cause the succulents to die directly from drought.

For routine water and fertilizer use: during complete dormancy, do not water, and keep the soil dry; during general dormancy, keep the soil moist; during semi-dormancy, water as appropriate. For fertilizer, regardless of what kind of dormancy, stop fertilizing to avoid fertilizer damage and root rot.

2. Control temperature

Because succulent species differ, their required temperatures during the growing period vary, but during dormancy their required temperatures are very similar. Practice has proven that the most suitable temperatures are 25~32°C for summer dormancy; 2-5°C for winter dormancy; and 7~10°C for the few cold-sensitive ones.

3. Shading

Succulents during dormancy are relatively fragile. In summer, even succulents that have not entered dormancy, if not shaded and placed directly under the sun for exposure, will suffer sunburn, let alone succulents in dormancy. So do not fear the trouble - providing shade for succulents that have entered dormancy is still necessary.

Finally, let us also share with youThe seven taboos of watering succulents in summer. If you want your succulents to safely get through summer, these mistakes must not be made~

1. Watering at noon

No plant can stand this move. Even if you are baked like a dog at noon, you still need to water in the evening. It is just like how you cannot stand suddenly jumping into an ice pit in summer.

2. Watering thoroughly after transplanting

After transplanting, the roots are inevitably damaged, and the plant needs an adaptation period. Besides spraying carbendazim during transplanting as a safeguard, which many popular science posts introduce, you should also not water too thoroughly.

3. Frequently applying fertilizer water

Most succulents do not like acidic soil and are relatively tolerant of poor soil. Do not keep watering them with rice-washing water or fermented vegetable-washing water just because you think they grow slowly - that is the balcony vegetable garden approach. Over time, the soil becomes acidic and they naturally will not grow well.

4. Water accumulating in the leaf center

When watering, letting water accumulate on the leaves not only leaves water stains that are unattractive, but more importantly, it easily encourages bacteria and pests in the leaf gaps to multiply. Usually you may not care much about this, but once pests appear, doing this all the time is really not wise.

5. Water accumulating at the bottom of the pot

Fellow growers often place a saucer underneath to avoid getting things dirty. If you water too much, or if outdoor growing encounters rain, remember to pour out the accumulated water in time, otherwise it easily causes root rot.

6. Watering when there is disease

When you find that the plant has a fungal infection, or a pest outbreak, or it has inexplicably turned yellow, withered, or rotted, be sure to cut off water first, analyze clearly, and then take corresponding remedial measures. Watering at this time only helps it die more thoroughly!

7. Being too timid to water

Having said so much, most of it is reminding you to clearly assess the situation and water less, but it does not mean not to water at all. Are you a little scared?

The methods we have introduced are mainly aimed at Crassulaceae plants. They are not as drought-tolerant as cacti, so there is no need to be afraid.

Growing succulents is about hovering between too much and too little, and ultimately finding the right amount. This is a process full of fun that requires slow exploration.